Community Corner

What Changes Would You Like to See in Springfield in 2014?

Pool and downtown improvements made residents' wish list in 2013.

With the arrival of a new year, Patch wants to know: what resolutions would you make for Springfield Township in 2014?

2013 was an exciting year as Springfield celebrated two significant ribbon cuttings. The new athletic complex at Jonathan Dayton High School opened in September and the 'Senior Wing' at the Chisholm Center hosted its first luncheon in mid-December.

While Springfield residents were pleased with these achievements, many said they want to see the improvement trend continue and pointed to the community pool as a facility in need of an upgrade. 

While campaigning, Jerry Fernandez, who was elected to Springfield's Township Committee in November, said since 2009 the committee has been talking about improving the pool yet, in his opinion, the work that has been done consists of "patches and band aids." Fernandez said the community pool should be able to compete with those of neighboring towns. 

Deputy Mayor Richard Huber, reelected in November, said renovations, including a new filtration system and tile work have been ongoing and are being paid for out of the pool's surplus, rather than taxpayer dollars. 

Springfield's downtown is another area residents would like to see receive a facelift. An open house workshop was held in November to elicit feedback from residents on redevelopment plans for the Morris Avenue corridor. Together North Jersey, the organization that provided the Township with a $90,000 grant to assist with redevelopment, will provide Springfield with a report containing the findings from its analysis in January.

Weekly garbage collection drew the ire of some residents during the summer, while others believed the reduction in pick-up was working well.

Springfield homeowner Mark Rodrick has repeatedly requested that speed humps installed in front of his home be removed as he believes they are ineffective and diminishing his quality of life. 

What changes would you like to see around the Township in the new year? Tell us in the comments section. 


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