NJ PROFESSIONAL PLANNER #3666

TOWNSHIP OF EGG HARBORATLANTIC COUNTY

MASTER PLANOPEN SPACE & RECREATION PLAN

OCTOBER, 1993

PREPARED FOR:

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONTOWNSHIP OF EGG HARBOR3515 BARGAINTOWN ROAD

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ 08221

PREPARED BY:

ADAMS, REHMANN & HEGGAN ASSOCIATES, INC.P.O. BOX 579

850 SOUTH WHITE HORSE PIKEHAMMONTON, NJ 08037

&-/

/ RANDALL E. SCHEULE, PP, AICP”

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIPOPEN SPACE AND RECREATION PLAN

Introduction

Due to its location within the Pinelands ecosystem and the Coastal Plain physiographicprovince, Egg Harbor Township exhibits a diversity of natural resources which provideunique recreation and open space opportunities. The Pineland National Reserve, whichencompasses a majority of the Township’s land area, is recognized as a nationallysignificant resource because of its unique groundwater reservoirs, geology, flora andfauna. The Pinelands National Reserve is also recognized as an International BiosphereReserve under the United Nations Man and the Biosphere Program.

In recognition of the unique characteristics existing in the Township, a Natural ResourcesInventory (NW) was completed in July, 1987. This NRI describes in narrative and graphicform geohydrologic conditions, soils, vegetation and wildlife. With the assistance of aNew Jersey Department of Environmental Protection grant, the NRI was updated in 1991.This update involved a series of field surveys which culminated with a final reportidentifying critical habitats for threatened and endangered species. Taken collectively, theNatural Resource Inventory and the threatened and endangered species habitat studyprovide the Township with the basis to establish regulatory policies for the protection andmaintenance of these unique environmental resources.

Pumose

The purpose of this Open Space and Recreation Plan is to build upon existing informationand develop a comprehensive plan for recreation and open space for the residents ofEgg Harbor Township. In addition to meeting the requirements for a recreation plan asnoted in the “Municipal Land Use Law” (N.J.S.A. 40:554-28.b(7)), this plan will also identifyunique environments and natural resources for which specific management policiesshould be established. This plan will also serve as a guidance document for theacquisition and improvement of open space and recreation areas in the Township.

The Plannina Process

Recreation planning must remain flexible and responsive as the demands for recreationand open space needs change. The recreation planning process is a continuing cycleof input/output and review/refinement. This process provides for continuous update andreevaluation of goals, objectives, priorities, and present and potential strategies. Thisprocess should be followed in order to accommodate changes and improve the qualityof the plan as a guide for making decisions concerning open space and recreation.

including private suppliers. The federal government’s role is to assess managementproblems in order to meet the recreation needs of citizens in addition to providing andmanaging open space and recreation facilities. Programs that meet the broad scaleneeds of outdoor recreation must also be funded.

New Jersey has the responsibility for recognizing trends in order to plan for competingpressures on the State’s resources. This responsibility includes the setting of goals andpriorities as well as the formulation of policy concerning open space and outdoorrecreation. Coordination of federal, state, local and private resources, provides the mosteffective use of state resources.

County and municipal governments are major suppliers of recreation. Countygovernments have the responsibility to acquire, develop and maintain parks andassociated resources that are broader than a neighborhood level but less than statewidein scope. Municipalities provide for neighborhood and municipal level recreation facilitiesand local resource protection.

Since 1961, a majority of local governments throughout the state have used the 50percent match available from the Green Acres program to acquire parkland and openspace. In 1974, a new facet of Green Acres enabled the use of bond money for thedevelopment of local recreation facilities. Until then, local park development was partiallyfunded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Since 1976, urban counties andmunicipalities have been able to combine Green Acres and Land and Water Funds for upto 90 percent of development project cost. Other means by which local governmentshave been developing outdoor recreation opportunities and preserving open space areby using land use controls such as zoning and subdivision regulations as authorized inthe Municipal Land Use Law N.J.S.A. 40550-l et seq.

