Big changes in the works for Grove Park and Band Shell
By STEPHEN FINN
The Sun
Anyone driving by Grove Park next to Palmyra’s Borough Hall this week probably noticed the giant piles of dirt in front of the bandstand where once there was green grass. Worry not, changes are underway for the area, and everyone in town will be able to better enjoy the park once they are completed.
Last year, the borough was awarded $115,000 in grants from the Burlington County Freeholder’s Municipal Park Development Program.
In an award letter to Mayor Michelle Arnold, Freeholder Director Bruce D. Garganio stated:
“I am pleased to advise you that the Freeholder Board approved award of a grant to Borough of Palmyra in the amount of $115,000 in the seventh round of funding under Burlington County’s national award-winning Municipal Park Development Program. With this award, the Borough of Palmyra has received a total of $482,600 for improvements to recreational facilities since inception of the county program.”
The Municipal Park Development Program is offered to all 40 municipalities in Burlington County through the freeholders’ office and is funded by the open space tax collected on an annual basis. The money raised from the tax is distributed throughout municipalities to improve open spaces like parks and playgrounds.
“We’ve received numerous grants from that program,” said Borough Administrator John Gural. “We constructed a new park down on the riverbank that was funded by the Burlington County Municipal Park Development Program. We’ve made improvements twice now to Ethel Hardy Park on Market Street and to Legion Field. All improvements to those various parks came through that program.”
Upon receiving the grant, the borough turned its eyes to the Grove Park area and bandstand for redevelopment. Residents can expect new walkways, the addition of seating and tables, new lighting, bike racks, a new sound system for the bandstand and new landscaping.
The new sound system will be a boon to the popular Summer Concert Series next year, and the addition of seating and tables will add a new element to the farmers market where people can sit and enjoy the many food options available right there in the park.
The borough plans to add new artwork to spruce up the park. It has commissioned an original iron sculpture from Holzman Iron Studio in Philadelphia. You can see examples of the studio’s work at its website, ironstudioltd.com.
“It’s all about improving quality of life and making our public spaces as attractive and useful as possible,” said Gural. “It’s going to enhance all programs that operate out of that space.”
The earth that has been turned up in the park is part of the improvements being made. A new sprinkler system is being installed as well as new electrical utilities.
The borough is also adding a new archway to welcome visitors to the park and bike racks to accommodate commuters. Both installations will come from the same iron studio as the new sculpture.
“The archway and the metal bike racks are going to be reflective of the Tacony Palmyra Bridge, it’s a design based on the appearance of the bridge,” said Gural.
The park is due to reopen on Dec. 7 and will coincide with Santa’s annual visit to the township to ring in the holiday season.
To see a copy of the design plan for the improved park and get an idea of what the final product will look like, visit the borough’s website at boroughofpalmyra.com.