Lawrence Township officials are applying for a $100,000 state grant to replace the bleachers at Zimmer Field in Central Park and to install an improved path to the athletic field.
The Lawrence Township Council approved a resolution to apply for a 2025 Local Recreation Improvement Grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs at its Dec. 3 meeting.
Lawrence Township applied for the same grant earlier this year, but it was not approved. Township officials are trying again for the grant.
Zimmer Field is located in Central Park, off Eggerts Crossing Road. The field is used by travel sports teams and by Lawrence Township Recreation Department soccer, lacrosse and field hockey teams.
The spectator area at Zimmer Field has not been upgraded in many years, the grant application said, noting that “the bleachers are outdated and they are not accessible for all users.”
The new bleachers would be lower to the ground than the current bleachers. They would be anchored to a concrete pad.
The pathway to reach Zimmer Field from the parking lot is a grass and dirt path. It is difficult to use for spectators who need mobility devices and for families with baby strollers, the grant application said.
The grass and dirt path would be replaced with a paved path from the parking lot to the bleachers and athletic field. It would be more convenient and fully accessible, providing more opportunities for residents and visitors to attend events, the grant application said.
Central Park is in the middle of Lawrence Township and draws visitors and users from hundreds of homes within easy walking and bicycling distance, according to the grant application.
The park, which is more than 100 acres, includes an inclusive playground for children of all abilities, plus sports fields and walking paths, officials said.
If the grant application is approved, the project will enhance and upgrade the area into quality outdoor recreational space that would be accessible and useable to all residents and visitors, officials said.
