5 Open Space Projects Explained

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township Committee used its first work session of the new year to report on the status of five projects, four of which are financed in large part by county Open Space funds.
Mayor Timothy Donohue said he wanted to have the governing body and the public better understand “where we are” with these projects.
Avalon Manor Fishing Pier
The first project discussed was the replacement fishing pier in Avalon Manor.  The old pier, badly in need of repair, will instead be replaced.
The new pier will extend out an extra 50 feet, increasing the total length to 200 feet. The planned improvements include paving, some added parking, new lighting, and a fish-cleaning station, benches, a new cable rail system and increased Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility.
The project is expected to cost $794,387, with the county grant contributing $394,409 of the total, and a Community Development Block Grant contributing an additional $257,388. This leaves the township with a match obligation of $75,000.
One obstacle facing the township on this and the other county Open Space supported projects is that the county grants are in the form of reimbursement, meaning the township must find ways to finance the cash flow until county reimbursements can repay the expense. 
The project is estimated for completion in the fall of 2019.
Bike Path North
The discussion moved from the fishing pier to the extension of the township bike path north. Having completed the linkup south with Lower Township, the bike path is now set to move north with connections to Dennis and Upper townships.
No end date could be associated with the project since some issues involving rights of way and crossing private property still remain, as do issues related to wetlands permits.
The projected cost of the effort is $1.7 million, with a county grant that will contribute $1.6 million of the total. The expected township match is $110,000.
Chief Financial Officer Susan Quinones cautioned that all figures for the projects are estimates since the bid process could result in higher or lower costs.
MLK Tennis Court
A project almost ready for bid requests is the renovation of the Martin Luther King Community Center tennis courts. The current plan calls for converting one of the two tennis courts to four pickleball courts while maintaining the other refurbished court for tennis.
The work should go out to bid around April 15, with completion expected by June 30.
Recreation Superintendent Robert Matthews told the committee that he was happy with the conversion from tennis to pickleball on one of the existing tennis courts. Several nearby towns are also rushing to meet the growing demand for pickleball.
The project is expected to cost $144,680, with an Open Space grant providing $120,565.  That leaves the township with a $24,115 match obligation.
Rio Grande Park
The new proposed Rio Grande Park is situated off Railroad Avenue, adjacent to the southern bike path. Plans call for a variety of sport and recreation areas, a dog park, a bike repair station with new lighting, parking and security cameras. There will be a bocce court as part of the park amenities.
Municipal Engineer Vincent Orlando said the survey work would be complete in the next two weeks. He expects a conceptual park plan for consideration by the governing body by mid-February with a final plan in hand by May 1.
Orlando said he hoped to ready the committee to approve an award by June 15. With an anticipated 120-day completion process on the construction, the project is tentatively pegged to be completed by the end of October.
The estimated cost is just over $1.4 million, with almost $1.3 million expected in the county grant, leaving the township with a match amount of $24,115.
Norbury’s Landing
The township has long sought to develop public access points along the Delaware Bay while also protecting the wildlife habitat. In its 2013 Open Space and Recreation Plan, Middle Township looked specifically at a piece of township-owned property known as Norbury’s Landing at Millman Avenue and the Delaware Bay in Del Haven.
The area would provide access to waterways for fishing and even possible canoe and kayak launching, along with trails and wildlife viewing for support of eco-tourism.
A proposed project failed this year to gain a Department of Consumer Affairs grant for $400,000, tabling the $600,000 project for the time being.
The projects that are moving forward include a cumulative expectation of $3.4 million in Open Space grants along with grant match obligations.
While the township will need to allocate around $600,000 of its own funds toward the cost of the projects, it must also devise a short-term borrowing or other scheme to temporarily finance the $3 million to $4 million that will be reimbursed by the county after project completion.
Donohue asked the Finance Department to look at the schedule for these and future projects so that reimbursements would arrive as new commitments where needed.
The township has a number of projects that have garnered strong county support. The task is to establish a process that does not overburden the township with temporary cash flow issues.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.