LAMBERTVILLE: Recreation group will sift through needs and set priorities

Funding will come from 10 percent of the 2-cent open space tax

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — The city’s Recreation Commission is putting together a five-year plan to prioritize the needs of parks and other public recreational areas.
   Funding will come from 10 percent of the 2-cent open space tax. Voters in November approved the use of that amount for maintenance and upgrades.
   In 2008, the open space tax collected about $135,000, according to Mayor David Del Vecchio. Over five years, the commission’s 10 percent could add up to more than $60,000.
   Having funds to take care of necessary tasks, let alone improvements, is something new for the Recreation Commission.
   Commission Chairman Robert Garrenger said in an e-mail interview, “In recent years, the dedicated volunteers serving with me on the commission have worked very hard to preserve and maintain the city’s recreational opportunities, even as our available resources kept diminishing. Tight budgets and our shared focus on keeping property taxes as low as possible forced us to make tough choices and, quite simply, to do more with less. Thanks to the leadership of the mayor and wisdom of Lambertville’s voters, we now have a great opportunity to catch up on deferred maintenance as well as create a ‘to do’ list for future improvements over the next few years.”
   Needs can vary from one month to the next, from mulch to a security light that needs replacing or a sharp fence edge that needs to be rounded out for safety, as well as larger unforeseen expenses. Because of this, the spending plan needs to be fluid, according to Mr. Garrenger.
   Changes over time may be inevitable.
   Flexibility will “allow for ongoing maintenance responsibilities, unexpected events, seasonal needs, shifting priorities and opportunities and so on,” he said. “For example, we will soon open a new pocket park up on the hill, which will be fantastic but further expands our maintenance obligations. Only time will tell the actual maintenance costs for the upgraded recreational system.
   ”There are many, many similar variables that will affect the commission’s spending decisions. Nevertheless, we believe it is important to engage in a global planning process that includes an opportunity for public input, in recognition of the various, competing needs that confront us. To this end, our discussions are ongoing and will continue to evolve/expand as we collect ideas and suggestions from our neighbors.”
   The commission is just starting the planning process, and no firm timeline has been established yet.
   Mr. Garrenger said, “I believe that nobody cares more about the parks and open space in Lambertville than our commission members. So we especially value this opportunity to enhance the recreational experience for our neighbors, and will do everything we can to do so in the most responsible manner.
   ”The bottom line is that we have been tasked with putting together a rational and realistic priority list, broken down into categories like short- versus long-term needs, maintenance versus capital, seasonal issues, longer term planning goals, etc. It is a collaborative process that encompasses all of the property under the Recreation Commission’s jurisdiction, including city-owned parks and open space,” he concluded.