On the corner of Main and High Street, an empty lot will no longer be an eyesore among the surrounding historic buildings and businesses.
The plan for Percheron Park is slowly moving forward. The park will begin to form as soon as enough money is raised for the project, Friends of Percheron Park’s spokeswoman Julie Maravich said.
Between creating a logo, building a website and 501© 3 certification, the organization will continue to raise funds until enough money is gathered to start construction.
The predicted construction cost for the park is approximately $200,000, Maravich said.
The township purchased the property in 2008 for approximately $350,000. Puritan Oil previously used the land as a gas station, she said.
Since the property used to be a gas station, a company is monitoring the grounds to make sure the land is safe, Maravich said.
“We are hoping in six months it will be clear and ready to go for building,” she said.
The initial idea for Percheron Park was presented in 2011 in honor of Edward Harris Jr., of Moorestown. Harris, the former resident of the Smith-Cadbury Mansion, encountered the Percheron breed while visiting France in 1839.
According Percheron Park’s website, Harris made several importations of the horse because of the breed’s stamina and strength. His plan was to begin a breeding program to improve the workhorses in the U.S., the website said.
Member of the historical society Lenny Wagner said he is glad to see the park is being created to honor a significant historical figure in Moorestown.
Wagner said the future park would sit on what was a part of the Harris farmland.
Rebecca Zellner sketched the design of the park for free, Friends of Percheron’s secretary Gina Zegel said.
The park will be surrounded by vegetation and landscaping. Hardscape and benches will make up the interior of the park.
But the main feature will be the life-sized bronze statue of Harris’ Percheron horse, Diligence.
Horseshoe imprints will be embedded into the ground leading to the Smith-Cadbury Mansion, Maravich said.
“It’s historically commemorating the person and horses that were so indicative of this area,” Zegel said.
