By Kevin Coughlin
Challenge or nightmare?
For a landscape architect, Morristown’s Pioneer Park is a bit of both. Right now, it’s a barren, wind-swept slab of concrete, framed by harsh glass façades and traversed only by people in a hurry to get someplace else.
Ken Smith of Ken Smith Workshop hopes to change all that. He’s pitching a proposal to transform Pioneer Park from “grim” to green, as a venue for concerts and kids and weddings and farmers markets.
A small group of local officials and curious residents trekked to Headquarters Plaza last month to hear Smith’s revisions to plans floated at a public meeting in December.
“What we heard the last time was, this needed to be more family friendly,” said Smith.
So he came up with something greener and smaller in scale, with swings for children.
A place to complement the historic Morristown Green across the street.
“This offers more light,” Smith said.
There would be shade, too — around the perimeter, under a trellis-like structure from which porch-style swings would sway for the kiddies.
Twelve-foot junipers would help block currents that make the place feel more like a wind tunnel than a public park. Additionally, 13 trees–possibly willows–would be added to the space.
“It’s going to be another great open space for Morristown. What we are doing is a framework, of things to come in the future,” said Mayor Tim Dougherty.
The March workshop had been advertised as the final one. But the Mayor said he may convene another gathering, before the planning board holds public hearings.
Re-designing the park is part of a 2014 deal in which the town sold its land rights beneath Headquarters Plaza to its owners for $1.6 million. The owners agreed to sink up to $500,000 into the beautification effort.
Permits for special events will be handled by the town.
Council President Stefan Armington and Council members Michelle Dupree Harris and Toshiba Foster attended the March session, along with Larry Cohen from the zoning board. Kadie Dempsey of Morris Arts and Jennifer Wehring of the Morristown Partnership also were on hand.
RETAIL RESURGENCE?
“I feel like the plan keeps getting better and better,” said town Planner Phil Abramson. “This space could support a retail resurgence on the ground floor of HQ Plaza.”
The Headquarters Plaza complex houses the Hyatt Morristown, the Riker Danzig law firm, the Secret Service, a cineplex, a daycare center and the Mehndi restaurant, among other ventures. But a food court and retail establishments have struggled over the years.
Abramson said a revamped Pioneer Park could have outdoor café-style dining, which has become popular at restaurants along South Street.
Greening the park has proven difficult because is sits atop the HQ Plaza parking garage.
Smith envisions a foam lift, to enable planting of soil in the plaza, for greenery. A small lawn might hold between 125- and 500 visitors.
There would be room for a 60-by-5-foot event tent, as well as a portable band shell, capable of accommodating a 20-by-30-foot stage and an audience of about 200 people.
“We’re not going to host the Rolling Stones, not even Bruce,” Smith said. “Though you never know.”
