Skip navigation.
Home » cape may


Skateboard Park, Ice Rink? Temple Students Offer Designs for Cape May's Parks, Trails

Sports and Recreation | Fri, 03/05/2010 - 1:24 pm | Updated 20 weeks 5 days ago | Read 2376 | Commented 16 | Emailed 6
Tags: cape may, cape may city council, parks, Temple University School of Environmental Design

By Jack Fichter

Enlarge

CAPE MAY — Students from Temple University Department of Environmental Design have narrowed down conceptual designs for improving Cape May’s parks, which include a skating rink and skateboard park.

At a March 4 town meeting town meeting, 30 students, who are seniors in a landscape architecture program, offered four concepts for Harborview Park, two images for Rotary Park, ideas for a trail through the city and a park near the elementary school.

Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr. asked residents attending the meeting to vote for their favorite designs, which will be translated into construction drawings by Temple students.
The mayor called it a major contribution from Temple since normally only a conceptual design is given to a municipality and a city engineer must create the drawings at considerable expense.

Instead of a design for the future Sewell Point Sanctuary in East Cape May, which the city is still in negotiating a purchase, Temple students provided conceptual designs for an open space park on Lafayette Street between St. John’s Street and Cape May Elementary School’s parking lot.
Mahaney said the site could be created in five to 10 years including environmental and educational parameters.

“That way the city will have one centralized, recreational area that will be for people of all ages…” he said.

Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) will be cleaning up contamination from a former coal-gasification plant that operated on part of the site. The city will own the land after a clean up and acquire some additional parcels and work in conjunction with the elementary school to create a “vast recreational area,” said Mahaney.
He said it is the only active recreation site in the city other than the beaches.

Tempe student Matt Shearon said behind a forested area on the property was a “beautiful pristine wetland.” He said JCP&L would install a filtration system in the contaminated portion and cap it with one foot of clean soil.
The park would retain a dog park, playground, basketball courts and a baseball diamond. New proposed features include a skateboard park, bocce and shuffleboard courts, a multi-purpose field that could accommodate football and lacrosse and sitting and picnic areas.

Walking trails would loop into the wetlands and the site would include parking for up to 65 cars. Another suggested design included a community garden, an area that could accommodate a farmer’s market and a fountain.

Student Robin Irizarry introduced ideas for Harborview Park that could include a children’s play area, a shaded portion, and a pier into Cape May Harbor. The park would have an overall low maintenance design making good use of rainwater with a cistern. His design included a seat wall, a memorial garden and a rain garden. Other design ideas included a butterfly garden, a children’s play area and a sloped grass meadow.

Student Scott Fisher said he wanted to bring nature back to Harborview Park. His design included an “educational garden,” which would label and identify every plant used in the park.
Fisher suggested a wrap around pier with perching structure for birds and a series of seating areas offering unobstructed views of the harbor with chaise lounge type chairs.

Student Jen Gilbert proposed a design with a “huge” rain garden and alley of trees followed by scalloped steps topped by a gazebo. Beyond the gazebo would be a meadow.
Gilbert also proposed including birdhouses. Her design included a 90-foot long pier into the water.

Student Denise Wood included a wooden pedestrian bridge in her design, coin-operated telescopes, cutouts for fishing poles on the pier and a table to cut bait. Her plan reused a number of materials currently in the park.

Temple student Jennifer Vaccaro presented design concepts for Rotary Park that would add two brick crosswalks, one from Jackson Street, the other from Lafayette Street. She proposed a sculpture at one end of the park and relocating the flagpole and memorial.
A long promenade would run along Lafayette Street bordered on both sides by sycamore trees. She said a large, brick plaza would surround the gazebo, which would have its wooden railings removed to offer a better view of performers.

Student Kali Whyte proposed a large lawn space and an ice skating rink that could accommodate 60 skaters. The rink would be disassembled each spring, she said.
Whyte proposed a long retaining wall along the lawn to be illuminated at night.

Other proposals included a fountain at ground level and a shaded plaza “café” area with tables and chairs. All the designs included use of rainwater with cisterns.

All the Rotary Park designs included eliminating parking on Lyle Lane on the park side of the lot.

Students also showed prototypes of a Cape May guidebook and Web site and designs for signage. The proposal included districts for the city: Harbor, East Beach, West Beach, Rotary Park and Museum District.

The guidebook would include maps, listings of businesses, an explanation of Cape May’s architectural styles and a brief history of the town. The book would include “things to do” and short trips from Cape May such as Historic Cold Spring Village and Cape May Winery.
The students and two professors will return for their fourth and final town meeting May 5 with final designs.

Print | Email Updated 20 weeks 5 days ago

Login or register to post comments

Comments (16)

We welcome your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Read our "Policies and Standards for Comments".

»

Fri, 03/26/2010 - 7:38pm - Posted by: Common Sense

I actually think Terry O'brien is pretty terriffic. I love his column and I love hearing about his kids. I suspect that capemayjul is a militant lesbian and she's angry that her beard is not growing as nicely as she had hoped.

»

Fri, 03/12/2010 - 1:08pm - Posted by: Terry OBrien

I'm not sure what quire and shone have to do with anything, but if I committed the unpardonable sin of a typo, I apologize.

My column is just that; my column, and I am free to write about what I wish. Yes, I often remark on my children and their (often humorous) behavior. if you wish to leave comments on the Exit Zero website or write me an email suggesting I write less about my family, that is acceptable. Not acceptable is commenting on my, or anyone else's, children because you don't like me. They're 8, 7 and 4. You can go ahead and leave them out of it.

