BOROUGH OF DUNELLEN LAUNCHES COVID-19 RECOVERY PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN FEATURING A POP UP PARK

Dunellen, NJ – By unanimous vote on April 5, 2021, Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento and the Dunellen Borough Council approved plans for a temporary pop up park and other measures to encourage outdoor dining and outdoor merchant displays.  A majority of Dunellen’s downtown is home to generational, mom & pop, and independently run businesses which have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of these businesses is an integral part of Dunellen’s local economy and are a vital element in the social fabric of the borough. These actions will hopefully encourage economic growth for local businesses.

The 2020 Downtown Dunellen Visual Preference Survey revealed overwhelming support for a pop up park on North Avenue. A pop up park is a low-cost, high-impact project which transforms an underutilized outdoor space and can last a day, weeks or months. Borough Planner Francis Reiner of DMR Architects stated, “This low-cost initiative would provide benefits to the community. The park could provide activities such as music, yoga, food events, movie nights and children activities throughout the spring, summer and into the fall season.” Mr. Reiner recommended using a 30’x55’ section of the Borough employee parking lot at the corner of North Avenue and Prospect Avenue for this place making effort. Mayor Cilento and an appointed ad hoc committee of volunteers are developing plans to open the pop up park for the months of June through September 2021, with a ribbon cutting event scheduled for Saturday, June 12 at 11 AM. The space will be furnished with flower planter boxes, which will help delineate and soften the space’s edges. There will be seating and tables and with the possibility of overhead solar string lights. “We will be inviting local businesses and organizations to use the space to hold open classes or programs. Dunellen resident Autumn Barbato is organizing a calendar of cultural events for the Dunellen Pop Up Park,” Mayor Cilento said.  He added, “We want to see the park active and full of life. We want to make everyone feel connected but also feel safe as we head out of this pandemic.” If Dunellen businesses or organizations are interested in scheduling time to use the space once it is open, please contact Parks and Recreation Director Alex Miller at (732) 968-3033, x8 or amiller@dunellenborough.com.

Approved Dunellen Borough Council Resolution 04-05-2021: #12 also outlines the temporary relaxation of existing ordinances and procedures allowing for outdoor dining and outdoor displays and can be found at dunellen-nj.gov. To encourage business owners to provide more outdoor dining options and to take advantage of sidewalk space for outdoor displays, Borough Administrator William Robins explained, “These temporary, practical measures in the resolution enable restaurants and retail merchants to augment their indoor capabilities as a means to boost customer activity.” Specifically, the Borough is waiving the annual outdoor dining permit fee; any fees already paid for this year will be credited towards a 2022 permit fee. The Borough is encouraging restaurants to use parts of their parking lots for expanded outdoor dining as well as available public spaces by arrangement with the Borough. The Borough is also encouraging sidewalk retail sales and businesses with type “32” and “33” liquor licenses to request to extend their premises to the restaurants’ parking lot/sidewalk dining spaces. Questions regarding how to submit “The Outdoor Dining or Sidewalk Cafes Application” can be made to the Borough Clerk’s Office at (732) 968-3033. To learn more about what’s going on in downtown Dunellen, contact dunellenmanagement@dunellenborough.com to receive the monthly e-newsletter.