Berkeley Heights Council Announces Grant Awards for Sidewalks, Field Improvements

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - The Township of Berkeley Heights is thrilled to announce that it is the recipient of several more grant awards for infrastructure projects around town. They include:

• $1.27 million from the State of New Jersey Safe Routes to School Program for the ”Safe Streets, Happy Feet: Berkeley Heights Mountain Avenue Sidewalk Project.”
• $71,000 from the State of New Jersey the Local Recreation Improvement Grant for improvements to the Lower Columbia Fields
• $250,000 in state aid from the State of New Jersey in the fiscal year 2025 budget for the Lower Columbia Turf Field Project (PTRF).

The New Jersey Department of Transportation announced last week that Berkeley Heights received the $1,270,000 from the Safe Streets to School Program for the “Safer Streets, Happy Feet: Berkeley Heights Mountain Ave Sidewalk Project.” The Safe Routes to School Program administered by the NJDOT in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) acknowledge the overwhelming need to promote walking and cycling to school. The grant application was submitted to replace the sidewalks along Mountain Ave leading to Mountain Park School, from Grassman Place to Park Avenue; although the $1.27 million is not enough to replace that entire stretch of sidewalk, funds will be used to replace as much sidewalk as possible in that area. This grant is the second-largest grant awarded to the Township, next to the $1.275 million from the Transportation Set-Aside Grant Program for the Sherman Avenue Revitalization Project.

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The money awarded for improvements to Lower Columbia Park fields will be used for improvements to assist with drainage issues, divots and holes that pose injury risk, lack of natural grass, lack of lighting – and, most importantly, availability to CMS athletic and physical education programs. With enough funds and agreement from the BOE, the Township is considering the addition of a turf soccer field and baseball field to increase the usefulness of the field. If the turf project moves forward , it will provide an athletic field that is safe and available for all sports and users in Berkeley Heights. The facility is suitable for lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, and general use.

“We are so grateful for the recent grants the Township has been awarded to keep our streets safe for students, residents, and visitors. Additionally, we are very excited about the possibility of making great improvements to Lower Columbia Park for all of our residents to enjoy," said Mayor Angie Devanney. “I would like to thank the Recreation Commission, former Councilwoman Jeanne Kingsley, and staff for all of their hard work and diligence with seeing through the grant applications.”

For more information contact Liza Viana, Township Administrator at 908-464-2700 ext 2232 or lviana@bhtwp.com .

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