By Beth Carroll
Two and a half years ago, the town of Morristown, the Burnham Park Association, and Andrew Hipolit of Colliers Engineering and Design began a series of meetings about the revitalization of Burnham Park.
On Tuesday evening, Hipolit presented a detailed plan.
“The park is tired,” he said. “The park is worn out.”
The plan divided the park into seven major areas: The entrance and monuments, circulation and connectivity, playgrounds and pavilions, the meadow, the pool, ball fields and parking, and the ponds.
The proposals:
Entrances and Monuments: Develop a main entrance from the downtown area, make everything ADA accessible, and create a ceremonial grove for weddings or other events.
Circulation and connectivity: Provide safe and ADA accessible crossings and walkways, provide trails and walkways both through and around the park and ponds, and improve connections to the surrounding neighborhoods and downtown.
Playgrounds and Pavilions: Renovate the playground to accommodate children of all ages and to make it ADA accessible, and to renovate the pavilions and access to the pavilions.
The meadow: The meadow is a largely unused area of the park between the ball fields and the ponds. Create a naturalistic, accessible trail, evaluate existing vegetation, and install educational signs along the trail.
The pool: The pool is in pretty good shape, Hippolit said. The parking area needs to be improved and the fencing around the pool needs replacing.
The ball fields and parking: The ball fields are maintained by Morristown National Little League, but the rest of the area is the town’s responsibility. Prioritize the renovations of the facilities building and basketball courts, replace backstops and perimeter fencing, and provide accessible parking and walkways.
The ponds: The ponds require the most extensive and expensive work. Hydro-rake both ponds while removing invasive species and controlling the goose population.
Overall, Hippolit stressed the importance of accessibility and aesthetics. There is no pathway system through the park and access points are not clearly delineated.
In the proposed plan, paths would be installed so patrons could walk through and around the entire park and everything would be ADA accessible.
The audience, when polled, was fairly evenly divided between Morristown and Morris Township residents. And they were unanimous in their approval of the plans.
OPEN SPACE TAX?
How long will it take?
“Five to 10 years,” said Hippolit.
That’s when Mayor Tim Dougherty chimed in.
“I have a question I want you to think about,” the mayor said.
With the cost of the renovations totaling more than $3 million, the main issue is money. While grants are available — some of which already have been applied for — the town budget simply can’t cover the difference. Approximately one third of Morristown land is occupied by nonprofits and government buildings, none of which pay taxes.
Other towns have open space taxes, the mayor said. Even a one cent open space tax would raise a quarter of a million dollars for the parks. Would town residents be willing to pay that tax?
And since Burnham Park is used by so many Morris Township residents, would they be willing to contribute as well?
He said the town would be sending out a survey regarding open space taxes to all the residents of Morristown. He added that he would be in touch with the Township and the County for assistance.
Representatives of the Morristown National Little League thanked Hipolit for the proposed renovations to the structures at the field. But there was a question.
There are so many corporations and businesses here. Why can’t the town ask them to sponsor and pay for some of the improvements?
“The problem when you start putting corporate names all over the park is a legal one. Once you allow one company to do that you can’t prevent other possibly controversial ones to do so. Do you want to see a sign saying Morristown National Little League sponsored by, maybe, Victoria’s Secret?” said Hipolit.
“The uniforms would be nice,” piped up one audience member.
PICKLEBALL?
In the meantime, prioritized improvements already have begun.
One young mother raised her hand and asked if it was too late to request that the park’s playground be fenced in, claiming, “My son is insane.”
Hipolit nodded knowingly. “Good idea,” he said. “My kid ended up in the pond one time.”
The Burnham Park Association, an all volunteer organization comprised of local residents from the town and the township, provides stewardship for the park. The members help maintain the grounds, plant trees on Arbor Day and work closely with the town to identify areas of concern within the park.
It was donated to Morristown by the Burnham family in 1911 with the stipulation that it be preserved as a place for townspeople to escape the noise and bustle of town life.
With that in mind, the family refused a request by the town to add more sports facilities in 1976. Once trod by the likes of George Washington, the park must remain a natural, bucolic setting.
Even so, “things have changed from 1776 to 2023,” Hipolit said, describing some of the upgrades to the park.
“What about a pickleball court?” someone asked.
“No,” quickly responded Jillian Barrick, Morristown’s administrator. “There are other places in town for pickleball courts. Not in Burnham Park.”
With the desecration of thriving trees in Burnham Park that would have provided needed shade just as we are experiencing the most consequential evidence of climate warming this summer, I agree with the mayor on the following but wonder why I have yet to receive the survey?
“Other towns have open space taxes, the mayor said. Even a one cent open space tax would raise a quarter of a million dollars for the parks. Would town residents be willing to pay that tax?
And since Burnham Park is used by so many Morris Township residents, would they be willing to contribute as well?
Dougherty said the town would be sending out a survey regarding open space taxes to all the residents of Morristown. He added that he would be in touch with the Township and the County for assistance.”
That was in February, 2023. No survey yet.
So, sure, by all means, I welcome this tax and hope that survey gets done soon so we can move ahead on it. Morris Township should participate as well and enthusiastically. We are contiguous neighbors after all and should share the burdens as well as the benefits as we do with much else, our library, our hospital……
There are probably a lot of people who would be willing to pay $.01/$1,000 open space tax to fund this specific project. The problem is that once the gov’t gets their greedy little fingers on a new revenue source, they won’t let it go. So today’s $.01 will be $.05 in 3 years and we will still be complaining about the condition of the parks and public spaces. Allocating PILOT $$ is a good idea too, but you can bet that that money has already been spent.
here is an idea have Morristown use some of the PILOT mone they have collected for all the overdevelopment!!!!!
This town continues to overlook the youth. Not one turf field in the Morristown area for kids to use. Yet, we will spend $3 million on a park cause it looks old and tired. My kid has to pedal his bike 3.1 miles to a soccer net or lacrosse net. Pathetic.