According to the Outdoor Recreation Plan (1984), public school districts in New Jerseypossess over 12,000 acres of recreation land and facilities. They own most of thestadiums, gymnasiums, and running tracks, many of the ball fields, outdoor basketballcourts, and tennis courts and some of the nature centers, picnic areas, pools and trails.In some municipalities schools provide the only public recreation available to residents. ’Policies for public access vary from school board to school board. New Jerseyencourages the construction of recreation facilities adjacent to schools by awarding GreenAcres grants to municipalities for the development of joint-use facilities providing they willbe available for public use on a daily basis.

Institutional Framework

The provision of outdoor recreation is the responsibility of all levels of government

2

Goals and Obiectives

The primary goals of this Ooen Space and Recreation Plan are to provide information anddirection on open space and recreation for municipal officials which will lead to sounddecisions concerning:

1 . Improvement of recreational opportunities in terms of quantity,quality, and variety to meet the existing and future needs ofresidents;

2 . Protection of adequate amounts of open space for currentand future use, and preservation of the natural and culturalresources necessary to maintain and enhance the quality oflife in the Township;

3 . Optimum use of the recreation potential of open space landsconsistent with local natural and cultural resourcemanagement and protection goals;

4 . Effective and efficient use of Green Acres bond monies andother funds available for outdoor recreation and open spaceprojects; and

5. Coordination of local recreation and open space planningprojects with planning programs at other governmental levelsto achieve mutual goals.

The more specific objectives of this plan are:

1 .

2 .

3 .

4.

To present accurate, up-to-date information on the supply,demand, and need for outdoor recreation facilities and openspace resources;

To discuss alternative strategies for addressing open spaceand recreation deficiencies and to establish a mechanism bywhich recreation needs of future residents can be met;

To recommend and define policies and priorities affectingrecreational development and open space acquisition in theTownship; and

To link open space together, where possible, to provide a trailnetwork with walkways and bikeway paths throughout theTownship.

Existina and ProPosed Recreation Facilities

Egg Harbor Township -

Egg Harbor Township maintains major public recreation facilities at Veterans MemorialPark on Ocean Heights Avenue and Childs-Kirk Memorial Park on Thompson Avenue.These parks are both located within the Regional Growth Area and are accessible to themajority of residents. Specific improvements at these two parks are as follows:

Veterans Memorial Park (31 Acres) Childs-Kirk Memorial Park (10 Acres)

l Football Field - lighted*Tennis Courts (2) - lightedStreet Hockey Courts (2) - lighted,. Base Ruth Field - lightedl Baseball/Softball Fields (11)l BMX Track - lightedl Refreshment Stand

Goccer Fields (2) - 1 lightedl Baseball/Softball fields(4)-1 Lightedl Playgroundl Fieldhouse/Bathrooms

Delilah Oaks Park M.K. Betterment Park (1.6 Acres)

l Multi-purpose Fieldl Basketball Court*Tennis Courtl Exercise Trackl Playground

l Basketball Courtl Volleyball Courtl Playground

Oakland/Tremont Park

l Basketball Court

The Township’s Department of Parks and Recreation offers a variety of recreationalprograms and activities for residents of all ages and preferences.

The Police Athletic League (PAL) has recently made improvements to a building on TiltonRoad previously used by the Sixth District Rescue Squad. The building is regularly utilizedfor aerobics and has been improved with the construction of two lighted basketball courtsand two volleyball courts. PAL has plans to construct additional improvements at thislocation, thereby providing additional recreation opportunities for residents.

The Township also holds title to 13.5 acres of beach along the north shore of Lakes Bayin West Atlantic City. Swimming and windsurfing are common summer activities at thissite, however, parking represents a considerable constraint to development of this area.

4

The Cygnus Creative Arts Centre is located on a 5.4 acre site adjacent to the CouchoudCivic Center. This facility, which was formerly occupied by McKee City School No. 6, isutilized by this non-profit organization for arts education.

The Township has also initiated development of an Environmental Learning Center (ELC).This 13.6 acre site located on School House Lane, was formerly utilized by the Townshipas a gravel pit. Since establishment of the ELC, litter has been removed from the site,and it provides an excellent field laboratory for the study of successional revegetation.

