Maplecrest Park: Meeting Tonight

Hello neighbors and friends of Maplecrest Park,

This week we were informed of a new proposal by the Department of Recreation to expand recreational facilities at Maplecrest Park. Director of Recreation Keith Knudsen has submitted a proposal to the Open Space Trust Fund committee to construct a basketball court and a sand volleyball court in the park. Currently the Open Space Trust Fund Committee is reviewing the proposal and discussing whether to recommend the project to the Township Committee in early January.

Keith would like to hold a meeting in order to present his ideas to us and gather information and feedback from the neighborhood about the proposal. This information would then be shared with the governing body so that it can be part of the review and decision-making process. Since it is the holiday season, we would like to have this meeting as soon as possible--next week, Thursday, December 17-- so that our feedback is captured in time for the January review.

The basketball court would be a full court and is proposed to be placed in the area to the right of the playground as you are facing Oakland Rd. For some of us who have been here for a while, this is the site of the old basketball court that was removed some time ago (where the base of the water fountain remains). The sand volleyball court would be placed in front of the tennis courts, where the poles for a volleyball net are now placed. The courts would be fenced, and no lighting is planned. This would be a multi-year installation project.

The presentation will take place in the courthouse of the Police Station on Springfield Ave. on December 17, at 6:30 pm. If you can’t attend the meeting, and have questions, please send them along so that we can share them that night. We will also send out a detailed summary following the meeting.
The format of the meeting will be a brief presentation by Keith, followed by a question-and-answer period, and then they will welcome people up to give their feedback individually. We want everyone to be able to give their thoughts, so we ask that everyone try to remain concise and on point so that we all have a chance to talk.

In other news, the DPW is in the process of installing emergency call buttons in the playground area and by the field closest to Forest Rd.

Was there not a way to inform people of this meeting with more than two.hours notice? Where would we have seen this?

Are they planning to fix the tennis courts? They are in a shameful condition at Maplecrest.  For some mysterious reason, the town decided to completely remodel the courts in Memorial Park, that did not need it, while letting the courts in Maplecrest die a slow death.  I assume it has to do with pleasing the YMCA, and JMF properties. 

Discussions about basketball courts always go so well. Like this blast from the past:

https://maplewood.worldwebs.com/forums/discussion/id/39314-Basketball-court-pistol-whipping-?page=1

I'll get the popcorn ready.

 they should fix the tennis courts I totally agree before putting in basketball courts.  and definitely also first redo the baseball fields before having either a basketball or a sand volleyball court.  

+1 on fixing the baseball fields that are used by hundreds or thousands of people vs. building a sand volleyball court that will be used by a handful of people - at best.  

Any feedback on yesterday's meeting would be appreciated.

+1 on fixing the baseball fields that are used by hundreds or thousands of people vs. building a sand volleyball court that will be used by a handful of people - at best.  

rags3 said:

+1 on fixing the baseball fields that are used by hundreds or thousands of people vs. building a sand volleyball court that will be used by a handful of people - at best.  

The cats will use the sand. 

I doubt the Director of Recreation Keith Knudsen will be reading this thread.  Best to contact him directly with suggestions as to how the open space trust fund money could best be spent in improving/maintaining Maplecrest Park.  

Without seeing the numbers, I would guess that restoring the ball fields, including the ever present drainage issue, is far more expensive than the facilities now being proposed and that the fields continued maintenance would require dedicated funding beyond that which the open space fund could support.

Adding a sand volleyball court to an area with drainage issues sounds foolish to me

rags3 said:

Adding a sand volleyball court to an area with drainage issues sounds foolish to me

There is no drainage issue where the volley ball court would go, and the make-do court that is there now is used regularly.

Keith Knudsen can be emailed at recdirector@twp.maplewood.nj.us

He was very clear that he was looking for feedback related to this possible project. And it should be stressed that this is only a "possible project" at this point ... They are very much in the fact/opinion finding stage ... 

Doesn't make sense to build a basketball court in the same place we used to have a court that we removed.  And I have tried numerous times to gather Maplewoodians for outdoor volleyball to no avail.  There is absolutely no need to build a sand volleyball court at Maplecrest.

Sand volley ball court = waste of money.

Fix the tennis courts and/or turn them into a multi-use court (tennis & basketball).  

The town has tennis courts in Memorial, Maplecrest, Borden, and Orchard Parks. I'm not sure if they are underutilized because of their condition or a lack of interest. 

I would also like to see the Open Space Trust Fund used to actually acquire or create new space, not to change existing space. 

I would also like to see the Open Space Trust Fund used to actually acquire or create new space, not to change existing space. 

Is there new space to "create"? Seems like the town is built out.

How many lots have opened up for new development in the past few years?  

The Town could have purchased the lot next to DeHart Park but instead we have a monolithic apartment building.  They could have turned the old P.O. into park space. They could buy Chyzowych Field.  

How many lots along Springfield Ave could be beautified and turned into a pocket park? 

yahooyahoo said:

How many lots have opened up for new development in the past few years?  

The Town could have purchased the lot next to DeHart Park but instead we have a monolithic apartment building.  They could have turned the old P.O. into park space. They could buy Chyzowych Field.  

How many lots along Springfield Ave could be beautified and turned into a pocket park? 

I'm afraid the idea of reducing density runs counter to every local, statewide, and national trend. Tearing down buildings to create open space, and creating open space right next to open space (a la the post office), seems highly unlikely.

Then don't call it the "Open Space Trust Fund."  Call it what it is, a slush fund for maintenance of existing parks.

jeffl said:

Doesn't make sense to build a basketball court in the same place we used to have a court that we removed.  And I have tried numerous times to gather Maplewoodians for outdoor volleyball to no avail.  There is absolutely no need to build a sand volleyball court at Maplecrest.

There are regular volley balls games there almost every weekend.  Just because they don't include your friends does not mean there is not demand.

max_weisenfeld said:

jeffl said:

Doesn't make sense to build a basketball court in the same place we used to have a court that we removed.  And I have tried numerous times to gather Maplewoodians for outdoor volleyball to no avail.  There is absolutely no need to build a sand volleyball court at Maplecrest.

There are regular volley balls games there almost every weekend.  Just because they don't include your friends does not mean there is not demand.

jeffl has no friends. 

That's not volleyball, Max.  

max_weisenfeld said:

jeffl said:

Doesn't make sense to build a basketball court in the same place we used to have a court that we removed.  And I have tried numerous times to gather Maplewoodians for outdoor volleyball to no avail.  There is absolutely no need to build a sand volleyball court at Maplecrest.

There are regular volley balls games there almost every weekend.  Just because they don't include your friends does not mean there is not demand.