Improvements Planned For Shrewsbury’s Manson Park

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By John Burton
SHREWSBURY – Expect to see some changes to the borough’s Manson Park in 2016.
The Borough Council plans to take advantage of a county-awarded $104,000 grant to cover some of the costs of renovations and constructing some additional amenities at the park.
Mayor Donald Burden said the Borough Council debated the needs expressed by the borough Parks and Recreation Commission and the possible configurations for the various offerings at the park.
The council will move forward with it but is awaiting an environmental report from borough engineer David Cranmer.
Manson Park is located on borough property that also contains the municipal complex/police headquarters at the intersection of Broad Street (State Highway 35) and Sycamore Ave. The approximately 20-year-old park encompasses several acres and features a Little League baseball/softball field, soccer field, walking trail and the community garden. Borough officials would like to construct two basketball courts and add fitness stations along the path, expand the path and do some general renovations to the existing features, said Cranmer.
Cranmer is working on the environmental report to determine if the location has any wetlands or other environmental considerations that would have to be taken into account for the project to move forward. In addition, Cranmer said he and other officials have been working with the recreation commission for several months “to come up with a plan that met everyone’s needs and serves the borough.”

The borough plans to add basketball courts and fitness stations. Photo: John Burton
The borough plans to add basketball courts and fitness stations. Photo: John Burton

Consolidating outlets for the recreation programs and activities would be beneficial given there is sufficient parking at the site. “They’ll be able to accommodate multiple activities there,” Burden said.
“I think it’s fair to say the entire council is trying to be responsive to the recreational needs of the entire community,” the mayor said. “We want to have something for everybody.”
The borough was notified last December it had been awarded the county Municipal Open Space Grant. It is a matching grant, Cranmer said.
The entire project is expected to be a “in the $200,000 range,” Burden said.
The council expects to award the bids by next spring and begin construction shortly thereafter, the officials said.
“We want to maximize construction to be compatible with the weather,” Burden said.