Federal Omnibus Bill Has Money To Improve West Orange Park

WEST ORANGE, NJ — President Joe Biden has signed a $1.5 trillion federal omnibus spending bill, and it contains $250,000 to pay for improvements at Degnan Park in West Orange.

Democrats and Republicans both scored political victories in the spending bill. Democrats were able to secure an agreement to increase domestic spending by 6.7 percent to $730 billion, while Republicans prevailed in a 5.6 percent increase in defense-related spending at $782 billion.

The sprawling, 2,741-page omnibus bill — the first major federal spending package of Biden's administration — also funds the government through Sept. 30, the end of the federal fiscal year, and averted a partial government shutdown that would've occurred at midnight Friday. It sends $13.6 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine and NATO allies to bolster the nation’s defense against the Russian invasion. Read More: $1.5 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill (5 Things To Know)

According to a statement from U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who represents the state's 11th Congressional district, the bill contains $250,000 to make improvements at Degnan Park in West Orange.

Sherrill released the following information about the funding:

"The funding will be used for the expansion of Degnan Park’s existing amenities and enhancement of the site for ADA accessibility. Degnan Park is located at Alisa Drive and Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange. The project will provide recreation equipment for low impact fitness geared towards older adults to help improve fitness and decrease loneliness."

"With this funding for our expansion project, Degnan’s Park will be an incredible resource to the West Orange community, especially for our senior citizens," Mayor Robert Parisi said, thanking Sherrill for her efforts.

"Enhancing the park’s ADA accessibility and installing recreation equipment for low-impact fitness will offer residents a great place to stay active and decrease loneliness in our town," Parisi said.

This article contains reporting from Beth Dalbey, Patch staff

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