5aeee0fae2af9d2f7854af0336b75247.jpg

LAWRENCE: Lawrence and Hopewell townships to share playing fields at former airfield

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   A concept plan for the proposed development of the former Twin Pines airport into recreational fields, which would be shared by Lawrence and Hopewell townships, was unveiled before Township Council last week.
   The plan was prepared following a series of meetings between Kinsey Associates and subcommittees from Lawrence and Hopewell townships, according to Steven Groeger, Lawrence Township’s Superintendent of Recreation.
   The Twin Pines Airport recreation site does not include tennis or basketball courts, Mr. Groeger said. The emphasis is on multipurpose athletic fields, which includes soccer fields.
   Consultant Gordon Raupp of the Hackettstown-based Kinsey Associates walked Township Council through the proposed athletic complex, which is located on the 50-acre former airport property on the Lawrenceville-Pennington Road in Hopewell Township.
   Hopewell Township plans to build three athletic fields on its portion of the site, and Lawrence has proposed two athletic fields on its portion of the property, Mr. Raupp told Township Council at its Nov. 6 meeting.
   Lawrence’s two athletic fields would be natural turf, but Hopewell Township is pushing for artificial turf for its athletic fields, Mr. Raupp said. Lawrence’s two fields would be multi-purpose fields.
   The first of Lawrence’s two fields would measure 340 feet by 540 feet — the size of a full-sized soccer field. Two smaller soccer fields could be overlaid on top of that one, perpendicular to the main field. The second field would measure 500 feet by 500 feet and could accommodate two full-sized soccer fields.
   The Lawrence portion of the athletic complex would include a building that would provide storage for items needed to maintain the fields. It would also contain bathrooms and a concession stand, plus a paved and landscaped area for sitting.
   An eight-foot-wide paved path is proposed that would loop throughout the 50-acre site, connecting the Lawrence portion to the Hopewell portion. The path could be paved with asphalt or it could be paved with another material, Mr. Raupp said.
   ”That’s a design decision that will be made down the road,” Mr. Raupp said.
   Visitors to the Lawrence portion of the athletic complex would enter off Federal City Road, Mr. Raupp said. The plans show parking for up to 140 cars, and it could be developed in phases as the park is built.
   On the other side of the Twin Pines airport recreation site, Hopewell Township would have three athletic fields. All would be multi-purpose fields. All would be large enough to accommodate full-sized soccer fields.
   Hopewell’s plans also call for a building for storage and bathrooms. The proposed park center complex also would have a tot lot and a playground for older children, plus a large paved and landscaped sitting area with game tables and benches.
   There would be parking for 180 cars in the parking lot, which would have a driveway entrance off Lawrenceville-Pennington Road. It would likely be built in phases, with the first phase designed for 105 cars.
   The plan prepared by Mr. Raupp also would preserve the small office building for the former airport. It would serve as a meeting space for the sports associations, and it would also include a small photo museum and historical artifact display.
   Mr. Raupp said there is still clean-up on the site that must take place.
   ”There are a lot of plane fuselages left (in the woods on the Hopewell Township portion),” Mr. Raupp said. “It is all being excavated and removed. The woods will look a little different at a future day. The western fields (Hopewell Township’s athletic fields) won’t be developed for several years because there are clean-up issues.”
   ”Presuming a workable accord can be struck, the specifications (for Hopewell) will be prepared as soon as practicable,” he said. “Hopewell will jump on the synthetic turf fields by the spring, and it should be ready by the fall. I don’t know what your pleasure will be (for the Lawrence fields).”
   Mr. Groeger replied that Lawrence Township wants to build the athletic fields.
   ”We want to build it,” he said. “Build it and they shall come.”
   When Councilman Bob Bostock said he would “feel better” if the Lawrence Township Recreation Advisory Committee could review the plans and tweak them, if necessary, Mr. Groeger said the full advisory committee is prepared to look at them.
   The Weasner family, which owned the Twin Pines Airport property, sold the land for $2.3 million. Mercer County paid $1.2 million toward the purchase price, and Hopewell and Lawrence townships contributed $610,000 and $475,000, respectively.
   The Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders also agreed to contribute $1.9 million toward the development of athletic fields and other amenities, such as parking lots, through the Mercer at Play grant program.
   After Township Council’s meeting, Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun said he expected to receive cost estimates for the project in about 60 days. At that point, township officials would review it and decide how to phase construction of the fields, he said.