Tony Canale Park, previously known as Pine Oak Park, is a proposed 27 acre parklocated approximately 1% miles south of West Jersey Avenue on the western side ofEnglish Creek Avenue. A variety of recreational facilities are proposed to be constructedincluding camping and picnic areas, tennis courts (2), volleyball courts (2), basketballcourts (2), softball fields (4), multi-purpose field, nature trail and amphitheater. Accessto the site.is to be from Dogwood Avenue via Sycamore Avenue. Although some clearingwill be necessary to construct the proposed facilities, the conceptual plan suggests thatthis clearing will be deliberately limited to retain most of the native vegetation. TheTownship will utilize a $150,00.00 loan from the Green Acres Program to financeconstruction of the park improvements.

The Egg Harbor Township Community Playground Inc., is a non-profit group organizedin 1992 to develop a community playground. The design and ultimate construction of thisplayground named Castle Park were dependent upon the efforts of volunteers anddonations. Castle Park is located next to the library on Ocean Heights Avenue. Thisplayground is unique not only because of its design, but also due to the sense ofcommunity it instilled in those individuals involved in this effort. Castle Park is a welcomeaddition to the Township’s recreation inventory and represents an important communityattraction for children and adults

Additional recreation and community service facilities can be found at the John CouchoudCommunity Center. The Community Center is located on a 9.5 acre site located onEnglish Creek Avenue and is used as a meeting place for various civic groups, as anutrition site operated by the Atlantic County Department of Human Services, and by theRecreation Department for a variety of programs and activities. Facilities include a bocceball court, miniature golf course, horseshoe pit and picnic area.

As noted elsewhere in this report, private developers also play an important role inproviding needed recreational facilities. At present, commercial recreation facilities includeKing Pin Lanes in the Cardiff section of the Township, Golf and Tennis World in WestAtlantic City and the Tilton Racquetball Club. A 24,000 square foot roller rink on FireRoad, which has recently opened, provides skating opportunities for residents of EggHarbor Township and adjacent municipalities. Recent residential development adjacentto the English Creek Center include construction of a tot lot and a larger recreation areawhich includes a basketball court, baseball/softball field and a multi-purpose field. Thesefacilities will become part of the Township’s recreation inventory once they have beencompleted and accepted.

Board of Education -

As previously noted, the Egg Harbor Township Board of Education (BOE) plays asignificant role in providing open space and recreation opportunities in the community.The following section indicates the presence of specific recreation improvements at schoolsites located within the Township.

EHT High School (76 Acres) EHT Middle School (29 Acres)

l Football Field - lightedl Soccer Fieldl Field Hockey Fieldl Baseball/Softball Fields (3)l Running Trackl Tennis Courts (5) - lighted .l Swimming Pool

l Baseball/Softball Fields (2)l Basketball Courts (3)*Tennis Courts (3)l Soccer Field*Tennis Courts (5) - lighted

EHT Intermediate School (44 Acres) Davenport School (23 Acres)

l Baseball/Softball Fields (2)l Basketball Courts (2)l Multi-purpose Field

l Baseball/Softball Fieldl Playgroundl Multi-purpose Field

Slaybaugh School (51 Acres) Swift School (52 Acres)

l Baseball/Softball Fields (2)l Basketball Court (3)l Multi-purpose Fieldl Playground

l Baseball/Softball Fieldl Multi-purpose Field

NOTE: The acreage figures indicated for the school facilities correspond with thegross acreage of the individual sites and include such improvements asbuildings and parking lots.

Atlantic County -

It is expected that residents of Egg Harbor Township will continue to benefit from landacquisition and recreation improvements by Atlantic County which are regional in scope.According to the Atlantic Countv Master Plan and the State Open Space and RecreationPlan the total county deficit for open space approximates 25,000 acres. This open spacedeficit is one of the largest in the State and is surpassed only by Burlington and OceanCounties. The report titled The Open Space Preservation Trust Fund - Master Plan andGuidance Document, prepared by the Atlantic County Division of Parks and Recreationdescribes several potential sites which, if acquired, would partially address this deficit.According to this study, these acquisitions will improve access, resource protection andrecreation opportunities. This report established the goals and objectives of the Countyprogram and developed a procedure for ranking projects. Funds for these acquisitionshave come primarily from Green Acres and the Open Space Preservation Trust which wasestablished in 1990.

