Jackson awaits DEP permits for basketball court project
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON - Municipal officials are waiting for permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) so they can move forward with a project at Johnson Park.

The township is constructing two lighted basketball courts at the park, off Manhattan Street.

Mayor Mark Seda said, "There is a cap disturbance permit (needed) when you are working above an old dump. The contractor went below the cap and disturbed (the old dump). Now we are waiting for approval from the DEP" to proceed.

"We're just improving the surface, making it impervious and providing drainage all around," Seda said. "We will have lighting as part of that program."

The mayor said nothing will happen until a DEP permit is obtained. He said Jackson should have the permit in the early part of the new year.

BusinessAdministrator Phil Del Turco confirmed Seda's explanation, saying, "Because of the construction problem we're just making sure that we have all of the DEP approvals. The pit there caused the problem."

Del Turco said township officials are going to make certain they have the appropriate permits in place and on top of that they also have to deal with the winter weather conditions and changes.

"We'll start mobilizing that in the spring," he said.

The business administrator said Jackson representatives have contacted JCP&L and have started proceedings

with regard to the existing

lighting.

"We're having that removed," Del Turco "Asignificant

portion of the

(project) includes new

lighting for the basketball

courts and the tennis

courts, about $185,000.

That work is in progress."

Plans have also been made to open a dog park at Johnson Park.

"The dog park is done, but the grass in there is just starting to take," Del Turco said. "It needs sufficient time to become established. Right now if we start letting animals in it would turn into a mud pit. So we want to let the grass grow and that (dog park) will be ready to go by the spring."

Seda said Jackson officials will make certain the amenities that go with the dog park are provided before the facility is opened to members of the public and their pets.