By: Stephanie Prokop
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP The township is moving forward this month with plans to turn a vacant lot on Palmer Avenue into a park with a walking path, gazebo, benches and small gardens.
The 1.2-acre lot between Cemetery Lane and Route 130 was the first open space parcel the township acquired back in 2002.
The township wanted to make the lot, which is surrounded by houses, into a "passive recreation" space, Mayor Mark Roselli said in a phone interview Wednesday. Four years later, the township is starting the reconstruction this month.
Mayor Roselli, who is running for re-election Tuesday, said Wednesday that this is the first and smallest step in setting aside places around the county for recreation. The purchase price was around $77,000, but the township council actually paid about a quarter of that price, because of contributions from the state and county, he said.
The park’s construction will proceed in two phases, with the first being some preparatory work to get the property ready, such as fencing and planning, and the next level will deal primarily with leveling the ground and getting it ready for walking paths. Mayor Roselli said that officials are looking to award the bid to begin the second phase of construction in the second week of November. Other future renovation plans include installing a walking path from the northern part of the township to the southern part of the township.
Another recreational area that is in the works is a lot off of Route 528 and Georgetown Road, which is over 100 acres in size.
"This would be a more active park, with tennis courts, volleyball quarts, and hopefully a small amphitheater for summer concerts," said Mayor Roselli.

