Madison Loantaka Park Upgrades Approved

MADISON, NJ - Loantaka Brook Reservation, one of the Morris County Park Commission’s most popular general all-purpose parks, is getting new playground equipment and restroom improvements, according to officials.

The Commission has approved enhancing the playground and replacing the restroom adjacent to the park’s South Street entrance in Morris Township.

The new playground equipment which will be located in the same area as the current play area. It will sport a variety of features for kids ages five to 12, including slides, climbers, fire poles, bridges and stationary cyclers. With safety as a significant priority, it will be partially enclosed with fencing and include engineered wood fiber safety surfaces. For the adults, there will be several benches added as well.

Another major improvement includes the demolition of the existing seasonal restroom to be replaced with a new pre-fabricated structure. The new facility will include three individual all-gender bathrooms, two of which are handicapped accessible. These new restrooms will be heated for year-round use. Additional Port-A-John’s will be available in this location during the temporary closure. Also, the nearby Kitchell Area restroom is open for use.

The project was awarded to Corby Associates of Ridgefield through a bid process for $303,000. The scope of work includes installation of playground equipment, pavers, and prep of the concrete pad for the restroom building. Also, the restroom building is a pre-fab structure that was procured using a vendor from Buy Board, which is a National Co-Operative. The cost of the restroom, including installation, is $188,000.

Loantaka Brook Reservation is comprised of 883 acres, with 9.9 miles of trails. This linear greenway through a lush flat terrain park is perfect for bicycling, jogging, hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and much more! There are both paved and unpaved trails through a variety of scenery.

What makes this park so unique are its four distinct areas that include Seaton Hackney Stables, South Street area, Kitchell Pond area, and Loantaka Way, with an area of the park also being dedicated as the Helen Hartley Jenkins Woods, officials said. For additional information on county parks, visit www.morrisparks.net\

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