For Immediate Release:
December 22, 2009
Freeholders approve open space grants
County allots more than $2.3 million for municipal projects
FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders has approved grants totaling $2,357,000 from the 2009 Monmouth County Open Space Trust Fund to acquire, create or improve park facilities in 13 municipalities.
"This program is a valuable tool to help municipalities maintain and improve the quality of life in their communities," said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the county's Park System. "The Open Space Trust Fund helps municipalities preserve open space and improve parkland by sharing the costs with the county. The program also compliments the county's overall commitment to land preservation for parks, recreation, open space and farmland."
All of the county's 53 municipalities were eligible to apply for land acquisition and park facility funding awards. Twenty-one towns submitted complete applications by the September deadline with requests totaling $3.8 million. This is the seventh year of the program.
Four grants for open space or park acquisition projects were awarded:
- Asbury Park, $86,000 toward the purchase of 18 contiguous lots to expand park opportunities for west side residents. The 1.35-acre project is part of a redevelopment plan.
- Fair Haven, $250,000 for the acquisition and preservation of a 0.69-acre waterfront property that will provide public access to the Navesink River.
- Manalapan, $250,000 for the acquisition of 36 acres of hardwood forest in an environmentally sensitive area that supports passive recreation, preservation of the town's character and is adjacent to existing municipal open space.
- Millstone, $250,000 for the acquisition of 21.6 acres that will expand Millstone Park and improve public access, expand use and provide a more diverse park environment.
Nine other municipalities were granted funding awards for park development or improvement projects:
- Little Silver, $67,000 for the addition of a nature trail, monument and reflection pool, flagpole, seating and landscaping at Memorial Park. First-time grant recipient.
- Red Bank, $250,000 toward the installation of a synthetic turf field at Count Basie Park
- Belmar, $175,000 for improvements to Dempsey Park that will provide unique recreation young children including a water park with spray features.
- Eatontown, $175,000 for active recreation improvements at Wolcott Park that focus on serving individuals with disabilities.
- Brielle, $250,000 for ball field, volleyball court and playground improvements at Brielle Park. First-time grant recipient.
- Spring Lake, $175,000 for the reconfiguration of facilities at Marucci Park that provides space for the addition of a new, multiple purpose soccer/lacrosse field, reconstruction of basketball and tennis courts and upgraded irrigation and utilities.
- Neptune City, $197,000 for upgrades to the highly used and well-maintained Memorial Park that will include a rain garden, pavilion improvements, field irrigation, lighting and security features.
- Keyport, $52,000 for the creation of a skate park.
- Middletown, $250,000 for the development of two new ballfields and trails in partnership with the Borough of Atlantic Highlands at the Conifer Tract Baseball Fields.
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.
Since the inception of the county's Municipal Open Space Grant program in 1993, 43 towns have successfully applied and received funding for 90 individual projects. A total of $12,658,000 has been awarded to date.
Applications for the 2010 Monmouth County Municipal Open Space Grant Program will be available on or about May 1. The filing deadline will be in September.
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