By David Kilby, Staff Writer
CRANBURY — The Board of Recreation Commission got the go-ahead from the Township Committee to continue plans for a new six-lane track in Cranbury.
At the committee meeting Monday, the commission explained the benefits of a six-lane track, estimated to cost about $750,000.
There aren’t many middle school tracks in the region so Cranbury and its businesses would benefit from the other towns and schools that would come in to use the track, said Beth Veghte, chairwoman of the commission.
The new track also may reduce the cost of transportation for the track team since more than half of its meets could be at home with the new track, she explained.
The track also would provide a weekend practice area for Cranbury students on the Princeton High School track and field team, explained Lynne Fox, a member of the board.
Ms. Veghte also mentioned the track could be used extensively for community events such as the Drug Free Fair and Cranbury Day.
The only thing the commission was asking for from the committee was permission to form a subcommittee to pursue the plans for a new track.
The subcommittee would consist of the Recreation Commission; Evelyn Spann, who would be the Board of Education representative; Committeeman Dan Mulligan, who would be the Township Committee liaison; and others, Ms. Veghte explained.
The track would potentially be built around one of Cranbury’s existing soccer fields.
The middle of the track also would have a long jump, high jump and shot put area as well as pole vault poles and bars.
”A new track has been talked about for years,” Ms. Fox said.
She said that, in addition to providing for student athletes, the track also would benefit the many senior walkers and town runners in Cranbury’s “very active community.”
”The Cranbury Board of Recreation would like to partner with all stakeholders to bring this discussion to life and begin a course of action,” reads the proposal the board presented to the committee.
The approximate total cost to build the 6-lane track would be $750,000. The most expensive part of the construction would be the pouring of polyurethane and asphalt, which the commission estimates at $500,000.
The commission was not asking for any money from the committee. It already has fundraisers planned for its track building campaign, in fact.
The commission will host “Cran-Follies,” a community talent show scheduled for April 2012 and also will host a fundraiser called “Raise the Track,” which would be an opportunity for sponsors to donate to the track fundraising campaign.
The commission estimates resurfacing the track every 10 years would cost about $250,000 and painting lines every seven years would cost approximately $7,000.
To bring in revenue once the track is completed, the commission plans to charge a fee for outside groups who use the track, build a refreshment stand, host an annual fundraiser such as a 5K run and host track camps.
When the time comes to hire an engineer, the commission can take money from its reserves, said Denise Marabello, township business administrator.
The committee approved the establishment of a track subcommittee.
The next step most likely will be determining a suitable location for the track, Ms. Veghte said.
”We’ll see you soon,” she said.

