Mercer County officials have approved a $442,129 grant application filed jointly by Lawrence and Hopewell townships and Hopewell and Pennington boroughs to purchase the 50-acre Twin Pines Airport.
By: Lea Kahn
Mercer County officials have approved a $442,129 grant application filed jointly by Lawrence and Hopewell townships and Hopewell and Pennington boroughs to purchase the 50-acre Twin Pines Airport, in Hopewell Township, which would be developed for six playing fields.
Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes announced the award last week, which calls for the four towns to join forces and match the grant. It was one of eight grant applications filed by Mercer County towns.
"This is a perfect example of how the county and the towns comprised within the county can bolster and expand recreation projects by sharing the costs through cooperative financing," Mr. Hughes said.
Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun said Lawrence Township officials are pleased the grant application was approved.
"We are quite pleased with the effort of county officials to be innovative in their approach to providing recreational facilities to county residents," he said. "This is certainly indicative of a trend that I hope can continue between the towns and the county."
The next step is to begin negotiations with the property owner to purchase the property, Mr. Krawczun said.
William Weasner, who owns the airport property, had consented to the grant application through an affidavit, Mr. Krawczun said. A purchase price for the property has not been negotiated, he said.
"We are not ready to bond money yet," Mr. Krawczun said. "We need a contract of sale. We need to know what is the final amount to be required from each of the participants. The administration and Township Council are interested in knowing what the final cost is going to be to Lawrence residents. All of that is being figured out at this time."
Commenting on the Mercer at Play grant program, Mr. Hughes said the proposals considered by the county ran the gamut from pedal boats at Hamilton Township’s Veterans Park to bocce ball courts in Washington Township and skate park renovations in Ewing Township.
To receive the grant, municipalities had to submit a detailed proposal for a recreational facility and provide a rough construction schedule for the proposed project, according to Mercer County officials.
The county reviewed the proposals on a case-by-case basis, matching the municipality to finance construction or development costs. More funding was made available to towns that proposed joint projects.
Township Superintendent of Recreation Steven Groeger said in September that six of the fields on the airport property would be used by Lawrence, and the other three would be used by the two Hopewells and Pennington Borough.
Lawrence does not have enough fields, Mr. Groeger said, with most of the township Recreation Department-sponsored programs using athletic fields at the township-owned Central Park and Village Park.
The Recreation Department also uses athletic fields at Lawrence Intermediate School, Lawrence Middle School and Lawrence High School when not in use by the schools, Mr. Groeger said. The grassy areas behind the New Jersey Army National Guard armory on Eggerts Crossing Road also are used.
The fields are in constant use, which means they do not have time to recover, he said. Creating additional athletic fields would take the pressure and constant use off what is already in use, he added.

