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William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

 

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (FEBRUARY 18, 2025)(CNBNEWS)--The construction work that will improve the Johnson Boulevard Park and Jogging path is continuing, according to Lori Ryan,
Gloucester City's Director of Community Development.

The estimated cost for the project is $1,585,000.

The plans call for a pavilion, a playground, a swing set, two regular basketball courts, a basketball court for children aged 7-10, a pickleball court, a maintenance road, a trail, concrete and brick paver repairs, and court lights.

Ryan explained, "Due to the winter weather, the adult and children's picnic tables will not be installed until warmer temperatures are reached. Until then, they will remain in storage. "

 

 

Ryan said the Johnson Boulevard project was kicked off with two grants from the Local Recreation Infrastructure Grant for $78,000 and $75,000, respectively, to repave the trail, replace benches, add a water fountain (with dog-level water bowl), two adult picnic tables, and one children's picnic table for under the gazebo. "These purchased materials are stored until the weather allows for installation," she said. 

 

"On July 5, 2023, we applied for and were awarded an $830,000 Green Acres grant to update the entire Johnson Park area as a more inviting recreational area for residents of Gloucester City. After several revisions to determine the best application for that area, the design below was completed."

Ryan said, "The Green Acres portion of this project is currently in the hands of the DEP, as per the attached letter.  Upon testing, there was some other than normal fill found in the area of the project, which would comply with the standards of the EPA but is not in compliance with the State of NJ limits."

 

 

"We will not be able to proceed with this project until the DEP advises us on the recommendations our engineer has proposed.  Also, it is important to note that the design will again change due to the expense required to remediate as required to complete this project," said Ryan. 

 

 

 

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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

GREEN ACRES PROGRAM

 

July 5, 2023

Lori Ryan

Director of Community Development

512 Monmouth Street

Gloucester City, NJ 08030

Re: Project # 0414-23-054

Project Name: Johnson Park Improvements

Gloucester City, Camden County

Dear Ms. Ryan,

Congratulations on your recently approved Green Acres funding award of a non-matching grant

of $830,000 for the above-referenced project. This letter will serve as an overview of the process

we will follow together to ensure the success of your project.

Gloucester City may now move forward with project implementation. The items listed below

must be completed to Green Acres' standards and submitted electronically by the established

deadlines. Please reach out and consult with me on a regular basis as you move forward, to

ensure that all steps are properly taken, your project remains eligible, and funding is disbursed

as soon as possible. Please note that the Green Acres Program is establishing new interim

timelines to ensure projects make continuous progress and are completed expeditiously. Failure

to follow these procedures and meet the noted deadlines will jeopardize project funding.

PRIOR TO GOING OUT TO BID:

1. Preliminary Assessment Report (PAR)

Deadline: 60 days after receipt of this letter

**Moving ahead with construction before completing a full environmental review and

receiving Green Acres approval is at your own risk, as the PAR and any necessary site

investigation may impact construction plans.

**

• The PAR must be prepared in accordance with the Technical Requirements for Site

Remediation (N.J.A.C. 7:26E) as well as NJDEP's March 2018 PA Technical Guidance

document.

SHAWN M. LATOURETTE

Commissioner

New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Printed on Recycled Paper and Recyclable.• The PAR must be accompanied by a completed Preliminary Assessment Checklist.

• For more information, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions regarding PARs

page on our website.

2. Construction Bid Package

Deadline: 120 days after receipt of Green Acres PAR review memo

(May be extended by Green Acres if PAR identifies Areas of Concern requiring investigation)

A complete construction bid package must include the following five items:

a. Updated Construction schedule outlining the anticipated project timeline.

b. Construction drawings

Construction drawings must be consistent with the approved project scope and signed

and sealed by a New Jersey licensed architect, landscape architect, or engineer. In

preparing the bid documents for this project, please note the following requirements:

• Tax lot and road right-of-way boundary lines [and any Tidelands grant information]

must be shown on the construction plans.

• The following statement must appear in the newspaper advertisement and invitation

to bid:

"Please be advised that State funds through the Green Acres Program are being

utilized in this project. Under N.J.A.C. 7:1-5, vendors currently suspended, debarred,

or disqualified are excluded from participation on this project."

• Per the Americans with Disabilities Act and N.J.A.C. 5:23-7.16, all recreational facilities

in New Jersey must be accessible to people with physical disabilities. An accessible

route of travel is required at and between all facilities, support facilities, and access

points with surfaces permitting independent wheelchair passage. The New Jersey

Barrier Free Subcode: Recreation Section, available from the Department of

Community Affairs Division of Codes and Standards, provides details on making

recreation facilities accessible.

• The Mandatory Affirmative Action Language for Professional and Construction

Contracts (P.L. 1975, C.127) must be incorporated into all contract documents.

• The New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act (N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25 et seq.) establishes a

prevailing wage level for workers engaged in public works which include, among other

things, any construction, reconstruction, demolition, alteration or repair work done

under contract and paid for in whole or in part out of the funds of a public

body. Applicants using Green Acres funding for such work must comply with this Act.

c. Development Compliance Checklist

The Development Compliance Checklist must be signed by both Gloucester City's chief

executive officer and its attorney, certifying that all Green Acres Program requirements

have been satisfied.

d. Pre-Construction Engineering CertificationThe Pre-Construction Engineering Certification form must be executed by a licensed

professional engineer or architect.

e. Permits and Approvals

• Gloucester City must identify, secure, and submit to Green Acres all required permits

or letters of waiver for the project prior to Green Acres approval of construction

drawings.

• Gloucester City's application noted that required project permits include:

i. NJDEP Coastal/Flood Hazard Permit

ii. NJDEP Freshwater Wetland General Permit and Transition Wavier

Application (if required)

iii. County Soil Conservation District

iv. Building Permits from local Code Office

v. Tidelands Instrument Application

FOLLOWING PROJECT CONTRACT AWARD:

4. Construction sign

Deadline: At start of construction

• The construction sign must be prepared according to the local government construction

sign detail sheet and erected and maintained for the duration of construction.

5. • A decal of the tree graphic in the lower right corner of the sign may be requested from

our office when the sign is being constructed.

Local Public Contracts Law Memorandum

Deadline: 30 days after award of contract

• The Local Public Contracts Law Memorandum must be executed by Gloucester City's

attorney for each project-related contract as it relates to the retention of professional

services and construction contracts pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.

• Questions regarding the Local Public Contracts Law may be directed to Gloucester City's

attorney, a Qualified Purchasing Agent, or to the Department of Community Affairs

Division of Local Government Services.

6. Change Orders (if applicable)

Deadline: As amendments to construction contract are made

• To ensure eligibility of any added expenses, change orders must be submitted to Green

Acres for review.

As a reference guide to assist you with project administration, enclosed please find a Local and

Nonprofit Park Development and Stewardship Procedure checklist. This helpful tool offers a

comprehensive outline of all procedures that must be followed to ensure project eligibility. You

may also visit www.njgreenacres.org for all the referenced checklists and instructions.Appropriation bills authorizing this funding were recently passed by the legislature and signed by

the Governor. Shortly, I will forward the Green Acres Project Agreement, which will obligate

funds for this project.

Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 609-913-6386 if you have any

questions. I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Vincenzo Ferriola, Project Manager

Urban Acquisition and Statewide Park Development Team