Paper street renamed for longtime councilman BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer MATAWAN - The borough renamed a paper street after the late former Councilman Joseph Penniplede on July 10. Known affectionately as "Joe P," the former councilman, fireman, policeman and fire commissioner is being honored with the street. Penniplede, who died in December 2004 at the age of 59, was serving his fifth term on the council at the time of his death. Called a paper street because it only exists on paper, the road is not paved, does not have any curbs and there are no buildings that use it as an address, according to Borough Administrator Fred Carr. However, the borough has plans to re-create the path as a park. Located near Main Street between the Masonic temple and Synergy Bank, the street was discovered accidentally by the wife of Councilman Joseph "Bud" Mullaney. According to Mullaney, his wife was searching for landscaping ideas when she noticed a sidewalk that ended abruptly onto a grassy patch of land. Wondering who owned the small parcel, Mrs. Mullaney discovered it was the paper street called Summit Way. "It's quite common to have a paper street," Carr explained, adding such lanes are commonly the result of "back in the day, when they planned the borough." Mullaney's son, Michael Mullaney, is chairman of the Recreation Commission. The father/son team is working with the commission to raise funds to landscape the street and create a park-like atmosphere. According to the elder Mullaney, a sign bearing "Welcome to Joseph P. Penniplede Park" and an official street sign will be placed on the grounds. "The walkway will be a simple walkway," Mullaney said. "We'll have the overgrowth taken out. ... We're waiting on a surveyor to survey the roadway, one who has volunteered his services so there will be no cost to the taxpayers." "We're seeking donations and/or grants for the whole complex," the councilman said. He added, "We're using money from the Turkey Trot to refurbish that park." This is not the first borough park named for Penniplede. In the spring, the council renamed Jackson Street Park the Joseph Penniplede Park. Explaining this, Mullaney said the council may have inadvertently "put the cart before the horse," in naming Jackson Street Park for the late councilman, adding that at the time, the council had yet to discover the paper street.