A variety of proposed park and recreation projects in Cherry Hill could receive funding later this year.
Cherry Hill Township Council approved a series of resolutions at last Tuesday’s meeting permitting the township to apply for five individual Camden County Open Space, Farmland, Recreation and Historical Preservation grants. Each of the five applications is for $25,000.
The projects proposed in the grant applications vary and include everything from new playground equipment and picnic areas to improvements to a local lake.
One of the newest projects proposed would take place at Croft Farm. The township has proposed using grant money to construct an observation tower and fishing pier on the property.
Bridget Palmer, director of communications for Cherry Hill Township, said the deck would be constructed along Evans Pond, which wraps around the woods surrounding the Croft Farm property. The deck would be accessible through the property’s wooded trails.
“Our goal is to link (the trails) to the observation deck,” Palmer said.
Another proposed projected would take place at Columbia Lake on the west side of town. Palmer said soil erosion and other factors have caused numerous problems near the water’s edge.
“Water levels are down a little bit,” Palmer said. “It’s not good for fish life. It’s not good for mosquito breeding.”
The open space grant would help pay for improvements for environmental improvements and reinforced banks along the lake.
The other three grants, if awarded, will improve facilities at three parks. At Point of Woods Park near Greentree Road, the township plans to make improvements to the tennis court, walkways and the picnic area. Similar improvements are planned for Ashland Park on the other side of town near Burnt Mill Road.
Improvements could also be on tap for the playground at DeCou Park. A grant application was filed to relocate and add to the existing equipment at the park.
Palmer said area residents alerted township officials to a number of areas needing attention, such as Columbia Lake. The feedback was taken into account when the township decided for which projects to apply for grant applications.
“It was a result of direct feedback from residents,” Palmer said about the application.
The Camden County Open Space grants will likely be awarded sometime in September.
New ordinance changing parking regulations on Valley Run Drive
Council unanimously approved a new ordinance prohibiting parking for many vehicles along the north side of Valley Run Drive between Cooper Landing Road and Rhode Island Avenue. Parking will only be permitted with a permit on Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The ordinance comes after residents in the area petitioned to Cherry Hill Police for the change. The ordinance moved forward after police found an excessive number of non-residential vehicles parking along the side of the street.
