2023 is shaping up to be a busy and productive year in Moorestown. Our council reorganization meeting was held on Jan. 9, where Quinton Law and I were both sworn in for another four-year term. Quinton was appointed Deputy Mayor, and I was honored to once again be appointed as Mayor. Senator Singleton was there to swear us in and joined us and Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel in celebrating the 90th birthday of Barbara Rich and all she’s done to protect open spaces and the environment in our community. We even officially declared her birthday (Jan. 12) Barbara Rich Day.
February is Black History Month, and we’re celebrating this year with something special. At the Feb. 6 council meeting, we’ll introduce an ordinance to rename the Beech Street Park after Armydis Sordon. Armydis lived at 18 Beech Street (where the park is now) and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in World War I. This will be the first park in Moorestown named after a black veteran.
Keep an eye out for equipment and materials to begin staging for the Lenola Streetscape project on Camden Avenue that will add a bike lane, trees and other plantings, benches, decorative light poles and more. That project is on track to be completed by early summer, and we’re already seeing increased interest from potential new businesses in that area. We’ll also begin work to replace the 100-year-old concrete water main under Main Street this year, and thanks to Congressman Andy Kim, Moorestown is receiving $2.2 million dollars of federal funding to help pay for that project. We’ll be starting with the section from the Kings Highway water treatment plant to Church Road this summer and repaving that section once the water main work is completed. We’ll do the same for Church Road to Poplar Avenue next year.
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our new township website at https://www.moorestown.nj.us/. The new design makes it much easier to find information you need and sign up for email or text notifications. It also features amazing photos from residents and a new community calendar that will include all kinds of public events, not just official township meetings. And it includes our new township slogan, “Historic charm, vibrant community.” This slogan was submitted by Moorestown resident Betsy Anderson and was chosen by hundreds of voters who participated in our slogan contest.
I’ll be writing these columns on a regular basis throughout the year, and we’ll be sharing them on the new website as well. I encourage everyone to sign up for notifications on the website, and if you’re on social media, follow the official Township pages (@MoorestownTwp on Twitter, @MoorestownTownship on Facebook and @Moorestown_Government on Instagram). Spring will be here before we know it, but in the meantime, if you’re looking for ways to get out, give back and stay warm, plan on joining the Moorestown Interact Club for Soup for the Soul on Feb. 11 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Community House.
