Mulling over new baseball field begins.
By: Matt Kirdahy
Based on a plan formed by Brown and Keener Urban Design, the Township Committee has made it a goal this year to mix and match some playing fields on and around the Wright South property.
The committee will consider moving two soccer fields located on the western corner of the property to a location near the school’s tennis courts and building a Babe Ruth Baseball field in their place, according to Mayor Pari Stave.
The plans are included in a report by Brown and Keener that looks at possible future uses of the property. They were presented to the committee March 24. The committee will discuss the sports field option of the plan April 21.
The report also suggests building a library/civic center across from the school and Town Hall, designates an area for a public park and includes suggestions on ways to improve traffic circulation at the school. Brown and Keener was selected in April 2002 from a list of candidates to assess the future of the property.
The report focuses on developing 12 acres of the southern portion of the 40-acre Wright South property, located to the north and west of the school. The land was purchased by the township, along with the 82-acre Wright North property, in October 2001 for approximately $2.65 million. In April 2001, the committee decided to hold back 12 acres of the property from farmland preservation so that it may be used for future township projects.
Mayor Stave said the committee would hold off on the circulation plan because of a recommendation to build a driveway and extend the school parking lot.
Neither suggestion is needed yet, she said.
"The school has made other drop-off arrangements for the parents and students right now," she said. "So we won’t necessarily be discussing that matter this year."
Last year, the school board talked to the committee about a possible solution to the traffic problems caused by school vehicles.
The report calls for the construction of an additional access road into the school lot via Park Place West. It also suggests that a drop-off lane in the school lot be divided by a landscaped median near the school’s entrance to clearly designate the area from the parking lot.
The report also recommended raised pavement at the intersections of Park Place and Main Street and School House Lane and Main Street to slow traffic for safe pedestrian crossing. Bob Brown of Brown and Keener said the firm’s design alternatives on the Wright property were drawn with a list of objectives in mind.
Mr. Brown said the firm’s primary goal is to maintain and create open vistas to the adjacent surrounding farmlands.
He said the moved soccer fields would be an improvement over the current ones.
"The new soccer fields would be irrigated unlike the current ones," Mr. Brown said. "A Babe Ruth baseball field would replace those old soccer fields."
Mr. Brown called the new baseball field, which measures 330 feet from home plate to center, the "field of dreams."
"It’s because the property is bounded on all sides by farmland," he said.
A 4- to 6-foot fence would surround the baseball diamond and a warning track would border the outfield fence.
According to Mr. Brown, there would also be ample bench seating for fans and dugout benches built for each team.
East of the new location of the soccer fields and behind the existing tennis courts, Mr. Brown designated a small tract of land for general public use. He called the parcel "Cranbury’s village green."
"This lawn would be large enough for public events and for unplanned and unorganized recreation activities," Mr. Brown said.
Located between the proposed Babe Ruth baseball field and the school would still be the other two soccer fields and a softball field.
In the same design plans, Mr. Brown proposed a lot for a future library. The building would have to be between 8,000 and 10,000 square feet.
According to Mayor Stave, although the township is still interested in a new library for its site, it’s not a project that would begin this year.