Alison Miller, president of the Friends of West Windsor Open Space, reported to Council that FOWWOS was prepared to undertake a fundraising campaign to create a small park on Alexander Road, adjacent to the new Valero gas station and 7-11 store.
The park, which has been on the township master plan for the last eight years, can be created now that the construction work is complete on the Valero station, according to Miller. In addition, because the owners of the station needed access to the township land during their construction, they have agreed to fund a sidewalk along Alexander Road and a pathway that would run diagonally through the park from Alexander Road to the 7-11.
Miller brought with her a sketch of a landscape design for what she called a park with an “Asian theme,” with small clusters of tables and benches for outside eating and paths that zig-zagged through the area.
The reference to an “Asian theme” drew criticism from Councilman Maher. “When you have any certain theme of ethnicity you are dancing on thin ice in this town,” he said. He also objected that the plans had been drawn up without any input from Council.
Reached later Miller noted that plenty of parks in West Windsor have already been designed in American and European styles. She added that the sketch was based on an idea submitted by a noted architect in Shanghai, Yunhua Hu. “Council isn’t responsible for designing parks,” she said. “Its job is to authorize the funding” if it is needed. But, she added, this proposal is for funding from private donors contributing through FOWWOS, similar to the approach used for the township’s 9/11 memorial.
