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Freeholders Approve Open Space Grants
FREEHOLD - The board of chosen freeholders has approved grants totaling $2,301,000 from the 2007 Monmouth County Open Space Trust Fund to acquire, create or improve park facilities in 11 municipalities.
"This program helps municipalities preserve open space and acquire and improve parkland by sharing the costs with the county," said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the county's park system. "Both land acquisition and park, recreation and open space improvement efforts were eligible and considered. This is a valuable tool to help municipalities maintain and improve the quality of life in their communities."
All of the county's 53 municipalities were eligible to apply for funding awards. Twenty towns made requests seeking a total of $3.9 million. The board of chosen freeholders approved the grant awards at its December 6 regular meeting. This is the fifth year of the program.
Maximum $250,000 grants, all for acquisition, were awarded to five municipalities:
Allentown, for the acquisition and preservation of a 33-acre parcel on Breza Road as part of a regional plan and partnership with Upper Freehold, Washington Township and the regional board of education.
Belmar, for the acquisition of the .28 acres of waterfront property adjacent to the Shark River Inlet.
Holmdel, for the acquisition of a 12-acre parcel adjacent to Mahoras Brook and an existing municipal park.
Tinton Falls, for the acquisition of 4.89 acres located between state, town and school lands.
Upper Freehold, for the acquisition and preservation of a 35-acre parcel on Breza Road as part of a regional plan and partnership with Allentown, Washington Township and the regional board of education.
Six other municipalities were granted funding awards, in the following amounts: Aberdeen, $169,000 for new and improved access to the waterfront at Seawall Park.
Hazlet, $238,000 for boardwalk, gazebo and tennis court improvements as well as a new skate park area at Veteran's Memorial Park.
Howell, $150,000 for improvements to a 178-acre park, including two off-leash dog areas, fountains, benches and fencing.
Sea Bright, $153,000 for the improvements to an oceanfront park, including the creation of a concrete skateboard park.
Sea Girt, $238,000 for a cooperative project with the board of education to create a new, multi-use play facility to support municipal recreation programs.
Union Beach, $103,000 for phase two of a project to rehabilitate and expand Scholer Park.
Land acquisition and development for park recreation and open-space purposes are made possible by the Monmouth County Municipal Open Space Grant Program, a competitive matching-funds program for municipalities sponsored by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and administered by the Monmouth County Park System. Applications were due September 19.
"The county's significant contribution to the Riverdale Avenue East acquisition allows us to protect and link nearly five acres of land with a state natural area and municipal and school properties," Tinton Falls Mayor Peter Maclearie said. "This county program is a perfect example of the county's willingness to support local community efforts to preserve open space and maintain the quality of life in Monmouth County."
Applications for the 2008 Monmouth County Municipal Open Space Grant Program will be available on or about May 1. The filing deadline will be in September.
For more information, visit the park system's Web site at www.monmouthcountyparks. com.
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