BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP: Township mulls earlier park closings

By Amber Cox
   BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — The township is considering closings its parks at dusk instead of the current 10 p.m. cutoff due to complaints from neighbors.
   The Township Committee on Monday unanimously introduced an ordinance to change the hours parks, playgrounds and recreation areas.
   The proposal calls for parks, playgrounds and recreation areas to be open from dawn to dusk.
   Mayor Michael Dauber said the ordinance also calls for exceptions for use of the parks for Little League and soccer, also for anyone who has permission.
   ”The chief had some concerned citizens about after hours use of the park,” Mayor Dauber said. “It’s difficult to see those parks because they are completely surrounded by the housing developments. It’s easier to set a time from dawn to dusk to help police patrol the parks.”
   Mayor Dauber said the current closing time of the parks does create a nuisance for some of the surrounding residences of the parks.
   Committeeman Jason Medina said he was concerned about the dawn to dusk wording and wanted to know if there was a correct way to define the hours.
   Committeeman Bruce Hill said there are municipalities with signs clearly posted saying dawn to dusk, some with the ordinance or resolution number also posted.
   ”I know Washington Crossing Park, on the New Jersey side, it’s posted everywhere dawn to dusk,” he said.
   Mr. Hill said the only issue he has with the ordinance is with the possible rescheduling of Little League games and tournaments.
   ”They play a lot of games,” he said. “They do tournaments and sometimes they change their schedule because of rain. How would this affect them?”
   Mayor Dauber said in that case Little League would get an exception and still be able to utilize the fields, with special permission.
   ”The ordinance does say, ‘with special permission,” Police Chief Frank Nucera said. “So if they request permission in advance it will be granted.”
   The ordinance does have the provision granting special permission to those teams that ask for it with permission of the Township Committee.
   Mr. Medina raised the issue of if no one on the committee is available to give permission if a game needs to be rescheduled right away, who would then grant the permission?
   The committee agreed to change the special permission revision to the Township Committee or its designated agent.
   The public hearing for the ordinance will be held April 25.