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HIGHTSTOWN: Eagle Scout project to build stage faces resistance

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   HIGHTSTOWN — The Planning Board heard 17-year-old Ryan Lanphear, of Hightstown, a member of Troop 59, present his Eagle Scout project to build a stage at Association Park on Monday.
   Ryan, who will enter his senior year at Hightstown High School this fall, also presented the project to the Planning Board in June.
   ”We fully support the project; we’ve been working with Ryan for a long time on this,” said Patrick Duncan, chairman of the Hightstown Parks and Recreation Commission, on Thursday.
   He said, “The stage will be a huge positive for the Hightstown Parks system and the community and we are very appreciative of Ryan’s efforts and leadership on the project.”
   Also, in a statement sent to the Herald on June 13, Mr. Duncan said, “Ryan is a remarkable kid, and I am very proud to be working with him so that he can complete his Eagle Scout project.”
   Mr. Duncan continued, “Association Park is a community gathering spot for Hightstown. Every year there are numerous community events that take place in the park, (including) the concert in the park series, the Lion’s Club Easter egg hunt, the Paws Walk — just to name a few . . . Now, when we need a stage, (because currently for events) Public Works tows in a flat bed truck. It’s worked, but it is not attractive. The plans Ryan has developed show a very tasteful and ascetically pleasing stage.”
   However, some residents, including Denny Hansen, a Republican candidate for Borough Council, and Councilwoman Gail Doran, who is running to keep her seat in November’s general election, opposed Ryan’s plan to build the stage as proposed. Councilwoman Doran serves as the Borough Council’s liaison to the Planning Board.
   Ryan has been working for more than a year to get his Eagle Scout project underway to build the community stage before his deadline runs out. If that happens, he will be prevented from achieving the highest honor in Boy Scouts — the official rank of Eagle Scout.
   ”He must finish the project by November or risk not receiving his eagle,” said Ryan’s mother, Jeannine Lanphear, in a email to the Herald on Thursday. “There is some overhead time that goes with this due to Boy Scout paperwork.”
   Thus, his project is now down to the wire and hinges on the Borough Council’s decision to move it forward into fruition.
   At Monday’s Planning Board meeting, Chairman Steve Misiura said that the Borough Council was looking for a formal recommendation of Ryan’s project prior to making its own decision.
   Noteworthy, Ryan’s project did receive the Planning Board’s recommendation, however, it didn’t come without many questions and concerns first being raised by the board as well as residents.
   Further, Planning Board members Councilwoman Doran and Richard Pratt recused themselves from the presentation after notifying the board that they were “one of the noticed property owners.” The notice they referenced pertains to a certified letter that was sent out by the borough notifying residents, who live near the park, that a discussion would be taking place by the Planning Board on June 9 regarding Ryan’s Eagle Scout project. The letter encouraged residents to attend the meeting and to provide feedback.
   ”The project that Ryan is working towards is larger than most and is being met with some resistance from community members,” wrote troop leader Sandy Tootleman, of Boy Scout Troop 59, in an e-mail to his scouts prior to Monday’s meeting.
   He encouraged the scouts to attend the meeting dressed in full uniform, stating, “Let’s really put on all our flair to support Ryan.”
   At the meeting, Planning Board Chairman Misiura said, “We were given plans which gave us the opportunity to review and visit the site — and we are treating this somewhat like a Planning Board application.”
   ”This project is being performed on borough property as an Eagle Scout project. The reviews by the borough (are for) the plans only . . . an application was not required,” said Borough Clerk Debra Sopronyi on Thursday.
   ”From concept, it’s been about a year now,” Ryan told the Planning Board on Monday as he talked about the project’s progress using a PowerPoint presentation. The project began last summer, he said, when he met with Hightstown Mayor Steven Kirson.
   Ryan said in September 2011 the concept was first introduced to the Borough Council.
   ”Association Park provides opportunities for families to enjoy themselves,” Ryan said, “And, as of now, there is no permanent structure to house (community) events.”
   Ryan said, “I grew up there,” as he shared photos of Easter egg hunts, school projects and other events he experienced during his childhood at Association Park.
   Ryan said he collaborated with outside groups on the design of the stage.
   The stage is in compliance with the American Disabilities Act and features a ramp, he said. It also meets safety precaution standards.
   The stage was designed to accommodate a five-piece band. Ryan said he spoke to musicians to get their feedback and incorporated some of their ideas into the design as well.
   As for the cost, “The latest estimate from Home Depot is $11,550, which is one of the (higher) estimates,” Ryan said. “This does not include the ramp.”
   Ryan said that $10,000 would come from the Parks and Recreation Commission, and noted that those funds were raised through the borough’s Triathlon.
