TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Before any redevelopment can take place at the 6.1-acre former Washington Township Swim Club, a thorough environmental survey by Boswell Engineering is set to dive in, officials tell Pascack Press.
The pre-demolition survey, estimated to cost $13,650 and funded by a county recreation improvement grant, is mandatory before any demolition of existing buildings. At a June 25 public input session, officials emphasized the survey’s necessity to ensure the site, on Ridgewood Boulevard North, is clear of any hazardous materials. (See “Great lawn’ concept an uphill sell — a nature preserve, maybe?” by Michael Olohan, July 22, 2024.)
Boswell will bring in labs and subcontractors to conduct asbestos and lead paint screening, a hazardous materials survey, a geophysical survey for potential underground storage tanks (USTs), and a limited soil investigation. “Actual cost will be based on the total number of samples analyzed,” says the proposal prepared by Frank Rossi, a licensed site remediation professional at Boswell.
As the township awaits these findings, the future of the site remains undecided. A leading proposal is a $4.5 million “great lawn” concept that features a wide-open green space, a walking path, a dog park, a playground, event space, and pickleball courts.
The Recreation Advisory Board has unanimously backed this idea, praising its flexibility for young and old, its potential as a new venue for community events, and its alignment with the conditions of the grant used to purchase the property. The board also points to its low cost and easy maintenance.
Alternatives, like a design for two baseball fields, remain on the table. However, officials warn that the site’s steep slopes and uneven terrain could make such a project both challenging and expensive.
Purchased in April 2022, the former swim club property has served as a temporary parking lot for large Department of Public Works (DPW) vehicles after the old DPW facility behind Town Hall was demolished due to contamination from leaking fuel tanks in the 1970s and 1980s.
Meanwhile, the township is advancing plans for a new DPW facility. At the Aug. 12 meeting, Mayor Peter Calamari urged the council to keep the project moving. Council President DeSena encouraged council members to prepare questions for the Sept. 9 session. According to Anthony Iovino of Arcari Iovino Architects, if bid specifications are released in November or December, construction could start as early as spring 2025.
For the swim club site, Boswell’s environmental assessment will cover asbestos-containing materials like floor tiles, caulking, ceiling tiles, insulation, plaster, and roofing. A Department of Health-certified inspector will screen for lead-based paint, while a hazardous materials survey will identify items like fluorescent bulbs, caulking, exit signs, switches, paints, degreasers, and batteries that need clearing out before demolition. The geophysical survey will employ electromagnetic and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to search for USTs from the 1960s-era structures.
Boswell’s final report will provide a comprehensive overview, including field observations, sampling results, maps of asbestos and lead-based paint locations, hazardous material identifications, budget estimates, and recommendations. A limited soil investigation will involve collecting six samples, with references to previous findings of PCBs above NJDEP limits at similar sites, suggesting contamination from pesticide use mixed with oil.
— With John Snyder