BLOOMFIELD, NJ — It’s payback time for Bloomfield.
On Tuesday, township officials announced that Bloomfield has received $3.2 million in state grant reimbursements for the Lion Gate Park project, which transformed a contaminated manufacturing site into “urban wetlands” and park space.
The town initially fronted the expenses to develop the project, and is now receiving funding to cover those costs through the awarding of a New Jersey Green Acres grant. The $3.2 million represents about 80 percent of the cost.
The remaining 20 percent of the grant – $800,000 – will be received by the township upon final close of the project, officials said.
“Lion Gate Park is more than just a recreational space; it embodies our commitment to environmental sustainability, community wellness, and providing accessible outdoor activities for all our residents,” Mayor Ted Gamble said.
“We are thrilled to receive this large portion of the grant, which will reimburse the township for the upfront costs of bringing this project to life,” Gamble said. “We also look forward to closing out this project, receiving the remaining funds and in doing so, opening the door to new opportunities for the township to pursue additional Green Acres funding for future initiatives.”
Need to get caught up to speed? Bloomfield officials previously offered some background about the origin of the project:
“The Bloomfield Lion’s Gate Park was formerly the location of a dye factory and thermometer manufacturer, and the ground was contaminated with dangerous chemicals left behind by its former tenants. The site lay dormant and was an eyesore for several decades, until a team of environmental advocates, local leaders and architects worked to implement the Lion Gate Park and Urban Wetland Floodplain Creation project.”
According to municipal officials, the 18.4-acre property was a “flood-prone, former industrial site” in which developers had attempted to build 148 town houses and 298 parking spaces. However, following years of advocacy from local residents – and ensuing litigation – the township secured the property with the aid of a range of grants from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Click Here: France Rugby Jersey
The Lion Gate Park project had three major components, officials said:
The project – which has been described as one of the largest infrastructure projects in the town’s recent history – has seen praise from local officials and environmentalists, including a thumbs-up from nonprofit environmental organization New Jersey Future, which gave it a “Smart Growth” award in 2022. Read More: Lion Gate Park Is Roaring Good Addition To Bloomfield
Officials have said the project is also a way to combat flooding, an issue that has been taking more of the spotlight in Bloomfield lately. See Related: Flash Floods Hit Bloomfield; Nobody Injured
But the town’s new open space has also been a source of irritation for some nearby residents, who have complained about field lighting at the property impacting their quality of life.
The park saw some delays enroute to its construction, allegedly due to “missed deadlines” and “repeated lateness and inaction.” Those delays resulted in the township dumping its previous contractor – the lowest bidder on the project. See Related: Bloomfield Dumps Contractor After Serious Delays At Lion Gate
Lion Gate finally reached the finish line in 2021, a milestone that Bloomfield officials marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
This week’s reimbursement announcement is icing on top of the cake, town officials said in a news release:
“The Lion Gate Park project is a testament to Bloomfield Township’s commitment to community development, environmental sustainability and recreation. The newly secured reimbursement will ensure that the township can continue to pursue additional grants and funding for promoting green, open space and fun outdoor experiences for our residents without overburdening the taxpayer.”
Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.