New Walkways Coming To Chester's Highlands Ridge Park

CHESTER, NJ — The township has been awarded an extension of the 2022 Parks and Recreation Grant, allowing for additional ADA improvements to the 113-acre Highlands Ridge Park.

Planned improvements to Highlands Ridge Park include the installation of ADA walkways connecting Highlands Ridge Park to the parking lot and a crosswalk across North Road to Black River Fields.

Highlands Ridge Park, also known as the "Telephone Pole Farm," was formerly an AT&T long-term testing facility. The township isc in the process of developing a long-term plan for the use of this park, according to officials.

"The township received an appropriation from the state last year, that allowed for the replacement of the playground at Chubb Park, the instillation of a new playground over at Highlands Ridge, as well as the instillation of ADA walkways up at the top of Highlands Ridge connecting the parking lot to the area where there are fields and going toward the crosswalk," Mayor Mike Inganamort said.

With the grant extension, the township will now be able to add more ADA walkways on the other side of the barn leading to the new playground.

According to Inganamort, this addition is required by law for the township.

"It's a very logical place where you would put the path. I think this should be pretty straightforward," Inganamort said.

According to Township Clerk Robin Collins, the project requires engineered design plans to ensure ADA compliance, which will cost approximately $8,000. Once that is complete, the Department of Public Works will finish the excavation, and a co-op contractor will finish the paving.

All expenses will be covered by the remaining $62,000 in grant funds, Collins said.

Councilman Tim Drag noted that the walkway on Highlands Ridge going toward Black River Fields was put in on a "whim" and recommended improving the visibility of the walkway by petitioning the county for improved crosswalk markings and blinking lights.

"That was cut in when we were doing construction on the parking lot. If we are going to improve that further, we need to have a discussion about improving the visibility. If we improve that walkway, people are going to start crossing more frequently," Drag said.

Inganamort and the other council members agreed with this concern, stating that the council should continue to consider ways to slow traffic on the road leading to the crosswalk.

Because the road does not belong to the township, Inganamort said that he intends to contact the county to see what solutions they can provide.