But I will suggest, once again, if you don't like my column simply turn past it.

As for your personal attack on me, in case you haven't been paying attention, I have removed myself from the job that placed me in precarious situations in my battle with the bottle. Unlike you, apparently, I am not perfect and thusly unqualified to cast the first stone.

I have never shied away from my demons, I won't start doing it now.

»

Thu, 03/11/2010 - 4:40pm - Posted by: GL

This thread is pretty darn funny. BUT, I have a simple question; why is CM using students from Temple? At the very least it should be Rutgers.

»

Thu, 03/11/2010 - 8:29am - Posted by: capemayjul

For a writer Terry CAN'T "shone", "quire" drunk typing...and you are the one who brings your kids into your rambling "column. And you are no Cape May Dude, Elverson but not Cape May.

»

Wed, 03/10/2010 - 9:38am - Posted by: Terry OBrien

CrewChef: Sometimes I don't see the unintended consequences of my words. I have a great 17-year history with the Mug and my comments may not have shone them in the best light. I'm basically saying, "The words of Terry O'Brien do not represent those of the Ugly Mug or any other establishment." That's all.

I didn't "cave" and no one pressured me, but I can recognize my own stupidity when I see it.

Thank you for not going out of your way to drag my kids into it.

»

Wed, 03/10/2010 - 9:18am - Posted by: CrewChef

Did Terry Cave under pressure from the Mug. A retraction by Terry Obrien? Terry the Mug will have you back you are the best Kar e Oke in town...wait you're the only one. Its a free city and you can express your opinion.

»

Tue, 03/09/2010 - 1:52pm - Posted by: Terry OBrien

It is entirely possible and fairly likely that my comments were made in haste and in the heat of the moment. In retrospect it was only 2-3 of them that really got under my skin with their behavior and disregard for those around them. As the owner/ operator of my own karaoke business, yes, it was quire distressing to see the abuse my microphones and speakers were going through. But my opinion has nothing whatsoever to do with the Mug. It is mine and mine only and, much as I learned in my first couple of years writing my own Cape May column, the power of the printed word is mighty and disseminates quickly.

To capemayjul: You can attack me personally all you want. I can take it. But if you don't like my Exit Zero column, don't read it. It's pretty easy to avoid if you try. I suppose I could have signed up as "CapeMayDude16233", but alas.

»

Sun, 03/07/2010 - 6:44pm - Posted by: Ugly Mug 2133

The Ugly Mug staff would like to say that the Temple Students are welcome at the Mug anytime. They were just college kids having a good time. At no point did we feel that they were a threat to us or anyone else. They stuck to there group and just seemed to be enjoying themselves. There were no fights or anything along those lines whatsoever. If there was a law against bad singing than they would be in big trouble. They arent going to be on American Idol anytime soon. But thats what karaoke is all about.

»

Sun, 03/07/2010 - 3:15pm - Posted by: capemaygasworks

The entrance lighthouses (LOL) were planned and designed before the Temple students became so involved in the future of Cape May. Maybe Temple can open a campus in Cape May and rent the new Convention Hall. The Temple students work looks a lot better than the designs for Washington Street Mall and Convention Hall ... and those two things were designed by 'professionals'. Yes, Getoverit, Ed does not seem to know that in the current form of government he is, in fact, the 'wedding mayor' and little else when it comes to running the city.

»

Sun, 03/07/2010 - 1:13pm - Posted by: getoverit

if they are the ones who designed those kindergarten looking lighthouses that are on the way into town on the brideg then Cape May is in alot of trouble. Ed try to be the wedding mayor you are supposed to be and stay out of actual town operations.

»

Sun, 03/07/2010 - 1:05pm - Posted by: capemayjul

Terry O'Brien commenting on drunken idiots now that's rich. How many DUIs does he have? Get a real job and stop boring us to death with the details of your children's toilet habits. Terry can show them how to drink all day and then drive home.

»

Sat, 03/06/2010 - 3:34pm - Posted by: Terry OBrien

I had the great pleasure (not) of providing entertainment for these "students" Thursday night in a Cape May bar and they were an absolute disgrace, behaving as if they all were having their first beer; knocking bar stools over, abusing my music equipment, generally acting like boorish buffoons. The lone female in the group could have charged a half-dozen of them with attempted assault were she not so good-natured (and hammered herself).

Good job of representing Temple, idiots.

»

Sat, 03/06/2010 - 9:19am - Posted by: cmwatchdog

Why are we wasting money on this! Eds little group of Temple students is not what Cape May needs right now. They are students, with no experience. We need to focus on maintaining our current services and not some project for the mayors alma mater.

»

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 9:39pm - Posted by: CrewChef

Are these the clowns that got drunk at the Ugly Mug after the meeting. Someone should educate them on small town etiquete in the off season. Cmon guys.

»

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 7:07pm - Posted by: BIGBOB545

They are all nice but wheres the money going to come from== more parking meters!!

»

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 5:22pm - Posted by: marmoracat

Personally, I think the harborview park looks the best.

The skateboard park will never fly-both Upper and Ocean City have had to close theirs.
Take it as an example...It's a waste of money to build that.



more topicsMOST RECENT SPOUT OFFS

more homes TOP HOMES


more classifieds TOP CLASSIFIEDS

Property Transfer Chart