Atlantic County purchased the 530 acre River Bend site in Egg Harbor Township in 1986.This site is located adjacent to the Great Egg Harbor River and has frontage on bothsides of Mays Landing-Somers Point Road (County Route 559) and Betsy Scull Road.According to the County’s Division of Parks and Recreation, the first phase ofimprovements at River Bend Park will include a 200 acre area developed with nature trails,two (2) lighted ballfields, archery and shooting ranges and a park information center. Thephased development of this park is anticipated to take about ten years.

Atlantic County has recently purchased the 18.hole Green Tree Golf Course located in theextreme southwest corner of the Township. This 241 acre site encompasses a 125 acrecampground in addition to the golf course and related facilities. The County hascontracted with a golf course architect to design certain improvements and upgrade thisgolf facility. The County is exploring the possibility of including a swimming pool andminiature golf course at this location. Acquisition of this facility by the County assures thecontinued use of this site for recreation while simultaneously precluding furtherdevelopment in this area. The continued utilization of this area as a golf course isbeneficial from an environmental perspective because this land is in close proximity to theGreat Egg Harbor River which has been designated as a Wild and Scenic River.

Within the past year, Atlantic County has purchased several land parcels in Egg HarborTownship for recreation/open space. The Powell Creek property is a 124 acre tract nearRiver Bend Park which was purchased by the County Freeholders from the ConservationFoundation. In addition to providing a linkage with River Bend Park, this tract containsuplands and wetlands which will provide suitable areas for hunting and nature study.

The 157 acre Nathanson tract, located along Betsy Scull Road adjacent to River BendPark, consists of uplands and wetlands. The recent purchase of this property by AtlanticCounty represents an expansion of River Bend Park and facilitates aquifer protectionefforts.

The lnterdevelco tract is located on Somers Point-Longport Boulevard (Route #I 52) justwest of Anchorage Poynte and consists of approximately 24 acres of coastal wetland andupland areas. This tract was previously proposed for residential development, however,since the necessary approvals and permits were not obtained, development of this sitecould not proceed. The County intends to implement a wetlands mitigation program onthis site.

With approximately $500,000 of funding assistance from the “intermodel SurfaceTransportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA)” and the non-profit group “Friends of the CountyPark Foundation”, will assist the County Division of Parks and Recreation in convertingthe abandoned Western Seashore Line into a bike trail. The conversion of this 16 mileright-of-way, which extends from the Shore Mall to the Buena Vista Campground, isdesigned to occur in two phases and is scheduled for completion in 1995. Phase Iextends from the Shore Mall to English Creek Avenue. Design improvements to the WestJersey-Seashore Bike Trail will generally include construction of an asphalt pathway 8 -10 feet in width. Phase II of the bikeway, which bisects the Pineland’s growth area, willprovide recreational opportunities for joggers, walkers and bicycling enthusiasts. Thepotential exists to connect this bikeway to nearby neighborhoods, new developments,shopping areas, schools, parks and other areas.

Although not a large site, Atlantic County has retained portions of the old wooden SomersPoint-Longport Boulevard bridge over Broad Thoroughfare as a fishing pier. A boataccess ramp along the northern side of the bridge abutment has also been developed.This recreational facility was made available several years ago when a new bridge wasconstructed as part of the reconstruction of Route 152.

In addition to these sites, the County has identified several other candidate sites in theTownship for future acquisition. Perhaps the most significant of these is the Malibu Beachwhich is located on Longport Boulevard (Route 152). This site consists of approximately300 acres of coastal wetland and upland areas which are important to resident andmigrating shorebirds and waterfowl. Acquisition of this site will provide additional areasfor public access to the Great Egg Harbor Inlet and offer opportunities for environmentaleducation. The State Green Acres program has targeted this area for acquisition due toits ecological significance. This area has been recommended by the U.S. Fish andWildlife Services as a “Critical Habitat” for piping plover, and identified by the InternationalShorebird Survey as one of the 20 most important migratory stops east of the RockyMountains for shorebirds.

