RED BANK- The conceptual plans for Sunset Park include a soccer field, boardwalk, picnic pavilion and kayak launch.
T&M Associates Vice President and Practice Leader of Water Resources Christine Ballard and Staff Landscape Designer Thomas Lauro presented the concept plan for Sunset Park during the Nov. 27 committee meeting.
Sunset Park is located on the west side of the borough at the end of Sunset Avenue. The conceptual plan includes adding a great lawn/soccer field, a boardwalk along Swimming River, a picnic pavilion, wooded trails, sledding hills, a living wall to separate the park from the recycling center that is located near the site, a sunset plaza, a playground, a community garden, a pedestrian bridge, a kayak launch with six parking spaces, an entry drive and a parking lot with 36 parking spaces.
The origin of the process dates back to 2005 and testing began in 2007, according to Red Bank Recreation Director Charles Hoffmann.
“I would not say anything is wrong with the park. The area was formerly used as a landfill, so the borough has worked with our engineers, as well as the state, and it will need to be properly cleaned before it is opened,” he said.
“There is no developer yet at this time; that final portion of the project will be far later in the future. T&M Associates out of Middletown is the engineer, who has been one of the contracted engineering firms for Red Bank for several years. T&M has been involved in the project since its inception and has been retained to continue working.”
The borough will seek grant funding and other sources to help cover the cost for the park, according to Hoffmann.
“The concept plan is not completely finished at this point. T&M will be sending us several documents over the coming few weeks/months, including a remedial action work plan, landfill closure plan, site plan preparation as well as NJDEP [Department of Environmental Protection] permits and a HDSRF [Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund] funding application, Hoffman said.
For more information, visit www.redbanknj.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=75 or www.redbanknj.org/191/Parks-Recreation.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
