Cranford Community Weighs-In On Recreational, Open Space Upgrades

CRANFORD, NJ — The Township of Cranford Planning Board released the results of its "Open Space and Public Outreach" campaign on Wednesday, which solicited feedback on what improvements residents would like to see in the community.

Thousands of responses were gathered from an online survey, in-person sessions, an active stakeholder meeting, and environmental stakeholder meetings over the past few months. Residents were able to weigh in on recreation needs, environmental considerations, and preservation policies they would like to see Cranford's Open Space & Recreation Element Committee pursue.

Upgrades to Current Facilities

The responses largely echoed the need for more maintenance and upkeep at the recreational facilities in the Township. Aspects like better trail signage and clearer guidelines regarding accessibility to parks and pools were among the concerns.

Residents said they want more flat outdoor space designated for activities like yoga and tai chi, and added safety for pedestrians and bikers with the addition of interconnected bike/walking trails.

The addition of shade trees and enhanced flood mitigation efforts was also a concern. Sports fields, shaded playgrounds, outdoor pickleball courts, a skate park, a hockey rink, and dog parks were all mentioned as other welcomed additions to recreational facilities.

Stakeholders identified existing issues with many of the sports fields already in the Township. This included the need for improved scheduling for planned usages and better dialogue with the Board of Education to utilize all of the fields more efficiently.

Calls for enhanced field maintenance, including drainage, lighting, and walkability, were joined by the need for the desire to build a new turf field.

New Facilities

Residents called for an increase in collaboration between the Township and other official entities, such as the Board of Education and Union County as a whole. The goals for shared facilities and programs to be optimized through partnerships like these were a recurring focus of the responses.

One such area was the Verizon building, located at 1100 Orange Ave. The space is located near the Orange Ave. pool, and across from protected open space. Residents said they would like to see an acquisition of the lot in order to allow for the development of an open space recreation area in the northeast section of Cranford.

The Cranford Conservation Center is right next to the Verizon building, and provides another point of emphasis for responses in terms of development potential. The 18-acre lot of forest could be subdivided to protect the forest while still adding open area facilities.

Next to Town Hall, the former bank property at the corner of Springfield Avenue and North Avenue East offers an opportunity to build additional pedestrian access to the river walkway for safe transportation across North Avenue East.

Patch has reached out to Township officials and is awaiting further comment on the campaign's findings.