PETERSBURG — Upper Township plans to borrow more than $5 million to finance recreation upgrades and other capital improvements.
Township Committee introduced a bond ordinance Feb. 2 for reconstruction of the skate park and fitness court, as well as installation of lighting, at Amanda’s Field. Second reading is scheduled for the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23.
Committeeman Sam Palombo said he and Committeeman Zach Palombo met with the Upper Township Softball Association and “made some pretty drastic plans in terms of the long-term vision of the softball facility.”
He said restroom facilities are finally in the works at the softball field.
“I’m really excited for that to come to fruition,” he said, noting the facility should be ready for spring 2027.
Sam Palombo, who oversees recreation, said the duo also met with the Upper Township Football Association to discuss future plans.
“We have collaborated with them for not only their short-term success, but also their long-term benefit as well,” he said.
Zach Palombo, who oversees the Department of Public Works, said the long-term plan is to get each of the sports organizations into dedicated areas.
“It’ll make for a little bit more efficiency for the rec programs and also Public Works to help upkeep with the facility,” he said. “So I’m really excited to see this, if it comes to fruition.”
The bond ordinance also would fund roadwork, architectural design for the Upper Township Beach Patrol headquarters, equipment for the Department of Public Works and radio equipment for the Public Safety Department.
Praise for Public Works
Alice March of Strathmere thanked the Department of Public Works for clearing snow in a timely manner. She said her street was plowed late Sunday afternoon, allowing her to shovel “the big boulders of snow that are at the end of the driveway before they froze solid.”
She noted not everyone was as lucky.
“My friends in Ocean City did not have the same fortune, and they ended up having big boulders of ice that they couldn’t dislodge,” March said. “So hats off to Public Works, but you’d want to put them back on because it’s cold out there.”
Committeeman Tyler Casaccio also noted the hard work.
“I was out there myself, and it was a lot to deal with, so I appreciate all their hard-working efforts there,” he said.
Zach Palombo said without a police department, Public Works amounts to public safety.
“We need to make sure roads are clear so that way EMS can get to a call, or also the fire department can get to something that’s drastic. So it’s great to see Public Works out there and I think they were rocking and rolling as soon as the first snow flakes hit the ground,” he said.
Another snowstorm was expected the weekend of Jan. 31 but shifted out to sea.
“We dodged the bullet this weekend, because we were looking at potential heavy snow and it pushed out to the side,” Zach Palombo said, noting that also spared the township more beach erosion in Strathmere.
Deputy Mayor Victor Nappen acknowledged the hard work of Public Works and also praised the information technology department, which kept residents updated online about plowing progress.
“I know a lot of people sort of wonder, where are they? Are they coming to my street? And there was a flurry of Facebook announcements, so please make sure you continue to follow that. It’s a lot of work to communicate and keep that updated, and I think it’s very helpful,” Nappen said.
Mayor Curtis Corson noted there are 65 miles of roadway to plow and asked people to be patient and not to spout off on social media.
“It doesn’t do anything but upset people,” he said.
Pedestrian safety
Township Administrator Jimmy Van Zlike said a dangerous situation has arisen outside the community center.
“Friday night wrestling (at the center) on Route 50 creates a significant hazardous situation for pedestrians,” he said.
Van Zlike worked with the State Police, which will direct traffic to help people cross to their cars safely for the rest of the season.
“That gives us until next season to figure a more enduring long-term plan to address this,” he said, adding that the township and Upper Township School District may work together to provide a temporary solution “until such time we can get a dedicated parking lot big enough to support the program.”
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
