Road and Park Improvement Projects Will Soon Get Underway

The first step towards putting several improvement projects in motion were taken Tuesday night  as the borough officials introduced ordinances which appropriate both grant funds and/or previously allocated funding towards certain projects.

Boulevard Streetscape Plan

The first ordinance introduced appropriates the $150,000 grant the borough has received from the Department of Transportation for phase four of the Boulevard Streetscape Plan.  This ongoing project, which began about two years ago, involves the refurbishing of the Boulevard with new brick pavers ribbons, new curb cuts and new lighting. Phase four will improve both sides of the Boulevard from Franklin to Hamilton avenues.

As was recommended by Borough Engineer Ken Jobs, the borough plans to go out for bid for both phases three (Jefferson to Franklin avenues) and four together in order to get a better price and to get ahead of schedule as work is hoped to be completed before year end.

A bid will need to be awarded by August in order to meet the requirements for phase three. Each phase is funded about 75 percent by a DOT grant in the amount of $150,000 and the borough puts up the additional $50,000 for the total cost of each phase, which is approximately $200,000, Borough Administrator Mike Kronyak explained.

Phases one and two – Washington to Kipp and Kipp to Jefferson – are considered complete, officials said.

Road resurfacing project

Money previously allocated in the 2010 budget will be appropriated towards road resurfacing projects.

The amount of $300,000 will go towards the resurfacing of three or four roads on a list of about 10 which are recommended by the borough’s engineer, Borough Administrator Mike Kronyak explained. Officials will also chose an alternate road to be completed if there are funds leftover for the initial planned road improvements.

Kronyak added that the borough goes to bid for these projects in the winter so that work can be completed in the warmer months ahead.

Another ordinance will appropriate funds for the resurfacing of Burton and Collins avenues. The amount of $81,000 comes from a Community Development Block Grant for this project.

Woodland Park Pavilion

The borough also introduced an ordinance to appropriate $140,000 towards the construction of a new pavilion at Woodland Park of which $69,500 comes from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund.

Grants have also helped fund the recent improvements to Woodland and Miers Park in 2010. Woodland Park now has a new walking path, the installation of new curbing and asphalt to prevent soil erosion and the playground got a new addition with the "Strata Stone" which is used for rock climbing.