Princeton Borough considers formalized plan for upkeep of parks

By Lauren Otis, Staff Writer
   Members of Princeton Borough Council discussed the possibility of establishing a formal process for upkeep of municipal parks at Tuesdays council meeting.
   Councilman Roger Martindell raised the idea of developing a planning process by which all borough parks are assessed and fixed funds for upkeep “are allocated among parks on a rational basis, not first come first serve.”
   Mr. Martindell said he wasn’t suggesting cutting back on the improvement and development of parklands in the borough, and was “not suggesting we hire a consultant or spend lots of money.” But, just as the Princeton Recreation Department has a master plan which prioritizes projects and expenditures, a borough park plan might similarly help prioritize needs requiring municipal outlays, he said.
   Councilman Andrew Koontz, who has been active with the nonprofit Princeton Parks Alliance, said he wasn’t sure a master plan was needed for borough parks, but “perhaps a list would help us plan.” Mr. Koontz said that less expensive projects at smaller borough parks were often dealt with first while the borough’s reaction to a more expensive project at a larger park was “to keep shoving it to the end of the line” because of the resources required.
   Mr. Koontz said a schedule of park needs might help the borough address them in more deliberate fashion.
   ”What we’ve allowed ourselves to do is not spend enough money on parks,” said Councilman David Goldfarb. Just as municipal roads and police vehicles require regular upkeep and investment, which if neglected in the short term only adds to the outlay which eventually must be made, “parks require the same kind of investment,” Mr. Goldfarb said.
   Borough Engineer Christopher Budzinski told council members he would draw up a list of all borough parks and when the last work had been conducted on them.
   Borough Administrator Robert Bruschi said he and Mr. Budzinski would work together on creating the list. He said council would see that a lot of work had been conducted on borough parks in the past six years even in the absence of a plan. “We’ve come a long, long way in trying to catch up with our parks,” Mr. Bruschi said.