Councilman Urges Volunteer Help For Parks; Suggests Not-For-Profit

Matthew Hersh

Concerned that several Princeton Borough parks have become needlessly rundown or neglected, Borough Councilman Andrew Koontz has taken an initiative to increase community support toward maintaining the Borough's 10 parks, which range in size from well-manicured Marquand to the hidden oasis of Quarry.

"There are some people who are so motivated to spruce up a park, but in other areas, we might have to provide more encouragement," Mr. Koontz said before the Princeton Environmental Commission last Wednesday. For a success story of park volunteerism, he cited the efforts of Polly Burlingham, who was instrumental in revitalizating Barbara Boggs Sigmund Park on the corner of Chestnut and Wiggins streets.

He also questioned whether Borough Parks should be limited to municipal oversight, suggesting that the Borough should consider some sort of governing body that would handle maintenance and other park-related issues. Specifically, he suggested a 501 (c)(3) organization like the Central Park Conservancy in Manhattan.

Having lived in Manhattan, and then near Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Mr. Koontz said he'd been able "to see first hand what these kinds of non-profits were able to do."

"The change that has occurred in Central Park is phenomenal," he said, adding that "these kinds of non-profits are springing up all over the place to do this kind of work: parks maintenance, parks improvements."

Mr. Koontz said that he had held one meeting with interested participants and that the general consensus among these Borough residents was to proceed with a non-profit organization. As such, Mr. Koontz said he aims to ask Borough Council for a formal task force to consider establishing such an organization.

"There's some question as to whether Borough Council will do that," he said; if not, he thought that any ad hoc group could proceed with the Borough's blessing.

Wendy Benchley, the Borough Council liaison to the Environmental Commission, lauded Mr. Koontz's idea, but said there needs to be a connection to Borough Council and wondered if any organization could oversee not just Borough parks, but those in the Township as well.

Ms. Benchley did not see a problem in getting residents interested in the idea of forming such a community-based group, but did encourage Mr. Koontz to continue galvanizing support for the initiative. "We should get the ball rolling because everybody's got a lot on their plate."

David Breithaupt, Environmental Commission chairman, said the concept of a not-for-profit would receive "a lot of interest from [commission] members." He also suggested the possibility of lobbying for an "Adopt-a-Park" ordinance, much like the code that has been enacted in the Township.

Commissioner Barbara Trelstad said that any oversight effort would benefit from increased attention given to parks, such as the Pine Street Park, or the aforementioned Quarry Park.

Commissioner Rosemary Blair, who inventoried Borough and Township parks three years ago, called the concept of a not-for-profit "excellent" and suggested Earth Day, April 22, as a day to hold various parks recognition events.