Politics & Government

Committee Discusses Amenities at Metro Park

Park plan sent to Montville Planning Board for conceptual review.

The Montville Township Recreation Commission has been discussing for several years a master plan for the Metro Park complex and a vision for what recreational amenities may go there. 

The gave its approval for the site plan the commission has been working on to be passed on to the Montville Township Planning Board for review during the May 22 meeting, but not before briefly discussing some of the amenities included in the plan for the park, which is located just off of Changebridge Road by Barry's Pharmacy.

According to Committeeman Jim Sandham, the Recreation Commission is hoping to cater to the recreational desires of many residents throughout the township.

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"[The Recreation Commission] spent several meetings going through this site plan, relocating things to what they believe is the most user-friendly and efficient use of the property," he said.

Included in that is a proposed a roller rink and skateboarding section. Committeeman Don Kostka had some concerns about these features.

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"I see that the plan includes a roller hockey rink and skateboard area and what came to mind was and the sleigh riding at Camp Dawson and we had sleigh riding and then somebody got hurt and now we don't have sleigh riding," Kostka said. "So in the way I think, I'm asking myself, what's a more likely scenario, getting hurt sleigh riding or getting hurt skateboarding? Somebody getting hurt sleigh riding or getting hurt [playing] roller hockey?"

In March, Recreation Director Maryann Witty said there are also wetlands on the property that need to be addressed before further development and that the township committee would need to come up with a funding source to make the park a reality. The Montville Hockey Association has been fundraising and President Mark Armelino said in the park.

However, the committee did not discuss those items in detail at the May 22 meeting and just before agreeing to send the master plan to the Planning Board for conceptual review, Mayor Tim Braden confirmed with Township Attorney Martin Murphy that the committee can review details including amenities to be deleted from the project at a later date.

"We would consult our insurance carrier and make a reasonable and informed decision about what amenities we want in this park," he said.

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