Cape May Gets Initial Funding for Park on Contaminated Site

CAPE MAY — At a press conference Wed., Dec. 14, city officials announced an a initial $450,000 grant received from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program (DEP) for property acquisition along Lafayette Street for a future 38 acre park/open space area.
The area runs from St. John’s Street to Cape May Elementary School. Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr. said the timeframe to complete the project was five to seven years.
A substantial part of the project is on contaminated land that will be part of a remediation project by Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) which inherited the site of a former coal gasification plant that left widespread contaminants underground.
Mahaney said the project was dependent on the third phase of remediation by JCP&L and DEP.
“We’re probably looking at the year 2015 before free and clear is issued,” he said.
An agreement is in place for JCP&L to turn over properties it owns to the city at no expense to the city, said the mayor.
He said that would include the coal gasification plant site and three residential properties on St. John’s Street. Mahaney said the city has contacted the owners of two remaining properties on St. John’s Street about purchasing the lots. The city also needs to acquire the former Vance’s Bar property fronting Lafayette Street.
“We don’t intend to take up any property that belongs to the elementary school,” said the mayor.
Mahaney said there would be no construction of buildings on the Lafayette Street Park/Open Space area other than a combined use structure for restrooms, an information area and storage, due to what is underground. He said there were areas on the site where it would be necessary to dig down three to four feet but JCP&L has agreed to put that amount of new fill dirt on those locations.
Light poles, fences and other anchored items will need to go below the two foot fill level. Mahaney said JCP&L has the city’s design concepts for the park and has based remediation on those elements.
The design also takes into account infrastructure JCP&L will install such as pumps, discharge areas and walls, all underground, he said.
Mahaney said as the project moves forward, the city would apply for additional Green Acres funding.The project should be completed by 2018, he said.
“It’s this type of project that leaves a legacy for generations to come,” said the mayor.
The city had a conceptual design plan prepared by Julia Dougherty, a landscape architecture student at Temple University, aided by two professors. Dougherty met with the public to gather ideas and opinions at a number of public meetings. She said existing facilities would remain or be adapted such as the dog park, basketball courts and a baseball diamond.
Being located next to a school had a huge impact on the design, said Dougherty. She said the space will offer environmental education such as trails to Cape Island Creek.
The restroom/storage building will have a “green roof” planted with grass which will also act as a raised viewing area for the baseball field. New features will include Bocce courts, walking paths and a soccer field, she said.
Dougherty said the open space will be planted with native vegetation friendly to migrating birds and butterflies.