Percheron Pocket Park Proposal Pitched

The old could be transformed into a pocket park honoring the Percheron horse’s place in Moorestown history, under a plan put forth by the Moorestown Garden Club.

Gina Zegel, a member of the club, unveiled the group’s vision for the site at Main and High streets. Her presentation to Town Council earlier this week included renderings of both a bird’s eye view of the site and an on the ground viewpoint.

“It is the bones of a relaxing pocket park in the middle of downtown,” Zegel said of the design concepts.

The design cuts a diagonal paved path through the site. On the Main Street side, a planned bas-relief—a carving in a stone slab laid into the ground—would depict Percheron horses, first brought to America by a Moorestown farmer. A series of horseshoes sunk into the pavers would lead to the bas-relief.

The outside of the pocket park would be surrounded by hardy landscaping, plants that Zegel promised would be low-maintenance and drought-resistant. 

Three-foot high retaining walls would both address the site’s steep grading and provide a place to sit. Additional benches are planned.

Other proposed details include:

• water fountains for humans and dogs, which would also provide a water source for the plants if necessary; 
• possible low lighting; 
• a historical mark sign explaining the Percheron’s place in Moorestown history;
• a bike rack; and
• a 1-foot stand of stone behind the retaining wall to redistribute run off from rain

All told, Zegel estimated the project at $110,000. Grading and paving make up the bulk of that amount, she said.

Plans for the park, which the garden club proposed calling Percheron Park, came together with some community involvement, including that of nearby residents.

Rebecca Zellner, who grew up in Moorestown and now works as landscape architect, designed the proposed park based on ideas presented to her. Zellner said the sight lines remained forefront in her mind, considering the park’s location. No matter what angle it’s viewed from, the effect should be cohesive, she said.

“There’s great potential for this site to be a place that connects people all over Moorestown with the history of the town, as well as being a place to mingle,” Zellner said.

Deputy Mayor Greg Gallo cheered the plan, saying Moorestown needs a permanent solution to “get rid of the (current) eyesore.”

The design “isn’t over the top,” he said. “It’s the type of thing that looks like, when it’s done, that it has always been there.”

While Town Council thanked Zegel and Zellner for the presentation, it’s likely the town won’t take action on the park any time soon. Money is one concern. It’s possible park proponents may take the private fundraising route, similar to what Friends of Fullerton did to raise part of the money needed to rebuild the park.

Then, there’s the required testing and cleanup at the Ward’s site that carries an 18-month restriction on development.

“That would put us installing the park in spring of 2012, but we’re hoping it can be sooner,” Zegel said. “Maybe we can work the design around the testing. Or the testing holes may fall within the hardscape areas, so we could work the stonework around the testing holes. When they get removed, we could then fill in the brick work.”

Mayor John Button said council would take up the park proposal as a discussion item at a future, unnamed meeting.