Good evening, and thanks to everyone who is joining us tonight both in person and online this evening. As a reminder, public comment will be accepted in person only, and we are live streaming for viewing only via Facebook. As always, the replay will also be available afterwards on Facebook, YouTube, and TV 36. 

I have a few brief items I’d like to cover before we get to tonight’s agenda.

STRATEGIC PARKS PLAN UPDATE

As you know, our Strategic Parks Plan was the first of its kind in Westfield – providing a long-term roadmap for our parks and recreation initiatives, and taking a holistic view of how we can improve our offerings for residents of all abilities and ages, as well as equitable facilities and access for both boys’ and girls’ sports. As I mentioned in my State of the Town address in January, implementing several of these recommendations is a 2023 priority. In light of our budget presentation tonight, I thought it  would be a good time to provide an update on the plan’s current initiatives and anticipated next steps.

I’ll begin with an update on the Edison Fields project, for which we recently received 11 responses to our Request for Proposals for an engineering, design, and construction management firm. We anticipate a contract to be awarded in April or May, after a steering committee comprised of members of the Town Council, the Recreation Commission, Board of Education, and the Recreation Department has had the opportunity to review the proposals and then interview the firms. This is the precursor to going out to bid for the actual construction work, with exact timing to be driven by the BOE and Edison administration in order to minimize disruption to their students. 

Meanwhile, we continue to forge ahead with other necessary park  improvements. As part of the proposed Capital Budget you’ll hear about tonight, $150,000 in seed money has been allocated to begin improvements at Houlihan/Sid Fay Field – including a permanent restroom facility and reconfigured parking and safety enhancements. The capital expenditures for these purposes will help get this work underway, and we plan to be reimbursed for $100,000 of this funding through the cell tower agreement with AT&T.

We will also continue our efforts to upgrade the Town’s playgrounds, which began with the first phase of the new Windsor Park playground last year, and will follow with the second phase this year. As part of our continued efforts to prioritize inclusion and accessibility, we will be applying for a grant to upgrade the Town’s first ADA-accessible playground at Memorial Park, and will also be donating materials toward the community-driven initiative to make the Lincoln School playground accessible for children of all abilities.

There are also important beautification and programming efforts underway, as we continue to work in partnership with The Friends of Brightwood Park, The Friends of Mindowaskin Park, The Garden Club of Westfield, and the Tree Preservation Commission. We recently provided details of the comprehensive and long-term tree care plan for Mindowaskin, and hopefully you’ve seen the new blooms on Daffodil Hill, which will be complemented by wildflowers over the next year.

But perhaps most significantly, as an important next step towards realizing our Strategic Parks Plan, is the work we are planning for Tamaques Park. I’m going to turn it over to Councilman Katz, as the liaison to the Recreation Commission, to provide additional details.

[Comments by Councilman Katz]:

At last month's Recreation Commission meeting, the Commission recommended moving forward with hiring a firm to create a design plan for Tamaques Park. The Town will issue an RFP to hire a firm to create a detailed design plan, which would be paid for by the Parks Improvement Fund. Building upon the initial concept that was recommended in the Strategic Parks Plan, we expect that the Tamaques plan will now incorporate an additional seven acres of scrub brush that has been deemed as sufficiently delineated from wetlands and suitable for an additional recreation area.

In response to community input, we anticipate the comprehensive plan to include walking trail improvements, renovated basketball courts, new pickleball courts, a permanent ice rink to ultimately replace the facility at Gumbert Park, additional playing fields, a dog park, upgraded bathroom facilities, and handicapped accessibility. Additional parking and a new entrance and exit from Lamberts Mill Road are also being considered in order to reduce car circulation and make the park safer for walkers, bikers, and joggers.

Perhaps what’s most exciting about the Tamaques plans is the chance to create recreational opportunities for residents of all life stages and abilities – from passive enjoyment of the park, to optimizing playing fields for our organized youth sports teams, to meeting the needs of our seniors, to advancing the growth of girls’ sports by accommodating the expansion of girls’ flag football, field hockey, and ice hockey programs. The Recreation Commission, working with Recreation Director Megan Schaffer, will be soliciting input from all stakeholders -- including neighbors, sports leagues, and general park users -- to ensure the final plan delivers on the needs and desires of our residents. 

The final long-term plan will be implemented in phases with funding through grants, public/private partnerships, and capital. We are excited about the possibilities of Tamaques and the opportunity to add diverse offerings, as well as continuing to expand field capacity for our growing youth sports programs.