West Orange Gets $182K Grant To Improve Lafayette, Degnan Parks

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Lafayette and Degnan parks in West Orange are due to get improvements thanks to a $182,100 Green Acres grant.

Last week, Sen. Richard Codey and Assembly members John McKeon and Mila Jasey announced that West Orange will receive a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Green Acres Program grant, which is awarded to local governments and nonprofit land trusts to acquire open space, develop parks and perform stewardship activities on parks throughout New Jersey.

Funding comes from the Preserve New Jersey Act (P.L. 2016, C12), the enabling legislation for funding approved by voters in 2014, as well as loan and interest repayments, interest earnings, and previously approved projects that did not come to fruition, according to a joint news release from the senator and assembly members.

"Here in West Orange, we feel such a great sense of pride in our parks," Mayor Robert Parisi said. "As a result of this grant, the township is able to move forward with new volleyball and futsal courts at Lafayette and planned improvements at Degnan."

• See related article: West Orange Skate Park Finally Coming Together, Mayor Says

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Flickr Commons

Don’t forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page here.