Non-Residents Now Able To Use Two Long Valley Parks

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Residents who live outside of Washington Township will soon have to pay to use another one of the township’s parks.

According to an ordinance that was introduced at the March 20 committee meeting, non-resident sports groups will be able to utilize the playing fields at both Rock Spring Park and now, additionally Palmer Park.

Township officials also stated that those two parks will be available for use by all groups/organizations/leagues, with resident groups/organizations/leagues having first priority.

All resident sports organizations wishing to use township recreation fields at Rock Spring Park or Palmer Park must pay a field usage fee of $10 per participant per season per sport, which is due two weeks before the first field usage.

That fee is doubled for non-residents, resulting in a fee of $20 per participant per season per sport due two weeks before the first field usage.

The distinction between resident and non-resident stems from the requirement that at least 80 percent of participants in a youth group/organization/league and at least 50 percent of participants in an adult group/organization/league be Washington Township residents.

Plamer Park, which is located on Bartley Road and Palmer Place, in Long Valley, is currently home to three softball fields, one Babe Ruth field, four little league fields, three all-purpose fields, along with a walking trail and a community garden.

Rock Spring Park, situated off of Springtown Road, features four all-purpose fields, three softball fields, one Babe Ruth field, three tennis courts, two basketball courts, a concession stand, a pavilion, a playground and a walking trail.

Township officials stated that the field usage fees will be placed in a separate trust account to be used solely for field maintenance or capital improvements to the recreation fields.

The ordinance will be considered for final reading and adoption at the Washington Township Committee's regular meeting on April 17, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at the Washington Township Municipal Building, 43 Schooley's Mountain Road, Long Valley.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the recreation fee for non-resident sports groups was a new addition.