Updates from the Township Committee

Skillman Park Planning Committee Meets, Discusses Trails, Clean-up & Parking

Development of a trail system, along with an ongoing maintenance program, was discussed by the recently appointed Skillman Park Planning Committee at its first meeting April 17 in Somerville.

Somerset County Freeholder Director and Committee Chair Patricia Walsh invited the committee members and the committee’s support staff “to listen to the wishes of the community on the vision for this new park and recreational opportunity.”  She also noted that those involved in the property’s acquisition have advised that it remain as permanent, passive open space.

The Somerset County Improvement Authority purchased the former New Jersey Neuropsychiatric Institute (NPI) property from Montgomery Township in October 2011. The Planning Committee, appointed by the Board of Freeholders in January 2012, includes Freeholder Director Walsh, Freeholder Patrick Scaglione, County Administrator Michael Amorosa and Montgomery Township residents Lysa Wilson, Clem Fiori and Emad Abou-Sabé.

At their first meeting, the committee members agreed that a system of public trails and conservation initiatives should be the highest short-term priority for the 247-acre park. 

With the new county park soon to be accessible to the public, there exists a very short timeframe to develop a plan that identifies potential trail loops and public parking opportunities.  There was a consensus among committee members to support the idea of adapting many of the existing roads and driveways that served the former NPI into a network of public trail links that can be connected to parking locations strategically located within the park.

Some areas of the property have been identified for continued clean-up and an aggressive maintenance campaign is now underway by the Somerset County Park Commission, with assistance from the county Public Works Department.  The New Jersey Arborists were on site on March 10 to assist as well.  Committee members agreed that these areas initially should be removed from public access while the ongoing clean-up continues.

The Planning Committee will meet again in June.  Meanwhile, county staff will develop conceptual plans for the new trail system and parking locations.

Source: Somerset County Office of Public Information

Arborist Work Day Project Carried Out for Skillman Park

Skillman Park was been chosen for the Annual Work Day by New Jersey Arborists, Chapter ISA Inc.  Somerset County Park Commission applied to NJAISA and is honored and to be chosen for this event which occurred in March 2012.  The arborist work day involve many tree trimming crews, working on a voluntary basis.  These much needed professional arborist services, valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars, have helped with the preservation of the magnificent trees at Skillman Park.  This saved tax dollars and greatly assisted the Somerset County Park Commission in creating a safe and aesthetically pleasing park for all to enjoy.

While the property has renewed purpose, work on this new chapter of its life has just begun.  While under development as a park, for safety reasons it is not yet open to the public, except for the right-of-way of Main Boulevard.  We appreciate the public’s patience with the work-in-progress.

Somerset County’s Skillman Park

Skillman Park is now a reality!  On October 25th, 2011, Somerset County bought the 247-acre parcel from Montgomery Township for approximately $64,438 per acre. The property was purchased by the Somerset County Improvement Authority with funds ultimately coming from the county’s Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, ensuring its ultimate use for recreation and conservation purposes. The Improvement Authority will hold title to the property initially and transfer ownership to the county at a later date.

LINK TO FLICKR PHOTO SET OF CLOSING BY OFFICIALS

Use and future development of the Skillman Village site will be limited to passive recreation, conservation, historic preservation or agricultural purposes, since funding is being provided through the trust fund dedicated to those purposes.  The county and township have established an advisory committee, with three members appointed by the Freeholders and three by the Montgomery Township Committee, to develop a master plan incorporating stewardship of the land, potential recreation opportunities and facilities, and maintenance functions.

Skillman Park’s planned use encompasses low intensity/passive recreational and conservation activities. As per the contract of sale, the county will not consider any plans for a water park, pool, stadium, motorized-vehicle park, arcades or fixed overhead lighting for playing fields.

“Through a collaborative effort with Montgomery Township, the county has preserved the Skillman Village property, an important addition to our open space program,” said Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski. “We look forward to continuing the collaboration with Montgomery in developing a passive-use county park that highlights the unique cultural and natural features of the property.”

Once known as the New Jersey Village for Epileptics, the facility evolved into a psychiatric facility in the 1950s and was called the North Princeton Developmental Center.  The facility was closed by the State of New Jersey in the mid-1990s and the property was purchased by Montgomery Township from the state in 2007.

All of the buildings on the property have been demolished and substantial environmental cleanup has been completed by the Township.

Parcels that were not part of the sale include the six-acre Maplewood House property; the one-acre Pine Knoll property; a half-acre lot to be used to reconfigure the Village Elementary School driveway; and the portion of the property that lies within the Burnt Hill Road right-of-way.

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