Verona Council Discusses New Recreational Fields at Hilltop

This past Monday in the Verona Municipal Building, a Township Council workshop was held along with professionals and the public to begin discussions on the need for new and upgraded recreational fields. As more young families move into Verona Township, the need for expanded recreational programs becomes more important each season. However, expanded programs require expanded facilities.

Jim Cunningham, Verona Recreational Director commented, “We have 300 kids playing football and cheerleading, 250 playing soccer, 240 in lacrosse, and 750 kids playing baseball or softball. We do a very good job carving up the field spaces but it gets down to scheduling minute-by-minute and inch-by-inch. When we come out of those meetings, there are always requests for more left on the table. Sometimes we have kids playing until 9:30-10 PM on a school night. That says to me we can use more space….That’s why I say thank you to all for considering this project.”

The project Cunningham was referring to is the Verona Hilltop Park, Phase II, on the new White Rock Road. The original Hilltop Master Plan, concerning recreational fields and facilities was developed in 2005 and just recently resurrected. It included Veteran’s Field and Centennial Field on Linn Drive and the future Phase II fields on White Rock Road. Near the new connector road to Centennial Field, this parcel encompasses about 22 acres.

At this meeting, Phase II was presented by Township Engineer, Jim Helb, and John Belle of the Kinsey Associates, the planners for the project. The initial “active recreation” construction will include a new baseball field, adjacent to a new, multi-purpose rectangular field for soccer and lacrosse. Both fields will be lighted. Also included will be a playground with restrooms and a concession stand, as well as additional parking lots. Subsequent plans will be for passive recreation, walking trails and picnic groves on the north half of the parcel. There is also talk of a possible amphitheater in the future.

The funding for the project, according to Township Manager, Joseph Martin, will come from payment-in-lieu-of-taxes, or PILOT funds from the developer of the Highlands At Hilltop luxury apartments, also in Phase II at the top of White Rock Road. Martin added, “We will realize about $1 million a year in PILOT funds from the developer for the next 30 years. The Hilltop, Phase II recreational project will cost about $250,000, or 20 to 25 percent of the annual PILOT funds each year for the next 20 years. A project of this size, about four million dollars total, will not cost the taxpayers anything extra.”

Councilman Kevin Ryan emphasized, “Everyone should be aware that we could have our property taxes reduced by that $250,000 amount every year instead of paying off the debt incurred for this project. Whether or not this is a good idea, I assure you I will have an open mind about this just like the people up here.”

Jim Helb, the Township Engineer estimated that from “first shovel” to finish, the Hilltop Phase II should take roughly 18 months. But first the Council needs to discuss and authorize the project, review final drawings, have a public hearing, vote and adopt a bond ordinance and award the contract.