SPOTSWOOD — The borough is planning improvements to the dock and surrounding area at DeVoe Lake.
According to Councilwoman Marge Drozd, the borough plans to build a new walkway along the shore of DeVoe Lake to replace a makeshift walkway that she said is “not pedestrian friendly.”
Council President Curtis Stollen said the idea to improve the walkway has been discussed for years. Officials plan to have the walkway lead from the bridge near the American Legion building, along the dam and lake and leading to the dock, where some people still go fishing.
Stollen said the area on the DeVoe Avenue side of the lake will be a very nice place to look at the dam and stream.
Middlesex County awarded the borough a grant for a similar project, he said, but the work would have included significant engineering issues that would raise the borough’s share of the costs.
“It was a bit too expensive,” he said.
The town will use the grant to do similar work, including making the dock handicap accessible and adding a gazebo-type structure to protect people from the elements.
“We feel this work should fit the intent of the grant. It will give us a nice walkway and a new entrance to the Spotswood side of the dam,” he said.
On the other side is property that belongs to the Immaculate Conception Church, he said.
The work will take place across the street from the newly improved Mundy Avenue Park, which according to Drozd is receiving a lot of use. Thanks also to grant funding, the park has a large playground, basketball courts, a walking path and seating. Drozd said the contractor still has a punch list of work to do at the park, but it is open for use. The borough is planning a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Stollen said a push button control with flashing lights will be installed on DeVoe Avenue to help people cross the street between the lake and the park.
Part of the reason officials want a clear path is so residents know that the property is available for public use.
“We need to open that path up to let people get to the scenic overlook by the dam,” Stollen said.
“This should be a nice improvement downtown,” Drozd said. “That new park is crowded. Someone said to me it is the nicest thing we have ever done in town.”
The dock will also be repaired, as it has some raised and broken boards.