By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – Municipal officials have awarded contracts for the first phase of work at Millstone Park, a 186-acre recreation facility that will be developed on Red Valley Road.
On Dec. 7, Township Committee members passed three resolutions awarding contracts to Meco Inc., JNP Excavating, LLC, and John J. Fracas Inc. (Quality Electrical Construction Co.), for the first phase of improvements at Millstone Park.
Officials said the first phase of the park’s development will involve site work and grading, the construction of a park building and the installation of lighting on three general purpose fields.
According to the resolutions, Meco will be responsible for the site work and grading, JNP Excavating will be responsible for the construction of the park building, and Quality Electrical will be responsible for the installation of lighting on three playing fields.
Meco was awarded a $3.4 million contract, JNP Excavating was awarded a $497,000 contract and Quality Electrical was awarded a $532,000 contract, according to the resolutions. Each business was the low bidder for the work it sought to perform. The contracts were awarded based on the recommendation of Township Engineer Matt Shafai.
During a previous meeting, the committee members adopted an ordinance which appropriates $4.5 million for the first phase of improvements at Millstone Park and authorizes the issuance of $3.3 million in bonds or notes to finance part of the appropriation.
Mayor Bob Kinsey has said Millstone Park will have nine general purpose fields which can be used by any sports program. He said that eventually, six fields at the park will have lights.
The planned infrastructure work on the lighting of the first three fields will eventually allow lighting to be installed on three adjacent fields without destroying the surface of the playing fields, the mayor said.
The park building will have restrooms and a kitchen serving facility, but no stoves, according to a plan that was discussed earlier this year. Cooking will be provided by a portable food cart which will be placed adjacent to the building as needed.
Other features at Millstone Park are expected to include a trail that can be used for walking, jogging and horseback riding, and a boat-accessible pond that can be used for fishing and irrigation, according to Kinsey.
At present, the only location that is accessible to boats in Millstone Township is Perrineville Lake on Sweetmans Lane.
Kinsey has said he hopes Millstone Park will be functional by the end of 2017 and fully operational by the spring of 2018.
