Politics & Government
Recreation Commission Discusses Camp Dawson Netting, New Bleachers
An idea for a water spray park was also discussed.
The Montville Township Recreation Commission discussed a project to install safety nets between the parking lot and the lacrosse field at during Wednesday night's meeting.
Originally, the commission anticipated that the project would only cost a couple of thousand dollars, said board member Daren Colaiacovo at the meeting, but after considering the project more closely with local officials, the project may cost more, because more netting is likely to be needed.
The net would be put in place to increase safety at the field.
"It's not uncommon for balls to be missed or not caught, so the netting is something I think we have to do," said Vince Monteleone, the lacrosse liaison to the board.
Monteleone said that parents often come onto the field, sometimes with small children, and may be unaware of the risks, but the netting would protect people from stray balls.
"It's a security thing," Monteleone said.
Though it seems that the project may exceed what was set aside for it in the lacrosse program's budget, it is currently unclear how much the project may cost in total. Colaiacovo said that the commission is working to get a quote as to the cost of the entire project, which will be completed by the Montville Department of Public Works.
"From a safety standpoint it makes complete sense," Colaiacovo said. "It's a big project."
Director of recreation Maryann Witty pointed out that after last year's improvements to a Camp Dawson parking lot, some money was left over. That money, she said, might be reallocated to help with the netting project, or potentially to help with new bleachers at Camp Dawson, a project that the program has been working toward.
Also discussed at the meeting was a project that The Kiwanis Club of Montville has been considering: an aquatic spray park to be added to the Community Park.
"It's playground equipment that shoots water," said Witty. "They're going to propose it to the township committee."
That proposal is likely to be on the next Township Committee agenda for the meeting scheduled on May 24 at 8 p.m., said Witty.
The Kiwanis club has been looking at similar projects in the state before making its proposal.
The next meeting of the Montville Township Recreation Commission will be held on June 8 at the at 7 p.m.
