County of Monmouth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 23, 2008
 
Freeholders approve open space grants
County allots more than $2.5 million for municipal projects
 
FREEHOLD – The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders has approved grants totaling $2,514,000 from the 2008 Monmouth County Open Space Trust Fund to acquire, create or improve park facilities in 14 municipalities.
 
“This program helps municipalities preserve open space and acquire and improve parkland by sharing the costs with the county,” said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the county’s Park System. “This is a valuable tool to help municipalities maintain and improve the quality of life in their communities. Both land acquisition and park, recreation and open space improvement efforts were eligible and considered.”
 
All of the county’s 53 municipalities were eligible to apply for funding awards. Twenty-four towns submitted complete applications by the September deadline with requests totaling $4.5 million. This is the sixth year of the program.
 
Eight grants for open space or park acquisition projects were awarded: 
  • Allentown, $250,000 for the acquisition and preservation of a 45-acre parcel on Breza Road to add to 146 acres already preserved as part of a regional plan and partnership with Upper Freehold.
  • Avon, $250,000 for the acquisition of the first waterfront property for public use in the municipality. The Riverfront Park and Marina project includes a 22-slip marina and support facilities for additional recreation (0.33 acres).
  • Colts Neck, $100,000 for the acquisition of five acres adjacent to existing municipal open space that supports the stream preservation and passive recreation.
  • Highlands, $220,000 for the acquisition of a waterfront lot adjacent to other municipal open space.
  • Howell, $150,000 for the acquisition of 94 acres of undeveloped woodlands and wetlands that  supports a greenbelt from the Manasquan Reservoir to Allaire State Park.
  • Rumson, $250,000 for the western riverfront expansion of Victory Park (0.59 acres).
  • Tinton Falls, $200,000 for the acquisition of a 9.9-acre parcel located at the headwater to the Pine Brook. The project supports municipal efforts to create a greenway.

 

 

Six other municipalities were granted funding awards for park development or improvement projects:

  • Atlantic Highlands, $85,000 for a new recreation facility with a skate park located adjacent to the county’s Henry Hudson Trail.
  • Manasquan, $250,000 for the creation of a community center with a gymnasium, exercise rooms and meeting space.
  • Keyport, $250,000 for improvements to the existing, high-use waterfront park adjacent to the downtown area.
  • Keansburg, $80,000 for the improvements to several parks that will include playground equipment, benches, picnic tables and safety improvements.
  • Oceanport, $159,000 for improvements to Charles Park that will include adding playground equipment, a gazebo and nature overlook.
  • Bradley Beach, $20,000 for improvements to Lake Terrace Park that will include accessible walkways, irrigation, landscaping and other repairs.
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.
 
The maximum matching amount awarded to a particular project is $250,000. During the first five years of the program, 40 towns have successfully applied and received funding for 63 individual projects. A total of $10,301,000 was awarded during those first five years.
 
Applications for the 2009 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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