By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – Municipal officials are moving forward with the financing for a new 186-acre recreation facility on Red Valley Road.
On Oct. 19, the Township Committee introduced a bond ordinance providing an appropriation of $4.5 million for the first phase of improvements at Millstone Park and authorizing the issuance of $3.3 million in bonds or notes to finance part of the appropriation.
Plans for the park date back to 2008 when municipal officials purchased property on Red Valley Road with the intention of creating a new recreation facility.
The ordinance is expected to be considered for adoption on Nov. 2. Residents may comment on the ordinance during a public hearing that will precede a vote on its adoption.
After the bond ordinance was introduced, the committee members passed a resolution amending the 2016 capital budget to include the first phase of improvements to Millstone Park.
Officials said the first phase of the park’s development will involve site work and grading, the construction of a park building and the installation of lighting on three general purpose fields.
Mayor Bob Kinsey has said Millstone Park will have nine general purpose fields which can be used by any sports program. He said that eventually, six fields at the park will have lights.
The planned infrastructure work on the lighting of the first three fields will eventually allow lighting to be installed on the three adjacent fields without destroying the surface of the fields, the mayor said.
The park building will have restrooms and a kitchen serving facility, but no stoves, according to a plan that was discussed earlier this year. Cooking will be provided by a portable food cart which will be placed adjacent to the building as needed.
Kinsey said using a food cart means officials do not have to file a treatment works application with the state Department of Environmental Protection for the park’s septic system.
Other features at the park are expected to include a trail that can be used for walking, jogging and horse riding, and a boat-accessible pond that can be used for fishing and irrigation, according to Kinsey.
At present, the only location that is accessible to boats in Millstone Township is Perrineville Lake on Sweetmans Lane.
The Millstone Park project received support from residents who were present at the Oct. 19 meeting.
“I heard some parents talking about the new park and I figured I would take a drive down and check it out for myself,” Mike Turner said. “I’ve waited a long time for this and I just want to say congratulations. I am very appreciative because our town does need it.”
“We want to thank you on behalf of our (lacrosse) club for Millstone Park,” said Richie Skowronski, a lacrosse coach and the vice president of the township’s lacrosse club. “I am dedicated to the program for another six years and I am going to give a 100 percent effort working with our recreation department and commission to further expand Millstone lacrosse and put it on the map as one of the most premiere programs in central New Jersey.”
Speaking on behalf of Millstone’s Pop Warner youth football team, John Kuchar said Millstone Park will help the program save money on lighting costs because the fields will have permanent lighting.