By Kevin Coughlin
A skating rink? Carousel? Beer garden?
What would you like to see in Pioneer Park, that forlorn, windswept promenade outside of Morristown’s Headquarters Plaza?
Speak up on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. Ideas will be solicited between 6 pm and 8 pm, at 10 N. Park Place, by the high-profile architectural firm Ken Smith Workshop and the Morristown planning division.
The Olnick Organization and Fisher Development, joint owners of HQ Plaza, have agreed to spend between $500,000 and $1.15 million to transform the concrete park into something more user-friendly.
That was part of a 2014 deal in which the town sold its land rights beneath HQ Plaza to the developers for $1.6 million.
Ken Smith was involved in designing the Roof Garden of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and was a member of the THINK Team that proposed a pair of lattice towers to memorialize the World Trade Center.
He also is the landscape architect for the 117-floor World One residential skyscraper under construction in Mumbai, India.
According to Mayor Tim Dougherty, conceptual drawings for Pioneer Park will be presented at Monday’s gathering, along with discussions of similar projects. Public feedback will be used to create the final plans, he said.
How about a space that can be used for multiple purposes? Food, music, films, flea markets, art, education, etc.
I’m surprised that no one else has suggested this: How about a beer garden?
Isnt one Beer Garden enough for morristown..am sur we can do better than that
A ‘SPRAY FOUNTAIN’ similar to that which was put in Pier A Park in Hoboken!!! Kids can run through and around splashing and playing.
Indoor food market with some small shops, similar to Chelsea Market or Maxwell Road Hawkers Food Center in Singapore. Open year round. Great for locals and tourists!
I well remember the quaint corner of Speedwell Aveue and Park Place. It was full of character, filled with family businesses and character. Then, if I remember correctly, there was a town ordinance that stated that any new building must remain in character with the area. The area was torn down and the monstrous “1776” building, now Headguarters Plaza, was built. Disgusting!
Bob.. I am. and when the town allowed Headquarters to be built, they sucked the soul out of Speedwell Avenue.
I remember the pit.
I agree. An ice skating rink would be a good idea – along with a beer garden.
I second Steve S’ vote for a skating rink. I know Morristown isn’t as quaint as Quebec City, but they have a skating rink right in the heart of their town.
https://www.quebecregion.com/en/what-to-do/activities-attractions/ideas/skating-in-quebec-city/
check it out. And maybe some benches seating surrounding the rink.
Ideally something appealing for families AND a beer garden!
Warren Bobrow , Morristown hasn’t been colonial in a long time. You must be very old.
Somethings to attract families, like the Santa house on the green. Woman Rink comes to mind, amusement park in the summer (kids rides), and ice skating rink in the winter.
A hothouse with exotic flowers & butterflies ~ or an aquarium ~
it’s pretty sleazy there at night..
why not redo the entire complex.. mid-70’s architecture in a colonial town?
really ugly…
Use some of that vacant retail space and make it all flow together
Beer Garden!!!!