The Recreation Plan Element covers the comprehensive system of public recreational facilities and assets in Mountain Lakes. The purpose of this element is to help guide and coordinate Borough policies relating to these facilities and assets.
Mountain Lakes has a long tradition and a strong commitment to active recreation. A wide variety of recreational activities, organized and informal, is supported by the Borough, directly and indirectly. This is in part the result of the community's commitment to public education. The Borough's public schools are among the best in the state and part of this excellence is reflected in the athletic programs and facilities provided by the local schools. This, however, is only part of the explanation for Mountain Lakes' close association with recreation.
The original development of Mountain Lakes as a planned community in the early part of the 20th century emphasized the recreational values associated with its physical features and park-like setting. The lakes in particular have, from the community's beginnings, been major recreational assets attracting a population with an orientation towards active outdoor recreation. The large areas of open space support a wide range of recreation, formal and informal.
This plan's continued commitment to active recreation follows a long tradition in Mountain Lakes. The main focus of this plan, however, is to recognize and accommodate some important recreational trends that are reshaping recreational needs in the Borough. Following are some of the major changes and trends relating to recreation in the Borough leading up to this point which form the basis of this plan.
The following are the major recreation-related objectives that should be pursued by Borough officials and should be reflected in Borough policies.
An important strength of the Borough's recreation system is in its diversity. A wide variety of recreational opportunities exists in Mountain Lakes, many of which are directly or indirectly publicly supported. The importance of continuing this important strength is often overlooked from the point of view of a particular sport or recreational interest. The diversity of recreational interests and constituents in the Borough's population requires a reasonable balancing of recreational resources among a wide variety of activities and interests.
The Borough Recreation Commission and staff have been able to support a wide variety of recreational activities, including a summer structured recreation program for young children. The responsiveness of the Commission and staff to the desires of various groups and interests is a major asset that brings challenges. The major assets are the great number of citizens and the wide variety of interests served. The major challenges are the need to make compromises among various interests for limited resources and the stress that is put upon those resources.
The following lake-oriented facilities are currently available to residents:
FACILITY | LOCATION | FUNCTION |
---|---|---|
Island Beach | Mountain Lake, off the Boulevard | Swimming, boating, picnics, entertainment, sailing instruction. Concession stand. |
Midvale Boat Dock | Mountain Lake, off Lake Drive | Boating, swimming, fishing |
The Cove | Mountain Lake, off Morris Avenue | Boating, ice skating |
Birchwood Beach | Birchwood Lake, off West Shore Drive | Swimming, fishing, boating, basketball, volleyball, hiking, picnics, competitive swimming and diving. Concession stand. |
All of the above are active recreation areas. Additional passive recreation areas should be added to the list: Briarcliff Park, the Bird Sanctuary, Memorial Park and areas of Richard M. Wilcox Park beyond Birchwood Beach.
Active recreation facilities, other than the lake-oriented ones, include a number of ball and play fields, some of which are shared with the schools.
FACILITY | LOCATION | FUNCTION |
---|---|---|
Jan Wilson Memorial Basketball Court | Romaine Road | Basketball |
Alden L. Haswell Memorial Field | Midvale Road | Lacrosse, soccer, youth sports |
Wildwood Field | Glen Road | Playground |
Al Scerbo and Charlie Pitcher Fields | Fanny Road | Baseball |
Doublier Memorial Tennis Courts | Powerville Road | Tennis |
New Fields | Halsey Fredrick Park | Lacrosse, soccer, field hockey |
Basketball Court | Lake Drive School | Basketball |
Other School Facilities | Miscellaneous locations | Playgrounds, practice fields |
Tower Hill Sled Run | Off Tower Hill Road | Sledding |
William N. Taft Memorial Field | North Pocono and W. Shore Roads | Youth sports, soccer, playground |
Among the private and quasi-public facilities for active recreation in the Borough are:
FACILITY | LOCATION | FUNCTION |
---|---|---|
Mountain Lakes Club | Lake Drive | Tennis, swimming, boating, bowling |
Park Lakes Tennis Club | Rainbow Trail | Tennis and paddle tennis |
Mountain Lakes Racquet Club | Route 46 and Boulevard | Indoor tennis |
Lakeland Hills Family YMCA | Fanny Road | Swimming, basketball, weight lifting, play ground, picnic area, volleyball, etc. |
The following are the major proposals related to the future of public recreation in Mountain Lakes.
The Borough's lakes represent the cornerstone of recreational opportunities in Mountain Lakes. The wide variety of recreational opportunities afforded by them has had a fundamental effect on shaping the character of the community and its population. One result is a population unusually dedicated to active recreation.
As outlined in the Conservation Plan Element, the lakes are experiencing the natural process of eutrophication. As a high priority, Borough policies and programs under the leadership of the Borough Council should continue to support the lakes and the recreational benefits.
Recreation in Mountain Lakes has long been characterized by a high degree of community participation. The Borough, the Board of Education and the Recreation Commission should continue to be sensitive to the changing desires of the community, within the context of maintaining the Borough's traditional commitment to a diversity of recreational opportunity. In particular, more emphasis is needed in programs provided to all ages and to non-athletic recreational activities.
The Borough has recreation facilities and programs of which the community is justly proud. There are increasing demands on these facilities and programs and the opportunities for major expansions to existing facilities is very limited for fiscal and practical reasons. Priorities should be set by the Borough and the Board of Education for the use of the facilities that:
The Borough, in collaboration with the Board of Education, should create a plan to assess the condition and use of all the recreational fields, and create a management plan to maintain and utilize those facilities. This plan should be updated on a regular basis.