Skillman Village lake to be reviewed by Montgomery Township Committee

Playground equipment for Van Horne Park also on agenda

By: Jake Uitti
   MONTGOMERY — In its first meeting in more than a month, the Township Committee on Thursday will discuss issues ranging from the restoration of Sylvan Lake and installation of playground equipment in Van Horne Park to authorizing the solicitation of bids for the demolition of certain buildings at Skillman Village.
   According to the agenda, the committee will be holding a public hearing on a bond ordinance providing for the restoration of Sylvan Lake — which once occupied about seven acres in the southwest portion of Skillman Village, the former North Princeton Developmental Center property.
   The bond ordinance would appropriate $5.5 million and authorize the issuance of $5.24 million in bonds or notes to pay for the restoration.
   On July 20, the committee announced its decision to restore the lake by dredging its 40,000 cubic yards of sediment and creating step pool structures at the western side of the lake.
   The work should take less than two years, and will be built into the environmental remediation contract with Weston Solutions Inc., the firm the township hired to conduct environmental testing on the Skillman Village site.
   In addition, the township received two bids for the installation of playground equipment at Van Horne Park — one from Whirl Construction Inc. for $48,218 and a second from Corby Associates Inc. for $26,960.
   According to a resolution listed in the agenda, it is recommended that Corby Associates be awarded the bid.
   The $2 million, 95-acre park, which is located between Route 206 and Princeton Avenue, is a joint project of the township and Rocky Hill. According to engineering officials, the end of September is being eyed as the deadline for completion of the first phase — which includes the construction of softball fields, parking lots, driveways and a path system.
   The second phase — which involves the construction of a pavilion, bathrooms and the playground equipment — is hoped to be completed by October.
   Also, a resolution authorizing the solicitation of bids for the demolition of certain buildings in Skillman Village will be voted on.