8

National Wild and Scenic Rivers Svstem

Following over three (3) years of work by the National Park Service and a task forcecomprised of representatives from municipal, state and federal agencies, river interestsand local residents, segments of the Great Egg Harbor River and its tributaries weredesignated into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system on September 29, 1992. Thisdesignation is unique not only because it will ensure the consistency of federally funded,licensed and permitted activities with the goals of the Great Egg Harbor River Wild andScenic River Studv (1991), but also because it represents the first National Scenic andRecreational River in the State of New Jersey.

The lower GEHR and its tributaries contain large expanses of ecologically significant tidalmarshlands and bottomland hardwood swamp and contain sites with rare plants or plantcommunities recognized by Federal and State agencies and the Pinelands Commission.This area also senses as critical nursery habitat and spawning ground for anadramousfish, as well as resident estuarine and transient marine fish. The lower GEHR is also oneof only four areas in the State where commercially important quantities of seed oyster stillexist. This river segment provides breeding habitat for the Peregrine Falcon as well asthe Southern Bald Eagle, both Federally endangered species. In addition to its ecologicalimportance, the GEHR is the largest canoeable river in the New Jersey Pinelands. Thelower Egg provides excellent recreational opportunities for boating, fishing and hunting.

In addition to the 39.5 miles of the main stem, the following tributaries are also includedunder the Wild and Scenic River designation:

0 Miry Run - from its confluence with Great Egg Harbor River to Asbury Roadapproximately 1.7 miles, as a recreational river;

l English Creek - from its confluence with Great Egg Harbor River to ZionRoad approximately 3.5 miles, as a recreational river;

Lakes Creek - from its confluence with Great Egg Harbor River to the dam,approximately 2.2 miles, as a recreational river;

Patcong Creek - from its confluence with Great Egg Harbor River to GardenState Parkway, approximately 2.8 miles, as a recreational river;

The designation of the Great Egg Harbor River into the Wild and Scenic Rivers systemprovides formal recognition of the unique value of this resource. The importance of thisriver as a recreational asset has long been recognized by area residents. The Townshipshould examine its land use policies for the areas adjacent to the river and its tributariesto determine whether they are consistent with the maintenance of the river’s uniqueenvironmental qualities. Efforts to improve access to the GEHR should also be examined.

Open Soace Areas

Open space serves a variety of functions, often concurrently, which are essential insustaining and enhancing an area as a desirable place to live and work. Open space canprotect the quality and quantity of surface and groundwater resources, presencedistinctive natural, cultural and historic resources, and provide land for developing facilitiesto satisfy the needs of residents. Taken collectively, these functions serve to enhance thequality ,of life for area residents. According to the Outdoor Recreation Plan, there are807,625 acres of land dedicated to open space and outdoor recreation uses within theState of New Jersey. A goal of 1 ,OOO,OOO acres dedicated for open space and outdoorrecreation uses has been established for the year 2000.

The following open space areas within Egg Harbor Township were identified in the AtlanticCountv Open Space Plan, prepared by the Atlantic County Department of RegionalPlanning and Development. The value and importance of these areas has been morefully realized and documented in conjunction with the preparation of this report. TheTownship should examine ways to increase access opportunities to these areas.

Bargaintown Pond - -

00

52 acre pond straddling Egg Harbor Township and Linwood City border.Provides for swimming, boating, fishing, ice skating.Important habitat for wildlife and plants, both aquatic and terrestrial.Shoreline heavily developed with single-family residences.Maple Run is tributary stream.

I

Patcong Lake -

0 25 acre surface area adjacent to Spruce Avenue.0 Minimal development of southern shoreline.0 Important plant and animal habitat.l Tributary streams: Cedar Branch, Mill Branch, Blackman’s Branch.

