TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Following unanimous council approval of an ordinance dedicating a $438,750 grant to improvements at the former private township swim club, several residents wondered about the status of the property and its future uses.
Ordinance No. 23-16 dedicated the total county 2022 Open Space land acquisition grant, $438,750 to improvements on the site, which was acquired for $735,000 in late April 2022.
Resident Mary Ann Ozment asked what was being done on the site, on Ridgewood Boulevard North.
Mayor Peter Calamari told her that administrators and the Recreation Advisory Committee and Boswell Engineering, were still working on a recreation plan for the club site. He said when a plan is completed it will come to council for discussion and possible vote.
Council President Desserie Morgan said she believed a committee would be formed when the recreation plan comes back before council, and that also there should be a special public meeting to discuss a proposed recreation plan.
“When we’re at that point, absolutely,” said Calamari.
Councilwoman Stacey Feeney said “The idea was to have an open conversation with residents” about swim club recreation uses.
Resident Diane Grimaldi suggested an online survey, and “reaching out early on” rather than after the Recreation Advisory Board had made a recommendation.
Pressed on uses, Calamari said, “Without a survey being done, we don’t know what the property will support.” He noted it was “premature” to put something out as possible if the site cannot support the use.
“There’s nothing off the table except for it being a swim club,” said Calamari, noting the council had approved a Recreation Committee recommendation not to reopen it as a swim club. He noted filling in the pools on the site was “not inexpensive.”
Councilman-elect Michael Ullman, who served on the council previously, asked if Calamari had any preliminary cost estimates for property improvements at the swim club and Calamari said no.
On Dec. 4, the council introduced an ordinance to store DPW vehicles at Our Lady Of Good Counsel Church that were previously stored at the club site, rankling neighbors. The ordinance public hearing is Dec. 18.
When council received the Open Space grant funds recently, it was a requirement to remove the vehicles from the swim club.
Calamari said Boswell Engineering had completed a topographical survey of the swim club site. He said Boswell was “superimposing” recreation uses that had been talked about on the map to get a better sense of what was feasible. He said improvements should be done in phases, over years, as grants become available.
Editor’s note: In December 2022, Calamari said on the town’s website under Projects & Initiatives, “I am confident we have excellent professionals and experienced and knowledgeable volunteers to help guide us through the process of deciding the best possible uses for this wonderful space and incredible opportunity.”
He provided links to:
- A letter from Recreation Director Eamonn Twomey.
- A Realistic Development Potential letter from Boswell Engineering “explaining the status of the property including current features and conditions as well as future potential uses.”
- A Boswell Engineering list “indicating fields in the area they are currently designing and those they have designed in the past.”
- A general concept proposal “showing location of where playing fields would be permissible on the property.”
- Environmental constraints elevation showing topography and usable/unusable portions of the property. “I want to emphasize this is the first proposed use.”
Calamari said “Boswell Engineering has extensive experience in recreation field development and has created a potential plan consistent with the needs of the township as indicated in the accompanying letter by Recreation Director Twomey.”
Twomey, the mayor said, “has been hands on-with the fields and recreation programs for over a decade. He understands the current needs and follows the future trends diligently.”