Will the historic integrity of Cedar Brook Park be compromised by installation of artificial turf, removal of original trees and addition of bleachers and 1,500-watt lights? A hearing on Union County's proposed changes will be held 10 a.m. Thursday in Trenton and the public may comment.
The Plainfield hearing is among five on the agenda of The New Jersey Historic Sites Council meeting, to be held in the Public Hearing Room of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Building, 401 E. State St. Trenton. (Directions)
Cedar Brook Park was designed by the famed landscape architects, Olmsted Brothers of Boston. The park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. One of the objections to the changes is that they will affect the "pleasant vistas and gentle slopes" that are hallmarks of Olmsted design.
As described in documents on file in the Planning Division, the issue dates back several months. The Plainfield Planning Board had referred the matter to the Historic Preservation Commission, but Union County attorney Robert Barry objected, saying HPC Chairman Bill Michelson, also an attorney, had a conflict because of .his involvement with another county project in Rahway.. Barry also said no evidence had been submitted regarding historic conditions at the park area in question.
The proposal is for two fields, one full-size for adult use and a smaller one for children. Bleachers would accommodate fifty to 100 people. The county did drop a proposed scoreboard. Lighting would be provided by sixteen 80-foot poles with 1,500-watt halide lamps with shielding. Forty-foot high netting could be lowered for winter and for storms. A split-rail fence is proposed and twelve mature trees would be removed.
HPC members objected to the size and scope of the bleachers, possible light pollution, the type of turf proposed, overflow of parking into nearby streets and in general found the proposal "highly active" while the park was designed for the quieter, passive recreation of a century ago.
The HPC concluded that the project "cannot be done at all without doing violence to Cedar Brook Park." The case was "dismissed without prejudice" on Feb. 8.
Documents from the Planning Board and HPC are on file in the Planning Division and may be reviewed during normal business hours. The New Jersey Historic Sites Council is advisory and will refer its opinion to DEP Commissioner Bob Martin.
--Bernice
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I missed the planning board meeting but this sounds like a horrible idea. The park is to small to turn it into a soccer stadium. Bleachers for hundred or more. Where in the hell will these visitors park. I'm seriously worried about the direction this town in going in.
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:28 - this is a perfect example of a BS cynical statement. So you apparently missed the Planning Board meeting several months ago - which happens - but now you have comments such as "i'm seriously worried about the direction this town is going in" - why not do a little google search or post a question to the blog versus a snippy comment. What you might discover through some research is that both the HPC and the Planning Board attempted to have the plan modified from the original intent of the county. You also may have discovered that Cedar Brook park is a county park and does not fall under the jurisdiction of the city of Plainfield - so the HPC and Planning Board have fewer powers over the plan that would normally be the case.
DeleteAll this being said, you may want to make up for missing the PB meeting and try to get a large group of people to attend the state HPC meeting and try to stop this development. While the turf fields are probably acceptable, the bleachers and lights are not desireable.
Put the shoot from the hip cynic approach away and get yourself ready for the state HPC meeting in Trenton - there is still time for you to act.
My son recently played a baseball tournament at Branch Brook Park in Newark on a brand new artificial turf Baseball field (It has two of them) while soccer teams played on the beautiful artificial turf football/soccer field. The park is still as beautiful as ever. The Plainfield Recreation community needs this in the worst way. We are the only town in Union County without an artificial turf field. That's 20 out of 21. Westfield, Berkeley Heights, Scotch Plains, etc... Why can't we have nice things too?
ReplyDeleteWe have three youth football leagues, two youth soccer leagues, and many adult players who utilize the field as well.
Branch Brook is 5 times the size of Cedarbrook park. That's a poor comparison.
DeleteI would agree - I am very familiar with both parks (having lived near each of them) and Cedar Brook is not quite designed to handle all this development. From a maintenance perspective I get the turf field idea - but the lights are not necessary nor needed and the money can be spent elsewhere I am sure.
DeleteNewark's population is five times the size of Plainfield's. Everything is relative.
ReplyDeleteAnd branch brook park is one of many in the city of newark. We have 2 small parks so what's your point?
DeleteAnon 7:56...I believe we have 11 City Parks/Playgrounds NOT including the county parks Cedarbrook and Green Brook but continue....
Delete10:55.. The people are already using the park. The county wants to enhance it and make it better for those that already use it. I guess the county can spend the money in a more desirable community like those mentioned above.
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:07 - you must have misread my post - never said I was against upgrades or use of the park - I said "i get the turf field idea - BUT the lights are not necessary nor needed" - the savings from the lights can be spent elsewhere.
DeleteAnon 11:58... Considering the park should probably close @ 8 or 9 pm... The lights probably aren't necessary.
ReplyDeleteDo anyone know the outcome? Our children need this field, we are behind on giving our children the field they need to stay off the streets and play longer hours a good healthy exercise, there is nothing at this time historical or beautiful about the park, let's catch on with time people.
ReplyDeleteAlleast the house on Terrill Rd has FINALLY leveled !!!
ReplyDelete