Monmouth Freeholders Step Up After Port Authority Reneges On Park Funding
Freeholder Lillian Burry, Open Space Champion
Monmouth County will have a new 250 acre park in Aberdeen and Marlboro Townships, despite the fact that Port Authority of NY/NJ backed out of a commitment to fund $5 million to purchase 87.8 acres of the open space from a developer who had approvals to build 250 homes on the property.
Today, the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders approved funding the entire $10.6 million land purchase from Aberdeen/Wilson Associates, LLC through the County’s Open Space Trust Fund.
“The Port Authority appears to be unwilling to honor its commitment of sharing to fund a project that will preserve significant portions of the Matawan Creek watershed and eventually provide a 250-acre park,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the County Park System. “The Port Authority’s offer to help move this deal forward appears to have been withdrawn. Fortunately, Monmouth County has an invaluable Open Space Trust Fund to finance the entire purchase.”
State Senator Joe Kyrillos praised the Freeholder Board, the NY/NJ Baykeeper and Aberdeen Township for making the park a reality and slammed Port Authority for backing out of the deal.
Posted: February 26th, 2015 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Monmouth County, Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, Monmouth County Park System | Tags: Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini, Aberdeen Township, Aberdeen/Wilson Associates, David Wildstein, Freeholder Director Gary Rich, Freeholder Lillian Burry, Freeholder Tom Arnone, Gary Rich, Jim Truncer, Joe Kyrillos, Lillian Burry, Marlboro Township, Monmouth Conservation Foundation, Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, Monmouth County Parks, NY/NJ Baykeeper, Port Authority of NY/NJ, Senator Joe Kyrillos, Tom Arnone | 4 Comments »