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December 18, 2008

NEW LOCAL: Officials hope to create park in New Bedford

By Nancy Lowry

Pulaski Township officials have plans for a six-acre park in New Bedford.

Architects Frank Ross and Tonya Natale will help them realize these visions.

The supervisors this week accepted the offer of RCI Architects to develop a master plan for Pulaski Township Park, the former New Bedford Lions Club property on School House Road. The plan will be provided free of charge to the township.

The supervisors took over the property — which includes a pond, a former school building and utility shed — on July 11, 2005.

Since then, they said, it has received little attention, until this year.

On Oct. 4, a sense of community pride was revived by a fall gathering. The picnic was so well attended, it encouraged the supervisors to try again. A tree lighting ceremony took place at the park a few weeks ago. This also was well attended, according to the supervisors, who said they are considering bigger and better things for the park.

Mike Mancuso of Pulaski Township Inc. Development Corp., connected the architects and the supervisors.

Ross said he will meet with the supervisors to determine their goals and plans for the park.

“When I learn what you want to develop at the park, we will be able to refine it,” he said

With a master plan in place, Ross and Sam Varano, supervisor chairman, said the township may seek state funding.

Varano said the supervisors’ plans include constructing a new pavilion, creating walking trails around the pond, building a gazebo for band concerts and picnics, and installing a playground.

He said he does not know what any of this will cost, but obtaining a master plan is the first step toward securing funds.

“We don’t want to build something and tear it down a year later because the plan calls for something else.”

The supervisors also met Bob Mrozek, the new owner of the former Huntington Bank building in New Bedford.

A financial planner with an office in Union Township, Mrozek said he plans to create a laundromat in a portion of the building and rent out the upstairs and the rest of the first floor to other commercial interests.

He said his progress came to a halt when permit questions arose.

Mrozek explained he is a member of the Union Township Planning Commission and understands everything has to be in order.

Noting there are no public water lines to serve the business, he told the supervisors he has had his well tested and will install an elaborate water softening system to counteract the high iron content of the water. He said he also will be installing boosters on the well pump to ensure sufficient water pressure.

Mrozek said this is his first venture into a commercial business.

“I’m trained as a financial adviser, but even in the worst economic times people have to wash their clothes.”

He said he also has pulled the two vaults — each weighting 10,000 pounds — out of the building.

“They were extremely awkward and heavy,” he said. The vaults were pulled out through the former drive-through window, he noted.

He has sold one, he said, and the other is in his parking lot.

Mrozek said he anticipates the laundromat will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. He will install security video cameras and hire a part-time afternoon/evening employee.

“I want it to be a a clean, safe place.”

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