March 11, 2002

CONTRACT AWARDED ON NEW TENNIS COURTS

RAHWAY, NJ – The new park and tennis courts that will rise on the site of the old public library moved closer to reality today after City Council awarded a $371,000 construction contract to Fischer Contracting of Scotch Plains.

The park will feature five new regulation tennis courts, new trees and landscaping, new playground equipment and parking for approximately 50 vehicles. Access to the tennis courts will be limited to residents who have electronic pass keys (similar to what is used at the new Recreation Center downtown). The eastern third of the park, located along Pierpont Street, will continue to be preserved as open space, and the bocce ball court would remain at its present location. Weather permitting, work is scheduled to begin later this spring and be completed by the fall. It 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 development of this park is good news for taxpayer and all city residents,” said Kennedy. “It provides our families with more needed open space and recreational opportunities while ensuring that the Rahway River will be able to flood naturally during heavy rains, reducing the threat to buildings and nearby properties.”