Project gains necessary permit

JACKSON - Municipal officials have received the paperwork that will allow work to continue on the construction of basketball courts at John F. Johnson Jr. Memorial Park.

"We have a landfill disruption permit from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)," TownshipAdministrator Phil Del Turco said. "That means we can proceed with the basketball courts."

Del Turco said the project is a combination of two items: the basketball courts and tennis courts.

"I believe the total contract was $455,000 with $185,000 of the total to pay for new lighting for both courts," he said, adding that a contractor is proceeding with the preliminary lighting work now.

Once the weather clears in the spring, the contractor will have the goahead for the basketball courts. In the meantime, drainage plans are being reviewed.

"We are working with the contractor," Del Turco said. "There may be some change order reductions for the courts. It hasn't been finalized yet."

Municipal officials have been waiting for several months for a permit from the DEP so that work could proceed on the project. The contractor had previously disturbed a former landfill in the area where the basketball courts are to be constructed.