Council OKs $2.6M in bonds for new park
BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH - The City Council took action last week to put funding in place for the construction of sport fields, an exercise track and other recreational uses at what will be the city's premier park.

Council voted 4-0 at the Oct. 9 meeting to approve ordinance 37-07 allowing the city to bond $2.6 million for the creation of Manahassett Creek Park.

The park, which has an estimated construction cost of $4 million, is located on a 13-acre tract bordered to the west by Narragansett Avenue, to the east by Long Branch Avenue, to the south by Naberal Avenue and to the north by Bay Avenue, according to Long Branch Director of Community and Economic Development Jacob L. Jones.

Last month, Jones unveiled plans for the park that call for two high school size soccer fields, middle school soccer fields, a senior league baseball field, a football field, a tournament size softball field, little league fields, four tennis courts, two basketball courts, a putting green area, a play area for children and an exercise/ running track.

Plans also include a recreational building, two parking lots, security lighting and a buffer area between the park and surrounding neighborhoods.

The city adopted an ordinance last year to bond $1.3 million, which brings the total to $3.9 million bonded for improvements to the site, according to City Chief Financial Officer Ronald Mehlhorn.

Construction on the park cannot begin until all the funding for the project is in place, City Business Administrator Howard H. Woolley explained in a previous interview.

He added that the city will continue to apply for grants to support the project and may not need to use the entire $2.6 million it has bonded.

Once construction begins, the project should be complete within six to 18 months, according to Jones.