By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR Resident Andy Bromberg wanted to know just how many people around him supported the proposed Asian-themed public park in Princeton Junction. In a room of about 30 people, nearly everyone, including Mr. Bromberg, slowly raised their hands.
The response was much different from recent reactions, from both residents and some council members, who criticized the park for zeroing in on an ethnicity.
Mr. Bromberg and his fellow residents were part of the first of two public forums on the impending 1.5-acre Princeton Junction Pocket Park on Alexander Road. Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, Township Landscape Architect Dan Dobromilsky and Alison Miller, the president of Friends of West Windsor Open Space, joined the residents at the Senior Center on Jan. 25 to relay information, answer questions and gather input from the community.
That afternoon, Mr. Dobromilsky unveiled his sketch, which essentially takes a classic American downtown park and infuses it with traditional Chinese, Japanese and Indian garden elements. With an Asian garden theme, the goal was to celebrate West Windsor’s diversity, beautify the area and foster something the township has yet to create: a civic gardening club.
Similar to an Adopt-a-Park program, the volunteer gardening club would be charged with the park’s maintenance and upkeep at no cost to taxpayers.
”The intent was to try and use the gardens to bring the community together to design and manage it (the park),” said Mr. Dobromilsky. “To create a space where everyone can come together and share ideas about gardening and other discussions.”
Mr. Dobromilsky said a typical project like this would normally cost between $200,000 and $250,000. However, this project has no capital budget and will completely rely on donations and contributions from residents, businesses and organizations.
The only money that came out of pocket thus far was about $1,000, which paid for the project’s necessary soil erosion permit. Under the concept, different Asian-esque gardens connected by pathways will surround a central lawn area. These gardens will feature things such as zigzag bridges, low grasses and plants native to Asia such as bamboo, black pine and flowering plum.
There would also be a picnic area, several benches, a Chinese-inspired open gazebo and a small pond that could be filled with koi.
The Indian component would include a small sitting area surrounded by flowering plants to represent a grand vista.
Some people, like Carol E. Hoffman, immediately expressed excitement about the concept.
”I think this design is wonderful it incorporates all the elements of a good park,” said Ms. Hoffman, who moved to West Windsor last March. “I can’t find anything wrong with it, it’s a wonderful idea.”
The park’s schematic is a result of two concepts merged together: the West Windsor Open Space Utilization Task Force’s idea of a “town green,” as suggested in its 2003 report and the “cultural garden” recommendation under the Sustainability Element, which was added to the Township Master Plan in 2009. The Planning Board and Township Council had approved both the report and the Sustainability Element.
The Asian idea came about last summer after Mr. Dobromilsky and his intern from Rutgers University discovered it was the one cultural garden missing from the area. After finding Carnegie Center already had English, French and Italian-themed gardens on and off its property, the duo thought it was time for East to meet West in Princeton Junction.
”There was no real Asian representation,” he explained. “So we started researching Asian gardens to round out the different types of gardens occurring in the township.”
However, Mr. Dobromilsky’s explanation did not allay the concerns of the handful of residents who did not raise their hands to show their support. Resident John Church, who has been vocal in the past about the issue, was one of them.
”It’s great to have a park there, but do keep in mind this is public land. You have to be careful about not putting any particular theme in a public park,” he said. “It’s against public policy it should have neutral décor.”
He was particularly bothered by the Chinese-influenced gazebo, which he said strongly resembled a Buddhist shrine. The gazebo was one of the features recommended by Yunhua Hu, a landscape architect from Shanghai, who visited Mayor Hsueh last summer.
”We should stay away from anything that emphasizes any kind of religious connotation,” Mr. Church said.
Mr. Dobromilsky, Mayor Hsueh, Pat Ward, the director of community development, and some members of the audience said the gazebo was a gardening style, not a religious symbol.
”The whole idea is to try and turn the park into something more culture oriented as part of West Windsor’s sustainable plan and show the diversity of the communities,” said Mayor Hsueh. “It also has the potential to bring in music, art, sculpture and eating in addition to the gardens.”
Some people were concerned about parking since it will not have its own parking lot and is designed to be accessed by pedestrians and/or bicyclists. Mayor Hsueh said he is currently negotiating with business owners in Windsor Plaza, locally known as the old Acme shopping center, to create shared parking in the back of their properties.
The idea is to have people to park in one area, stroll over to the stores to shop or get a bite to eat, then walk over to either visit or picnic in the park. People would also be able to park at the Gables and Mr. Dobromilsky said there is a possibility for bike racks to be included.
Two things the park definitely won’t have are restrooms and a playground, which also sparked a few concerns.
Mr. Dobrimilsky said adding restrooms could cost an extra $200,000 and children would enjoy the park, playground or not.
Alison Miller, the president of the nonprofit Friends of West Windsor Open Space (FOWWOS), said they are soliciting donations and that any contributions made through FOWWOS are tax deductible.
The next forum on the proposed Princeton Junction Pocket Park is scheduled for this Thursday at 7 p.m. in the activity room in the Senior Center. Mr. Dobrimilsky, Mayor Hsueh and a representative from FOWWOS will be in attendance.