10

*-

Patcong Creek -

0 Extends from Patcong Lake to Great Egg Harbor River.0 Lower segment (south of Parkway) designated as Wild and Scenic.l Significant biological diversity due to fresh/salt water interface.0 Fishing, hunting, boating.

Public and Quasi-Public Areas

The State of New Jersey has significant open space land holdings in the Township. TheNatural Lands Trust holds two parcels totalling 66 acres between Fire Road and the Cityof Northfield. The Department of Environmental Protection and Energy holdsapproximately 500 acres at various locations most of which are wetlands. In addition tothese publicly held lands, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation holds title to two lotstotalling ,124 acres adjacent to Zion Road. According to tax records, Egg HarborTownship holds approximately 850 vacant acres comprised of 21 tracts at least 5 acresin size each. Those State lands and Township properties, which are a minimum of 15acres in size, are shown on the Recreation and Open Space Areas Map whichaccompanies this report.

Outdoor Recreation Demand

The interaction of recreational supply and demand defines the open space and recreationneeds of an area. The demand for outdoor recreation is influenced by many factorsincluding population growth and socio-economic characteristics. Residents and visitorsalike generally seek a broad array of recreational opportunities ranging from active sportsto hiking, bicycling, camping, and horseback riding. The magnitude and diversity of thisrecreation demand represent a challenge to those involved in providing recreation. Thereis general agreement, however, among planners and recreation authorities that 25 to 50percent of the total park and recreation land of a community should be set aside foractive recreation. These facilities should be evenly split between playgrounds andplayfields. Fifty (50) to seventy-five (75) of the total recreation lands should be dedicatedto passive parks. Based on the recommended standard of 10 acres per 100 population,there should be, for each 1,000 people in the region, 10 acres of park land in regionalparks which are controlled by county, state and federal authorities. It has also beenstated that from 25 to 50 percent of the total space should be developed forneighborhood use, with the remaining acreage in community, or regional facilities.Considering a 1993 population estimated to be 26,819, a total of 268 acres of activerecreation area should presently exist in the Township.

11

f

,

Because of the diversity of functions performed by open space and the ability to quantifyopen space requirements for certain functions, emphasis in this report is given tostandards for recreational areas, minimum and maximum space requirements, locationof recreational facilities and size of population served, the types of facilities required forvarious recreational areas, and what age groups can be expected to be served by thesefacilities. There has been no attempt to include standards of design for outdoorrecreational facilities in the text of this report, though it is recognized that such standardsare of the utmost importance. Design standards have, however, been included in theappendices.

TABLE 1

BALANCED LAND USE GUIDELINES

Level of Government Percent of Area

Municipal 3% of State’s developed & developable area*

County 7% of State’s developed & developable area*

State lOok of State’s Area

Federal 4Oh of State’s Area

*Developable: Excludes acreage of slopes over 12%, wetlands, and Federal and State ownedopen space.

The expression of need generated from these guidelines represents long term goalsbased on the extent of developed, developable and undeveloped land resources and theneed to accommodate competing land uses. The balanced land use method takes intoaccount the fact that the demand for municipal open space, particularly recreation land,is largely generated by and attributable to residential development.

It is important to note that facility surpluses and deficits identified at the county level donot necessarily reflect conditions at the municipal and neighborhood levels. While thecounty figures are important indicators of the need for particular types of facilities, theyshould not be the sole determinant of the need for specific local facility developmentprojects. At least equally important is an assessment of the facility needs within theproposed service area to allow for consideration of the distribution of facilities andaccessibility of the facilities to the population which will be served.

1 2

*-

Although the balanced land use guidelines provide for long term open space goals, analternate method is needed to estimate more immediate needs. Over the years, ratios fordifferent types of recreational activity, and the space and size required according to thepopulation served have been established. These ratios can be converted into landrequirements and used by communities to plan the amount of developed open spacerequired. The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) for example,recommends a total of 6.25 to 10.5 acres of developed open space per 1,000 population,to be divided into a system of parks of varying sizes and distances from residents.