   Further, “I will be seeking funds, donations and materials for the project . . . I’ll be raising the funds for any difference,” Ryan said.
   Ryan also said Association Park was chosen because the open space in Memorial Park is over the access to the sewer lines.
   ”Thank you everyone that has been helping me out. I have learned a lot and if it wasn’t from help from the public I wouldn’t be where I am on the stage today,” Ryan said, which was met with a round of applause from the audience.
   ”I think it’s a great idea,” said Harold Mulleavey, a Planning Board member. “Good luck with it all. What really impressed me is when you said you put a ceiling in there,” he added, in reference to Ryan’s design.
   However, Mr. Misiura questioned the size and height of the stage, concerns which were later repeated by several residents.
   ”My only concern is the overall scale with some of the surrounding houses that are pretty small and trying to visualize the appropriateness of the scale. I would like to see that you kept your dimensions to a minimum without adversely impacting the function of the stage itself,” Mr. Misiura said.
   ”We did lower it as much as we could go already,” said Mr. Pratt, of Hightstown, who spoke in that moment as a participant of the project — having recused himself from the board during Ryan’s presentation.
   The floor was then opened up for public comments — and mixed feelings were raised.
   ”Ryan has been terrific to work with,” said Beverly Asselstine, of Hightstown, who is the secretary of the Parks and Recreation Commission. “He has done an extremely professional job. We are very pleased with the result and fully endorse the project.”
   She noted that a discussion of building a permanent concert structure has been going on for years.
   Councilwoman Doran came forward to voice her concerns as a resident as she questioned several aspects of the project.
   ”Why not Memorial Park?” Councilwoman Doran asked.
   She continued, “I thought Memorial Park would be a nice tie into the (future) pedestrian bridge (over the Peddie Lake Dam) and it would be in an open area,” Councilwoman Doran said.
   Councilwoman Doran also shared her concerns about park security.
   ”I’m concerned it will be a hang out and skateboarders (will be) using it,” she said.
   Further, “I’m also concerned as a property owner and I’m concerned about it really changing the character of that park,” Councilwoman Doran said.
   She also suggested that Memorial Park was a better location for the stage and it would get “more usage.”
   Marybeth McAlister, of Hightstown, supported the stage and said she hoped it would rally the neighborhood to come together and rejuvenate the park.
   ”I think it would be nice to bring something to Association Park,” said Ms. McAlister. “I think it would be a beautiful addition to the park. I think that park could definitely use some sprucing up.”
   Ms. Hansen, a candidate running for Borough Council, said, “It just doesn’t seem to me, as far as the structure design for use for a stage in that park, (that it) is what is most needed in that park right now.”
   Ms. Hansen stated that the concerts are only held five times in the park a year, and said the events are “not well attended.”
   ”It just seems like a waste of space,” Ms. Hansen said.
   ”I need to understand what the usage will be,” said resident Ron Hansen of Hightstown.
   ”Is it going to be a place for protest or will there be ordinances that restrict those uses?” he asked.
   Mr. Hansen, too, questioned if there were other locations in the park to consider moving the stage to and pointed them out on Ryan’s exhibit.
   ”I just think the position of it is not well thought out,” Mr. Hansen said.
   However, another resident came to Ryan’s defense.
   ”I came from a town that had 30,000 people and in the center of town we had a park and we use to call it the ‘bandstand’— which is exactly what this town is proposing,” said Geoge Zhelesnik, of Hightstown, who shook Ryan’s hand before giving his comments.
   ”This was the greatest thing the town ever had,” Mr. Zhelesnik said. “It was a great meeting place. If we are so concerned about a structure — that’s this small — changing the view, (then) that’s sad.”
   One person said that Association Park was approved to be a passive park.
   ”It was mentioned that it was a passive park — and I agree,” Mr. Misiura said.
   ”I think we had a lot of people that surround the park (share) great concerns here tonight,” said Mayor Kirson, who is a member of the Planning Board.
   ”I think it’s a great project and it would be an asset to building this thing,” he said. “(With) all these hesitations that have come forward and after listening tonight to all those living around the park, I have concerns.”
   ”It’s an issue now that we have to battle through because folks that live here, if they are uncomfortable with the concept, we have to consider that strongly,” Mayor Kirson said.
   ”A park is part of the community and it belongs to all of Hightstown and its for all the residents and folks to have that opportunity to use our park system,” said Planning Board member Fred Montferret. “It’s to serve all of Hightstown, not just one section.”
   ”To be honest, I don’t know how the council is going to weigh in on it,” Mayor Kirson said.
   The next Planning Board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 13.
   The next Borough Council meeting is scheduled for Monday.
— Jen Samuel, managing editor, contributed to this report.