Improvement Proposal For 'Worn Out' Burnham Park Unveiled In Morristown 

MORRISTOWN, NJ — After years of planning, the town of Morristown and the Burnham Park Association have finally presented the Burnham Park revitalization plan.

Burnham Park, which has been a part of Morristown for over a century, was donated to the town by Frederick and Catherine Burnham in 1911, with deed restrictions requiring the town to hold the park in trust as a public park.

A meeting last week at Morristown Town Hall outlined the completed revitalization plan and timeline.

The presentation by Andy Hipolit of Colliers Engineering and Design was the culmination of more than two years of meetings about how to improve the facilities.

As part of the new plan, the park was divided into seven major areas: the entrance and monuments, circulation and connectivity, playgrounds and pavilions, the meadow, the pool, ball fields and parking, and the ponds.

The goals of the revitalization plan include focusing on environmental cleanup and increasing accessibility throughout the park for those with disabilities while respecting and preserving the park's historic nature.

Hipolit proposed renovating the playground to accommodate children of all ages and to make it ADA accessible, as well as renovating the pavilions and access to the pavilions.

The town also intends to prioritize renovations to various ball fields, including the main facilities building and basketball courts, as well as to replace backstops and perimeter fencing and construct more benches and picnic tables.

One of the larger projects mentioned in the plan includes the hydro-raking of the ponds on site, which will help with removing invasive species and controlling the goose population, officials said.

Earlier this month, the Morristown Town Council approved a resolution to apply for a $2 million state Department of Environmental Protection grant, which would go toward hydro-raking at the lower pond at Burnham Park.

Anthony DeVisio, the town engineer, estimates that the project will take up to three months. He warned that, although the invasive species would return, the town would try to minimize this by maintaining the pond's water level and improving aeration.

The hydro-raking work, which may not begin until the end of 2024 or 2025, could result in improved access for the community, according to DeVisio.

"Once the project is complete it is anticipated that there will be increased recreation including fishing, boating and other water activities, and thus more overall use of the park by the public," DeVisio said

Although Morristown administrator Jillian Barrick stated that the project's full scope necessitates extensive planning and will take between five and ten years to complete, some residents expressed concern about how long it would take.

Officials said that figuring out the finances could cause a delay in the project because the renovations will cost around $3.1 million. Despite town officials' claims of available grants, the town budget will not be able to cover the shortfall, so the renovations will most likely be paid for in stages over the next ten years.

"We're planning to pursue any and every grant dollar that we possibly can toward supporting this project," Barrick said.

To view the full site plan and all of the potential renovation projects, click here.