B

A top Morristown City Council goal is to develop and maintain the community’s infrastructure, including trails, greenways, parks, etc., according to the recent Fiscal Year 2024 budget presentation.

In the 2022 Community Survey, Parks and Recreation ranked in the top percentile of importance, according to survey results, along with utilities, health and wellness, safety and natural environment.

The overall quality of the city’s Parks and Recreation opportunities ranked as ‘‘good,’’ according to 48% of survey respondents; 29% ranked opportunities as “excellent,” followed by “fair” (17%) and “poor” (5%).

According to the budget presentation delivered by City Administrator Tony Cox, the city was successful in obtaining American Recovery Act funds for the purchase of two portable ADA compliant restrooms for special events.

In order to “Maintain the Momentum” – the theme of the FY24 Budget – Cox proposed the city make a major investment in park facilities, to the tune of $4.5 million.

He cited projects at the Talley Ward Recreational Center that are completed or are currently underway: repairs to the roof, replacement of windows, renovation/replacement of plumbing and masonry expansion – and the purchase of basketball goal risers for $60,000.

At Wildwood Park, a proposal to install a soccer mini-pitch on the existing tennis court and add lighting for a cost of $135,000. A second mini-pitch is proposed for the dirt patch on the park property at a cost of $150,000. The park is located between Shields Ferry Road and Wildwood Drive in north Morristown.

A rendering of the proposed masterplan for Fulton-Hill Park, as prepared by Lose Design, was also included in the budget presentation.

Proposed spending at the park included in the FY24 Budget that would be included in a bond issue is $300,000 for a drive up to and parking at the Great Lawn, along with an electrical service upgrade for $125,000. An upgrade to campus lawn parking in the amount of $250,000 would be included in Community Development Block Grant ‘Cares’ funds. The addition of two pavilions on site, at a total cost of $100,000, would be included in the bond issue – as would the construction of six pickleball courts for a total cost of $360,000. The total proposed FY24 expenditure at Fulton-Hill totals $1,135,000.

Proposed expenditures at Wayne Hansard Park include adding a gravel parking lot for the baseball side, $75,000. A proposal to acquire 37 acres of property under option, $194,250. The proposed purchase of 76 adjacent acres would cost $988,000.

At Frank Lorino Park, the proposal to improve lighting at four of the ballfields would require $440,000 to be spent out of the FY24 Budget’s general fund. Other improvements – irrigation of five ballfields ($250,000), lighting the Challenger and one other ballfields ($150,000), along with dugout upgrade ($100,000), would be included in the bond issue. Also included in the bond issue is the proposed conversion of the two football fields to one 100-yard field, to include irrigation and lighting ($300,000) and the construction of four pickleball courts ($240,000). More proposed items to be included in the bond issue include paving the drive to Barron 2 and repairing the BMX track ($250,000), along with installing an electronic message board at the Morristown Farmers Market that will list Parks & Recreation events and messages ($60,000).

The proposed expenditures at Frank Lorino total $1,790,000.

Council goals during Fiscal Year 2024, as suggested by Cox, include exploring a second entrance into Frank Lorino and exploring the potential for purchasing additional land adjacent to the park.

A called budget meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday at the City Center. The first reading of the proposed FY24 budget will be on June 6 in Council chambers, with a workshop to follow if needed. A final reading of the budget is scheduled for June 20.