Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Woolwich adopts parks and recreation code amendment; residents press safety, maintenance concerns
Summary
Ordinance 2025-19 amending Chapter 135 (Article II) was adopted unanimously after hearing; residents later raised concerns about AED access, permanent trash cans and lightning detection, and the mayor said replacements and coordination with Public Works were planned.
The Woolwich Township Committee unanimously adopted Ordinance 2025-19, an amendment to Chapter 135, Article II of the township code, following a brief public hearing on Dec. 1 that drew no speakers. Committeewoman Jackie Williams moved adoption; Deputy Mayor Nocentino seconded, and the ordinance passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.
Although no members of the public spoke during the ordinance hearing itself, residents used the privilege-of-the-floor periods to raise related concerns. A resident of 16 Oak View Terrace expressed safety and maintenance worries about parks and recreation facilities, including access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), the need for permanent garbage cans, and the status of the township’s lightning detection alarm system.
Mayor Matthias responded that matching trash cans are being ordered for an existing park when a new park order is placed and that replacement parts for the lightning detection system have been ordered and are expected to be operational by spring. He suggested the South Woodstown Sports Association (SWSA) could meet with Public Works to address unauthorized field use and equipment damage.
Separately, during the initial public comment period a resident of 10 Wilshire Boulevard inquired about cost-sharing arrangements between Woolwich and Swedesboro for fire department services and parks and recreation facilities; that exchange was informational. Ordinance 2025-19 was adopted unanimously: Committeeman Frederick: Yes; Committeewoman Minhas: Yes; Committeewoman Williams: Yes; Deputy Mayor Nocentino: Yes; Mayor Matthias: Yes.
The committee did not specify timetable changes to parks operations in the meeting minutes; follow-up by administration or Public Works would be the next step.
