Monmouth County’s Freeholders issued a statement on Friday begging residents to follow social distancing policies when the use County parks and golf courses this weekend.
“While we are very excited to see our County parks and golf courses reopen tomorrow morning, we are begging everyone to do the right thing and practice strict social distancing when you are at one of the parks or on a golf course. If an individual is not a member of your household, you should stay at least six feet away from them at all times.
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, in a facebook post on Tuesday evening, emphatically called upon Governor Phil Murphy to allow County officials to open the parks in their jurisdictions throughout New Jersey.
Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone said that the public will be restricted from the County’s parks and golf courses, effective April 8, due to the Executive Order that Governor Murphy signed today in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
MANASQUAN —Monmouth County officials, faced with a barrage of complaints, relaxed a controversial restriction on dogs at a beach on the Manasquan River. Beginning June 22, dogs will be permitted at all hours year-round at the Fisherman’s Cove Recreation Area in Manasquan but will be restricted to the easternmost section of the beach, said Karen Livingstone,… Read the rest of this entry »
Click photo for larger view. Photo by Paul Scharff Photography
The Monmouth County Park System is pleased to announce that a historic World War II naval gun from the Battleship New Jersey was transported yesterday to Battery Lewis at Hartshorne Woods Park for permanent display as part of the Battery Lewis restoration. The gun barrel, which is 68 feet long and weighs 120 tons, is almost identical to the 16-inch guns on Battery Lewis during World War II.
Originally on the USS New Jersey and donated by the U.S. Navy to the Monmouth County Park System, the gun barrel has travelled by rail from Norfolk, Virginia to Red Bank, where it will be offloaded onto a tractor trailer for transport to Hartshorne Woods Park.
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.
By Tommy De Seno, Asbury Park Historian, proud Blue Bishop and contributor to More Monmouth Musings
[PRELIMINARY NOTE TO FREEHOLDERS: I KNOW YOU ARE BUSY. IF YOU CAN’T READ ALL OF THIS ABOUT WHY YOU SHOULDN’T BUY A PARK IN ASBURY, SKIP TO REASON #6 BELOW. BUT I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE WHOLE LETTER]
Asbury Park is everyone’s business. Why? The rest of the taxpayers in the State of New Jersey spend $60 million annually on the schools. Even though the High School graduates only about 95 students, they just installed an $800,000.00 turf football field. Go Blue Bishops.
The City turns to the State of New Jersey annually for $10-12 million to close their budget gap.
So yes – the business of Asbury Park is everyone’s business. We should all closely monitor their elections, but since they hold non-partisan elections in May they get ignored.
Now I’m not here to beat up the City by the Sea, the Urban Sand, my beloved childhood home of Asbury Park. If anyone cares to know I’ll gladly regale you with lectures on how Asbury Park got to be where it is (it isn’t just their fault) and how they should get to where they need to go.
But blog space compels me to limit my words to one issue at a time, and that issue right now has to do with the Monmouth County Parks Commission possibly purchasing a piece of land on Asbury Park’s beachfront.
Whatever you do, my dear Freeholders, don’t buy it.
Due to the weather forecast, All Monmouth County Park System Parks, Golf Courses, Activity Centers, Environmental Centers, Visitor Centers, Program Buildings & Historic Sites will be closed to the public on Sunday, August 28th. All Monmouth County Park System programs, activities, classes, lessons, clinics, trips & Group Picnic/Shelter rentals for Sunday, August 28th have been cancelled
Some additional information regarding specific programs & parks:
–Turkey Swamp Park Campgrounds will close at 12noon, Saturday, August 27th and will remain closed to the public until further notice.
–Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park will be closed beginning Sunday, August 28th and will remain closed to the public until further notice.
–The Dorbrook Recreation Area Sprayground will be closed beginning Sunday, August 28th and will remain closed to the public until further notice.
–The Going Batty Campfire program at Turkey Swamp Park for Saturday, August 27th has been cancelled.
–The Navesink River Kayak Trip for Sunday, August 28th has been cancelled.
–All boat tours at the Manasquan Reservoir for Friday evening, 8/26 thru Sunday, 8/28 have been cancelled.
–Creature Feature at Huber Woods Environmental Center for Saturday, August 27th has been cancelled.
–The Monmouth County Youth Golf Tournament scheduled for Monday, August 29th at Bel-Aire Golf Course had been cancelled.
–The Park-A-Day Camp for Monday, August 29th departing from the Coastal Activity Center has been cancelled for Monday only.
–Camp Seven Presidents for Monday, August 29th has been cancelled for Monday only.
–Charmin Discovers at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park for Monday, August 29th has been cancelled for Monday only.
Unless contacted separately by Park System staff, all programs & activities scheduled for Saturday, August 27th will be conducted as planned.
Updated information regarding the parks, golf courses and programs/activities which begin on Monday, August 29th will posted on our website www.monmouthcountyparks.com as it becomes available. If you have any questions, email us at [email protected] or call (732) 842-4000 ext 4312
Asbury Park is everyone’s business. Why? The rest of the taxpayers in the State of New Jersey spend $60 million annually on the schools. Even though the High School graduates only about 95 students, they just installed an $800,000.00 turf football field. Go Blue Bishops.