Buchmuller Park, the biggest park in town, has a little league field, a band shell and an ice skating rink.
"We're going to clean up Buchmuller Park in the back to make it aesthetically pleasing to people in general so people have a greater opportunity to enjoy," said Councilman Fred Constintino, liaison to the Recreation Department.
Starting mid-March the town will begin improvements, funded by a $100,000 Statewide Livable Communities Grant from the state Department of Community Affairs.
According to Public Works Director Mike Gonellli, the town will use $60,000 to replace old playground equipment and $40,000 to replace a deteriorated concrete walkway with brick pavers, and rebuild the handball court and kiddie shower, which children use to cool off in the hot July and August months.
Workers will begin by removing a large wooden boat that was placed there 12 years ago to celebrate Christopher Columbus' 500th anniversary. It will be replaced by a multi-stationed, centralized unit.
"It is going to be a universal station with various pieces of equipment that are all connected so they can satisfy numerous children at once," said Constantino. "You can have a variety of different swings and climbers and things of that nature. It will have different stations that are attached. Each will have its own exit, own slide and swing."
All new equipment will be designed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
A second handball wall will be added, creating a bigger court where two to three games can be played at a time.
Additional lighting will be built for the bocce ball courts. According to Constantino, the bocce ball league is the biggest league that uses the park, with 13 teams and almost 100 players.
"The bocce ball league has increased to the point that where we need an additional court and more lighting," said Constantino. "The seniors have really enjoyed that. The majority of bocce ball players are seniors."
The basketball court will receive extra attention this year, and says the town may add a fence. It is used as a parking lot for events at the skating rink in the winter. The town repairs the park's basketball courts every year, filling in cracks at the start of each summer season to make sure the court is sound.
"We're going to make it a first class court," Constantino said.
The township has a boys and girls summer basketball league.
The last improvement will be to replace the deteriorating walkways with brick pavers. A paver is a brick that is put in the ground at various different angles to create a walkway.
"There is too much sand," said Constantino. "We'll take out some of the dirt we have around the back by making walkways. This will make it aesthetically nicer as far as appearances are concerned."
Secaucus also runs a summer camp out of the park, including trips to theme parks, shows or hikes. The skating rink is used for roller hockey in the summer. Shakespeare in the park is expected to come later this summer.
"The mayor and council have cooperated 100 percent as far as the Recreation Department was concerned," said Constantino.
Gonnelli expects the construction to be completed by June.
"We'll start as soon as everything comes across with the grant money," said Constintino. "Once we start, it won't take long."
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