Red Bank, NJ (November 16, 2016)— Maser Consulting P.A. is pleased to announce Paul M. Sterbenz, PE, PP, CME, CPWM; William H. R. White, III, PE, PP, CME, CPWM, CFM; and Ralph Tango, PE, PP, CME have been awarded Project of the Year Awards by the New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers (NJSME).

As the Township Engineer, Sterbenz took First Place in the Award’s Category G: Municipal Projects Involving Intergovernmental Cooperation for Phillipsburg High School Roadway Improvements. Since the Phillipsburg High School no longer had the capacity to house its over 1,700 high school students from both Hunterdon and Warren Counties, it was determined a new school be built in Lopatcong Township.

To support this initiative, the existing roadways leading to the school were greatly improved to accommodate the traffic ingress and egress of this largely bussed student population. The roadway project included utility and storm drain relocation, installation of a new traffic signal system and turn lanes to control two roadways converging at the school entrance that are separately maintained by Lopatcong Township and Warren County. This triggered unique agreements between multiple agencies involved to make this project successful.

City Engineer White, received a Second Place Award for Category F: Municipal Construction Management Projects for the Miller Evans Logan Recreation Center. Previously, this recreation center had been partially occupied by a neglected and dilapidated building, but the City of Elizabeth saw the potential this area had for redevelopment and opted to adapt this wasted space into a much-desired water park. It includes water slides, mounted spray toys, water-play and shade structures, shower towers and state-of-the-art utilities. The main feature is the thrilling 26-gallon dumping bucket which fills up with water until it topples over to spill onto visitors below. The new complex grants residents a leisurely spot for the whole family and promises a fun place to cool off for years to come.

City Engineer Tango, received an Honorable Place (third) in Category D: Municipal Parks/Recreation Projects for the Union City Police Memorial Park. The Park was originally dedicated to Detective Nicholas Guiardo, an officer killed in the line of duty. In order to honor an additional five officers, Union City chose to implement a passive memorial space and update the park’s aging infrastructure. The success of this project hinged on collaboration with the City’s Police Department as their valuable feedback was utilized throughout the design. The law enforcement themed park includes customized helicopter and patrol car jungle gyms and a spray area shaped like a police badge. The adjacent memorial contains bronze plaques with the officers’ names and likenesses, a bronze kneeling statue and a granite eternal flame. The restored park grants this community the versatility of an active park for amusement or a passive park for reflection.

The NJSME award program gives recognition to municipal engineers and municipality engineering consultants who have contributed to the public health, safety and welfare by way of designing projects or implementing programs which are of an outstanding nature. The awards are being presented during the New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers’ 2016 Annual Award Reception in Atlantic City, NJ.