October 7, 2002

NEW TENNIS COURTS OPEN TO PUBLIC

RAHWAY – From left, At-Large Council Members Sal Mione and Nancy Saliga, Mayor James J. Kennedy, RHS senior Christine Beaver, RHS tennis coach Chris Remley, RHS senior Samantha Solimo, Elaine Berzinec, Gene Berzinec, Jean Wysocki and Council President Jerry Scaturo were on hand this week to open the new tennis courts on the corner of Central and St. Georges Avenue.

In March, City Council awarded a $371,000 construction contract to Fischer Contracting of Scotch Plains for the work.

            The park features five new regulation tennis courts, new trees and landscaping, new playground equipment and parking for approximately 50 vehicles.  It is open free of charge to Rahway residents until November 15.  When it opens next April for the season, residents can access the courts via an electronic pass key, similar to the one used to access the Recreation Center.

The tennis courts join a new playground that was installed this summer.  The entire park renovation is being funded through city funds and a federal Community Development Block Grant.

During Kennedy’s first term in the mid-1990s, the city built a playground and bocce ball court in the park, which was located behind the old library on the corner of Central and St. Georges Avenues.  The library was severely damaged in September 1999, when Hurricane Floyd dumped over a foot of rain on Rahway.  The City demolished the library last year and replaced it with a passive park.  The eastern third of the park, located along Pierpont Street, will remain as open space.

The park is being named for former Rahway resident William Berzinec, who was killed in action while serving his country during the Vietnam War.

“These tennis courts will go a long way in preserving our open space and providing more recreational opportunities for our residents,” said Kennedy.