Elimination of Roller Rink Recommended

The roller rink that sits adjacent to one of Kinnelon's recreation fields could be eliminated now that the Kinnelon Recreation Commission has passed a recommendation on to the council to do so.

While the council did not vote on its elimination Thursday, Councilman Jim Freda, the liaison to the recreation commission, told the council the borough's insurance agent said that the rink has "dilapidating wood walls" which should either be replaced or the rink eliminated.

At the council's Oct. 13 meeting, Freda told the council that the space that the rink is occupying could potentially be used for turf or traditional field space if the rink were not there.

"Our fields are just too valuable to be taken up by asphalt," Freda said.

Also at the Oct. 13 meeting, Freda spoke about the poor condition of the existing fields and said one referee even went to the field behind the municipal building and circled divots and areas that are in need of repair with orange spray paint this month. While Department of Public Works Superintendent John Whitehead fixed the divots, Freda said he would like the council to discuss the long-term maintenance of the fields.

"We need to do something," he said.

Mayor Bob Collins was in agreement with Freda that something must be done if the fields are damaged to ensure safety of the residents.

"We've got to repair the fields," he said. "We can't be playing on fields that aren't safe.

While the area with the rink is one area Freda said he would like to see turf installed, in order to have a turf field, the borough must obtain an exemption from the .

Development projects in municipalities that are included in the must seek exemptions to move forward, depending on the project. The mission of the Highlands Council is to protect natural resources and drinking water.

Freda said he has been in touch with Highlands representatives who have asked that the borough provide an agenda for what they would like to discuss with representatives of the Highlands Council and that once the agenda is developed, they will review the agenda and provide a final draft agenda and arrange a meeting.

Freda said he would like to ask the Highlands representative what their interpretation of a turf field in Kinnelon is and if Kinnelon would ever be able to receive an exemption to have one, what the borough should look for if they would like to purchase additional property to have more fields, the overall recreation needs of the borough and the Highlands implications of those needs and more.