Get it done
Things appear to be moving forward with the construction planned for Meisel Avenue Park. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved $1.1 million for the redevelopment of the park. The county is also applying for state Green Acres funding of another $1.1 million, bringing the total cost of the Meisel project to $2.2 million.
In addition to this latest news, the Springfield Township Committee conducted a high profile public meeting with county officials at Jonathan Dayton High School, which attracted a much bigger crowd than is usually found at their regular Tuesday meetings in the Municipal Building. Tonight, the Township Committee is expected to show the Meisel plans to the freeholders during their Thursday meeting in Elizabeth.
All of this is good news in the sense that progress is happening. Regarding the park, residents probably have seen more activity on the part of the Township Committee and Union County these last few months than they've seen in the nearly three years the park has been closed due to contamination.
Much blame has been passed since the "park closed" signs first appeared in September 2001. Residents blamed the Township Committee for not communicating enough with Union County. And since the park is owned by the county, the Township Committee often placed blame on the county, saying they were causing the delay. Rightfully so, they claimed the county was ignoring Springfield while focusing on improvements to other parks.
And, of course, the county was quick to dispense with any responsibility in delaying construction and remediation, claiming the township did not communicate its needs clearly enough.
This all goes to show where the true responsibility for the park lies, which is where it always has - with the county. Being a Union County-owned park, it follows that the county should have control of the facility.
At the recent Dayton High meeting, county officials admitted that the park has been neglected and that they are committed to seeing the project completed. For residents who have been unable to use the park for nearly three years, that means waiting for the county to fulfill its promise and residents probably won't believe it until they see it.
The Township Committee can hope and present plans and cross their fingers but aside from keeping a vigilant eye on the county, that's just about all they can do now. They've done a large part of their job.
The big part is up to the county and it's time for them to get the job done and ensure that it gets done right the first time.
See other Echo Leader editorials on the park:
Positive steps
Courtesy of The Echo Leader Editorial - February 19, 2004 Issue
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