Some Middletown residents who live near Stevenson Park are expressing their displeasure with a preliminary concept plan suggested by township officials that calls for the possible development of up to nine athletic fields at the park.
Residents who said development would disrupt their quality of life are opposing what municipal officials have called a multi-phase project that could help Middletown meet a growing demand for athletic fields.
During a Township Committee meeting on Sept. 17, although no action regarding the park was on the agenda, dozens of residents came out to voice their objections about a preliminary concept plan.
Stevenson Park, which is located at 930 and 940 West Front St., is adjacent to the Shady Oaks and Shadow Lake Village adult communities, and to other residential properties situated along Shadow Lake. Shadow Lake is near the park property.
Residents who live near the undeveloped park said the noise that would come from games and events being played on athletic fields would disturb the peace in what they called a quiet area of Middletown. Residents said the area near Stevenson Park boasts serenity, noting the untouched land is is home to waterfronts and wildlife.
Residents also said the development could contribute to traffic congestion on West Front Street. Motorists would need to use West Front Street to reach Stevenson Park, a route residents said is already inundated with vehicles.
Municipal officials previously said they would rely on assistance from a Monmouth County open space grant to help fund the first phase of the project. Officials said they would apply for the maximum $250,000 county grant to fund the first phase – the development of two athletic fields and a gravel parking lot.
On Sept. 17, residents who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, expressed a united front and said playing fields would have a negative effect on the quality of life of people who live near Stevenson Park.
Residents said they were unaware of an initial meeting that was held on the matter earlier in September.
“I am very concerned with traffic and the environmental aspects of the sports complex,” Diane Fisler said, reading from a written statement. “Stevenson Park is a beautiful, peaceful park. This bucolic site as an active sports complex is frankly hurtful to the family, friends and neighbors who all love Stevenson Park for hiking, running, boating, etc. Extremely concerning are the traffic impacts which will dangerously overwhelm the narrow, winding West Front Street.”
Valerie Barney, who lives on West Front Street, concurred with Fisler’s remarks.
“We knew the risks of living on a busy street, but having the park across from us is worth it,” Barney said. “My in-laws live two doors down from the entrance to the park … They had to rebuild their retaining wall three times from cars slamming into it, we have probably seen five overturned vehicles and two fatalities.
“It is constant … When my children got their driver’s licenses, I was more afraid for them to learn how to pull out of my driveway (onto West Front Street) than to pull onto the Garden State Parkway. The thought of parents trying to pull onto that street from soccer games is mortifying,” she said.
Residents also took issue with the width of a bridge on the park property. They said the bridge that accommodates one lane of travel in either direction is not a feasible route for a high volume of motorists to use, especially if emergency vehicles need to enter and exit the park.
Residents said the bridge is only suitable to accommodate a one lane, one-way flow of traffic because of its narrow width. Officials said the bridge can, technically, accommodate one lane of travel in either direction.
Residents have also taken issue with pesticides that could be used to treat the athletic fields. They said the chemicals could have a detrimental effect on surrounding waterways if the chemicals reached the water.
Deputy Mayor Anthony Fiore said the concept of athletic fields at the park is preliminary and should not be interpreted as a final plan for action.
“No. 1, this is a concept plan,” he said. “Like any plan that starts, you take a concept and you see the potential, if it can work … Stevenson Park was selected for this project because there is no need to clear trees, it has open land … We will not build something that is not safe.”
Fiore said Middletown is seeing a growing number of children playing sports in each season of the year, adding, “There are 8,000 kids using our fields right now.”
Township Administrator Tony Mercantante said, “You are putting the Township Committee in an impossible position and saying, ‘yeah, we know you need to provide more fields, we don’t have a solution for you, go figure it out.’ Think about how realistic that position really is.”
Residents of the adult communities that border Stevenson Park took turns voicing their concerns.
Carmela De Cotiis said, “You came to Shady Oaks as a senior, retired, to enjoy peace and quiet. There will no longer be peace and quiet … It’s impossible to consider putting fields 100 feet behind somebody’s retirement home … You are caught in a dilemma. Are you going to punish seniors for the good of their children?”
“I can’t imagine how anyone could think (this project) was viable,” said Pat Foley, another resident of an adult community.
