To truly make our recreation programs the best they can be, we need a comprehensive, long range plan. For the past year, I’ve reached out to residents for their ideas and referenced the Recreation and Open Space Study we commissioned in my first year in office, 2012.
The details of the plan are being developed in partnership with our Recreation Advisory Board. The plan calls for a mixture of traditional and nontraditional recreational opportunities that will not only improve the quality of life for our residents, but also leverage our abundant natural resources and access to waterways to attract visitors, tournaments and tourist dollars to our community. Studies have shown that excellent recreation facilities, proximity to bike paths and improved access to waterways and open spaces increase the property values of our homes and businesses. These proposed investments make good sense for our ratable base and our quality of life.
We are thinking big and when we do, I believe the final decision should be in the hands of the taxpayers. That’s why I’m calling for a public referendum on a 30-year bond ordinance that would transform recreation in Middle Township for decades to come. It is only fair that those who will reap the benefits of the plan share in the cost over time. This would keep the impact to our current levy to a minimum, while taking advantage of historically low interest rates for municipal borrowing.
The Donohue Plan for Middle Township Recreation and Open Space
1. Take advantage of historically low interest rates to borrow funds to upgrade, expand and modernize our existing facilities in Goshen, Whitesboro and Rio Grande. These plans will include expanded fields and more practice space for our football, lacrosse and wrestling programs.
2. Maintain strong oversight of the Robert “Ockie” Wisting (Fort Apache) Recreation Complex project and provide the proper budget to fund future amenities there that will offer outdoor activities for our large and growing senior population in the Rio Grande area.
3. Continue to expand and improve on our bike path system. Working in partnership with Lower Township, we received funding from the county to connect our bike path with Lower Township’s path and the DRBA bike path to the Ferry. We have received final approval of county funds to expand the bike path northward to connect with a planned bike path in Dennis Township. My plan calls for new spurs to be constructed off of these paths that will tie into campgrounds and neighborhoods, and point cyclists towards local businesses as well.
4. Seek funding for an addition to the MLK Community Center in Whitesboro to construct a multi-purpose building that would be built to hurricane shelter standards. In a time of need, this would serve as an emergency shelter for the community. All other times, this would provide an additional, indoor basketball court and space for other community based programs in Whitesboro.
5. The next round of funding from the County Open Space Program puts the emphasis on improved access and creating amenities that encourage residents and visitors alike to enjoy our beaches, bays and waterways. Nature trails and birding towers, along with kayak drops and improved fishing piers, would allow us to take advantage of the great natural beauty of Middle Township in ways that protect the environment while providing better access and bringing visitors to our area.
6. I have had a preliminary discussion with Lower Township Mayor, Eric Simonsen, about partnering with Lower to develop a public-private partnership to bring an aquatic center to the County Airport. Lower Township is well along in developing this exciting plan. Middle Township could pay a portion of the operating costs and our residents and swim teams would gain discounted membership rates and preferred access to the proposed facility. This innovative approach would give us access to a state of the art swim facility, without expending a huge amount of capital for design and construction.
7. Petition the county for a branch of the Cape May County Library in Rio Grande. This could be a hybrid facility that could be part library/part community center, offering after school programs for young adults and a variety of services for our seniors.
8. Push forward with our plan for a new community park and recreation facility on Railroad Avenue in Rio Grande. In August we made our presentation to the county on a 1.2 million dollar application for Open Space funds to make this park a reality. We expect final approval any time now. This park will include a bicycle service station, a dog park, tennis, basketball and pickleball courts, as well as bocci ball and two playgrounds. This will be a great neighborhood park for Rio Grande residents of all ages.
9. We are performing our due diligence on plans to explore possible cost savings and a more professional approach through the privatization of groundskeeping and landscaping services. We should also seek public-private partnerships to defray costs and continue energy saving upgrades to our existing facilities.
10. All these steps should be tied into a larger vision of economic development for Middle Township. We must work with our neighboring towns and the county to attract visitors and businesses alike. By linking great recreational facilities and amenities to our growing eco/agri-tourism related businesses and our existing business base, we can build a real and lasting synergy that will help grow our economy while expanding and improving the recreational opportunities for all of our residents.
Learn more on Facebook @Tim Donohue for Middle Township, or email donohueformiddle@gmail.com.
Paid for by Donohue for Middle – 21 Acorn Lane – Cape May Court House, NJ
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