Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio announced today that the Board of Chosen Freeholder’s has awarded the County’s 2014 Municipal Park Development Grants, which allow for up to $5 million dollars to be distributed amongst municipalities to assist in the creation and improvement of local outdoor recreation facilities.
This is the fifth year in which such grants– which have been used to build and improve local parks, trails, ball fields and other recreational facilities – have been allocated as part of the County’s national award winning Municipal Park Development Program.
“When we created this program our goals were to assist the municipalities, all of which had been hit hard by the struggling economy, and to allow those towns that pay the farmland preservation and open space tax but that do not have farmland to preserve to participate in the program in a meaningful way,” said Freeholder Director Garganio.
“To date we have awarded nearly $20 million dollars and the worthwhile projects these awards have facilitated are visible throughout the county, we look forward to the new opportunities that this year’s grants will offer to our townships,” Garganio continued.
Previous funds awarded through the County’s Municipal Park Development Program have been used for numerous projects which include:
Mount Laurel created a community garden to give their residents an opportunity to experience gardening by providing small plots to plant flowers or vegetables.
Hainesport constructed new trails that connect to already-established County trails, working toward a county wide regional trail system along the Rancocas Creek.
Woodland Township built its first youth baseball and softball fields.
Cinnaminson built restroom facilities at Wood Park, enabling locals to hold youth sports tournaments and large-scale town events.
Springfield Township created bike trails for their residents.
Bordentown Township added a Tot Lot and hockey rink to its recreational area, and also improved existing tennis and basketball courts.
Burlington Township replaced a street hockey court and improved existing basketball and tennis courts, along with various other improvements to local active recreational facilities.
Delran built athletic fields at Myers Tract Park, including a field specifically for handicapped individuals.
The grant program is funded through the County’s dedicated Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. No municipal cost share or “match” is required to receive this grant funding. However, the funding is exclusively for hard costs, such as construction and repair of facilities, and not for the purchase of equipment or for operational and maintenance costs. Funds may be applied to the acquisition of recreational land.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) awarded the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholder’s with a 2014 Achievement Award for the Municipal Park Development Grant Program.
Projects to be funded with this year’s awards will include:
Waterfront development to improve access to the Rancocas Creek in Lumberton
New gazebos at Flynn/Hilltop Park and Lime Kiln Alley Park in Bordentown City
Creation of an additional baseball field and other improvements to the Field of Dreams in Delanco
Reconstruction and expansion of tennis courts in Chesterfield
Lighting of special needs recreation fields in Delran
Improvements to tennis and basketball courts, along with the creation of dugouts and batting cages, at Wiemann Field in Edgewater Park
The creation of tennis courts in Mill Dam Park in Mt. Holly
Reconstruction of hockey rinks at Wesley Bishop Park in Moorestown
Construction of a Field House at City Park in Lauinger Field in Beverly City
The construction of a permanent restroom and concession stand at Memorial park in Mt Laurel
The construction of a boat launch at Amasa Landing Park and the addition of a restroom facility at New Gretna Park in Bass River
Rehabilitation of baseball and soccer fields in Fieldsboro
Construction of a field house at City Park in Lauinger Field in Beverly City
The rehabilitation of a street hockey court in Burlington Township
The creation of a pedestrian bridge in Memorial Park, along with the dredging of Steele Pond, in Cinnaminson
A field improvement project in Riverside
Redevelopment of Cliver Park in Eastampton
Improvements to Evesboro Downs, Willow Ridge Park, and the dog park at Savich Farm in Evesham
Improvements and repairs to Nash Park in New Hanover
Installation of a safety surface at four tot lots located in Florence Township
Improvements to two neighborhood parks, including basketball and volleyball courts and a construction of a new gazebo, in Hainseport
Court resurfacing and reconstruction of a tot lot in Mansfield
Improvements to Gazebo Park in Maple Shade
The addition of handicapped-accessible equipment and resurfacing of the playground in Freedom Park in Medford
Improvements to Schoolhouse Road in North Hanover
Creation of a pedestrian bridge and improvements to a former school gymnasium in Pemberton Borough
The replacement of a playground at Tensaw Drive Park in Pemberton Township
Improvements to walking and nature trails, playground equipment, and a train shed restoration in Riverton
Renovations at the Dingletown & Saddlebrook Ridge Recreation Complex in Shamong
A drainage improvement project at the municipal sports complex in Southampton
A 2.1 mile continuation of a bike path in Springfield
The lighting of two additional recreation fields at the sports complex, in addition to improvements to the Rancocas Nature Center, in Westampton
Reconstruction of Harrison Drive Ballfields, including the addition of upgraded lights and concession stand/restroom facilities, in Willingboro
The replacement of playground equipment and the lighting of fields, courts, and track at Elementary School Park in Woodland
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