Moorestown Takes First Step Toward Parking Lot, Hockey Rink Improvements

Moorestown, NJ -- Moorestown Council approved a pair of proposed ordinances on introduction aimed at completing two major projects in the township Monday night.

Council unanimously approved a proposed ordinance on introduction to appropriate $1 million to be used for the total reconstruction of the Second Street municipal parking lot, which includes new curbing, piping, tree removal and any other details related to the complete reconstruction of the parking lot.

Council also approved a proposed ordinance on introduction to appropriate $150,000 to be used for the reconstruction of the hockey rink at Wesley Bishop Park. As part of that project, the dasher boards that are removed from that hockey rink will be repurposed for the hockey rink at Jeff Young Park.

Ricky Slade Construction, out of Bridgeton, submitted the lowest bid for each project, according to Township Engineer Bill Long, who assumed the position from the retiring Jim Ruddiman.

Slade bid $970,000 to do the parking lot, and $341,000 for the hockey rink. The township received a $250,000 grant to put toward work on the hockey rink project, and the Moorestown Youth Hockey Association (MYSHA) promised to put $80,000 toward the project.

Both estimates from Slade were lower than what the township estimated each project would cost, Long said.

Long was expected to recommend approving the contracts for Slade to perform work on both projects this week.

Long projected that construction should begin at the end of June or the beginning of July, and be complete by the end of the summer.

Construction work on the hockey rink would begin after the summer season concludes, around Aug. 1. Long said if Slade is approved for both projects, the construction company could work on them simultaneously.

Council approved both proposed pieces of legislation with 4-0 votes, with the public hearings set for May 23.