To determine community-wide facility needs, planners generally use a combination ofalternative methodologies, some of which make use of the above ratios. Among themethods used are the population ratio method (number of acres of parks or number oftennis courts per 1,000 population, etc.); developed open space based on percentage ofland area; needs determined by user characteristics or demand projections; and carryingcapacity of land.

Although there are problems inherent in the application of any standards which may berecommended, it is essential that some guidelines be established to enable the Townshipto adequately plan for open space recreation. The ratios in Table 2 have been utilizedin this report to set requirements and identify local recreation needs. These criterion willbe augmented by consideration of local factors including demographic characteristics ofthe population, economic conditions, existing facilities, regional preferences, and physicaland natural features.

Recommended development standards for specific recreation activities and improvementsprepared by the National Recreation and Parks Administration, which may be applicableto Egg Harbor Township, are included as Appendix A. For recreation improvementswithin the Pinelands Regional Growth Area, the standards and guidelines contained in PartXIV of the Comprehensive Management Plan should be consulted.

Recommendations and ImDlementation Strateqies

The Township should continue to assess the need for recreation and open space facilitiesas the community grows. The following recommendations relate to actions at the locallevel which could improve opportunities for open space and recreation activities.

I . The Township should work closely with Atlantic County tocoordinate future land acquisitions and improvements forrecreation purposes. Such an agreement should enable themost efficient use of resources and result in the provision ofrecreation opportunities which are both local and regional inscope.

13

2 . The Township should either independently, or in conjunctionwith Atlantic County, investigate potential funding sources forrecreation improvements. These may include, but should notbe limited to, Green Acres, a dedicated tax, privateinvestment, developer contributions and/or grant/loanprograms.

3 . The Township should revise its land development ordinancesas necessary to require new residential development to setaside areas for open space/recreation purposes and/or makea monetary contribution to a dedicated recreation fund.

The following chart contains cost estimates for variousfacilities which may be funded by voluntary monetarycontributions:

Facilitv Tvpe Estimated Cost

Baseball FieldBasketball CourtFootball FieldGeneral Use FieldPlayground w/Tot LotSoccer FieldSoftball FieldTennis CourtTrail (8 ft. wide paved)Associated LightingAssociated ParkingAssociated Landscaping

$30,000.00$20,000.00$25,000.00$20,000.00$35,000.00$25,000.00$30,000.00$35,000.00$5.OO/LF$40,000.00$20,000.00$20,000.00

4 . Existing streamways and/or woodlands should serve as thebasic linkage between major recreational play areas and/orschool site facilities. These natural linkages can providepedestrian and/or public paths linking neighborhoodresidential areas one to the other while simultaneouslyproviding areas for wildlife migration and nature study.

5 . The Township should consider purchase of one of the vacantschool buildings for use as a recreation facility, nature II

center/museum combined with offices for the EnvironmentalCommission, if the need for such a facility is demonstrated.

1 4

6 . The bikeway planned along West Jersey Avenue should beexpanded to connect to adjacent recreation and residentialareas.

7 . The associated costs of recreation maintenance must bebudgeted, lest the public’s investment in open space bewasted. The Township may consider the establishment of afinancial instrument which would cover the costs ofmaintenance for any public facilities donated. 3

8 . There are presently no Township parks which are maintainedeither exclusively, or in part, as passive recreation facilities.Based on a minimum standard of 2.5 acres per 1,000residents, there should be approximately 70 acres of suchparkland today. By the year 2000, this deficient is projectedto be 82.5 acres based on a projected population of 33,000people.

Although, the development of Tony Canale Park and RiverBend Park should alleviate some of the present and projecteddeficit for passive parkland, these facilities will not completelysatisfy the demand for such open space, and additional landsshould be targeted for such use.

9 . With assistance from NJDEPE-Off ice of EnvironmentalServices, the Township has undertaken a Waterfront AccessStudy which is intended to identify opportunities to enhanceaccess to local waterways. The results of this study shouldprovide the Township with specific recommendations foracquisition of land which will enhance waterfront access,thereby improving recreation opportunities.

10 l Park development should be encouraged in areas easilyaccessible to residents, and Township policies shoulddiscourage development of pocket parks.

