Potential Splash Pad Coming To Collinsville Park In Morris Township

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ — Long-awaited updates to Collinsville-Tucker Park may be coming later this year to Morris Township.

The project plan, which has been in the works for over a year, was first presented to the township council in late February during a special meeting.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill recently announced that the project will receive $500,000 in federal funding. The township also received $500,000 in federal American Rescue Plan funds last year, and it is currently pursuing grants from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the state Green Acres Program.

"Throughout my time in office, I have had many discussions with residents in Morris Township about the critical need for reconstruction and improvements to Collinsville-Tucker Park. With this Community Project funding, combined with additional American Rescue Plan funds previously committed to this park, we are making this project a reality," Sherrill said.

Collinsville-Tucker Park, located at 18 Monroe Street in Morristown, has been in need of a revamp for several years, according to community residents. The township first proposed renovating the park area in 2018, but no progress was ever made.

Here is a list of plans for the new playground area:

• Replacement of restrooms with accessible ones
• Restoration of basketball courts
• New shade pavilion
• New spray/splash pad
• Additional play equipment and seating with shade
• Open-play lawn
• Grass seating area
• Internal walking/jogging path
• Exercise stations
• New shade trees

"We want to make this bigger and better for all of you," Sherrill said during a press conference at the Collinsville playground.

The current tennis courts would be removed as part of the new site plan to make room for some of the new additions. During the special meeting, committee member Catherine Wilson inquired about the removal, questioning whether the public was included in the discussion.

"We found very low-level interest, both in the survey and from the community meetings about them. They really have not been used. They are more interested in the basketball courts and restoring them to their former usage and viability. There may be some future discussion about the tennis courts, but right now we do not see them as being a part of the project," Parks and Recreation Director Bill Foelsch said.

The park's maintenance costs are expected to double as a result of the additional improvements, according to Foelsch. The creation of a splash pad, which would be maintained by the same staff that looks after the Ginty Facility, is one of the more significant additions.

According to Foelsch, enrollment at the township pool facilities in the Collinsville area is low, so the new cooling area is expected to be well-received.

While the Green Acres grant award may not be announced until the beginning of July, the township intends to proceed with the design phase regardless of the grant outcome.

The township anticipates being able to award a construction contract by the end of the summer and start renovations later this year if everything goes according to plan.