Happy Women’s History Month, Moorestown.
I hope everyone is having a great start to 2025 as we quickly move into spring. One thing I know about Moorestown is that our residents want to stay informed and engaged in what’s happening across our community. That’s why, over the past two years, the township has expanded our social-media presence and updated our municipal website – all in an effort to make local government more accessible. And we’re not stopping there.
We’re off to a strong start this year, making progress on several long-anticipated projects. A bandshell is coming to the Town Green, an inclusive playground is being built at Wesley Bishop Park and Strawbridge Lake just became the first lake in Burlington County to offer rental kayaks.
If you missed these announcements, don’t worry, staying informed just got easier. Thanks to the work of our Public Information Officer, Kelly Flynn, the township has launched Moore News, a new, streamlined email newsletter delivering township updates straight to your inbox.
Our goal is a two-way conversation. We’ll bring you updates from inside town hall and you tell us what you want to hear “Moore” about. If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email newsletter@moorestown.nj.us and let us know what matters the most to you.
Another major project moving forward is the replacement of the 75- and 100-year-old water mains along Main Street. The council recently awarded a contract to replace both aging mains with a modern system from Church Street to Lenola Road. This $4.2-million project is being supported by a $2.2-million federal grant secured with the help of U.S. Sen. Andy Kim.
This work is more complex than a standard replacement. The century-old concrete water main and buried trolley tracks have contributed to Main Street’s premature aging and must be removed. The project is long overdue: The old mains have been prone to breaks, water disruptions and even icy roads in the winter.
During active construction, there will be temporary road closures in the immediate work area, but roads will reopen each evening for normal traffic. Once a large section of the new main is installed, it will be sanitized, pressure-tested and – only after passing all safety tests – connected to the existing water system. When construction is complete, the township will fully repave Main Street curb to curb.
Work crews have started cutting concrete and laying pipe between Lenola Road and Westbrook Drive. Westbound traffic on Kings Highway will continue to experience closures and drivers are encouraged to take the Pleasant Valley Avenue detour leading to East Camden Avenue. There will be a hard lane closure starting at Westbrook Drive, with a detour leading to South Lenola Road. Only local traffic should utilize this route. Eastbound traffic on Kings Highway may be subject to intermittent closures as equipment is moved into place, but it should largely be unaffected.
We know this project will impact daily commutes and we want to help you plan ahead. That’s why we’ve launched Moore News: Main Street Edition, a separately dedicated email list for roadwork updates. You can sign up for this edition on the township website.
And, because we love a good community challenge, we’re aiming for 1,000 subscribers for both “Moore News” and “Moore News: Main Street Edition.” To show our gratitude, the 1,000th subscriber to each newsletter will receive a $50 gift card to Cockadoodle Dan’s, a new business on Main Street.
One of the council’s top priorities is making sure you feel heard. That means open communication, opportunities to ask questions and ensuring that residents can engage with what’s happening at town hall. We’re one of the few South Jersey towns offering hybrid participation for council meetings, allowing residents to participate in person or virtually via Microsoft Teams.
Since the start of the year, we’ve hosted multiple public listening sessions, including a Main Street Water Main info session in January and open office hours with Deputy Mayor Sue Mammarella in February, when residents had their questions answered directly.
We’re keeping that momentum going. On Thursday, Councilman James Barry and I will host a listening session from 6 to 7 p.m. in council chamber. This month’s topic: parks, recreation programs and the environment. Come with your questions, concerns and ideas – we’re here to listen.
As we move forward in 2025, I’ll continue using this column to bring you updates on housing, roads, public safety and more. The volunteers and engaged residents of this community are what make Moorestown special. The more we work together, the better we can shape Moorestown’s future.