Atlantic County Department of Regional Planning & Development - Division ofPlanning, Atlantic County Open Space Plan, February, 1985.

Atlantic County Department of Regional Planning & Development - Division ofPlanning, Atlantic Countv Master Plan, December, 1987.

Butler, George D., Standards for Municipal Recreation Areas, - National RecreationAssociation, 1962.

Department of Environmental Protection, Outdoor Recreation Plan of New Jersev,November, 1984.

Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersev Statewide ComprehensiveOutdoor Recreation Plan, 1977.

Department of Public Works - Division of Parks & Recreation, Open SpacePreservation Trust Fund Candidate Sites, 1991.

Moeller, John, Standards for Outdoor Recreational Area, American Society ofPlanning Officials, January, 1965.

National Park Service - Mid-Atlantic Regional Office - Division of Parks & ResourcePlanning, Great Egg Harbor River Wild & Scenic River Studv - Final Studv Report,January, 1991.

,

Pinelands Commission, Comprehensive Manaaement Plan, November 21, 1980.

Wallace, Roberts & Todd, Atlantic County Bavfront Public Access Plan, September,1987.

16

TABLE 2EGG HARBOR TWNSHIP

STANDARDS & DEMAND FOR RECREATIf.ML FACILITIES

Facilr’ty

Active

standard 27,000 Pop. Existing(Facility/People) Present Need

Current SlJrptus(+)-Facilities

33,ooo AnticipatedDeficiency(-) 2000 Population Future surplus(+)

Def iciencyC-)

Basetml I/Sof tbel I

Basketbat I

Footbet 1

Generat Use

Pleygromd/tot lo t

Soccer

Temis

voLleytmll

field Hockey

Swimming Pools

Beech/Swimning

Passive

1/lDoo

l/2000

1/1Dwo

1/6ooo

l/1500

l/5000

l/So00

1/20000

1/20000

l/25000

27

14

3

5

1 8

6

6

1.4

1.4

1

27

1 3

2

3

7

5

11

2

1

1

0

-1

-1

- 2

-11

- 1

5

0.6

-0.4

0

33

17

1 0

6

22

7

7

7

1.7

1.7

4.3

- 6

- 4

-a- 3

-15

- 2

4

-1

0.3

9.07

-0.3

Picnicking 4/1000

Fishing/Rotting/Canoeing 20/25000

Zoo, Arboretun l/1000

Trails (miles) ' l/2000

Parks (acres) 2.5/1000

108 acres 0 108 0 0

2 2 acres 10 12 0 0

27 acres 0 27 0 0

14 0 14 1 7 -171

68 0 -68 83 -83 4

17

r---- *=

/ L

V/N

SfUUVlI03lAWS

NOLLY II hIthI\liW S.l.lNf~ rlo’ON

SiWQNNOlLVDm

APPENDIX A

- continued -

NRI'A SUCCESTl5D IUCILITY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

A-/I

RECOMMENDmFACUJ7-Y SPACP,

REQUIREMEWS I

RECOMMWDEDSK’!‘!’ AND

DIMENSIONS

RFXlOUMPNDP.0OWENTATION

NO.OP UNffS FeRPOl’UU’l-lON sit!ikF

LOCATIONNUlliS

Conta tin0 ot tongthmm8 nou thowt~@outh*west with shootarIdn~ northorct.

l 606oA

l Mlnbnum 6OA

l Mlnknum 1lOA

Ml/ority of helm onIuw thmuth rrla.

-- % to I how ttmal t&no

l t/26,000

l 1/6o,oaB

1 per 20,m 16 to 30 mhtaa trwdIPnolr shouM accom timemndrto 3 to 6X 01 totaI(Hqnhtlwt at II tktr, )

2. *hdo @tatdud

Courw llyv ba l0ent.dIn communky # dhtrk(prh, but ahoukl not kom 20 mUo9 frompopuktbn cwttw.

l AUWQO trmth-&OCJ’ vrrdaII

Pooh #or @amrJ corn-

l .uhAnrr

. _.._ _ - . _ __ _ _. -