News
LS Land Donation Will Remain Open Space
By Sherry Conohan
LITTLE SILVER - Two parcels of land came into the borough's inventory when the Borough Council adopted an ordinance Monday night accepting the donation of two tracts, one at the end of Woodland Street and the other at the end of Birch Avenue.
The land, near the New York & Long Branch Railroad, was donated by Clubway Associates, LLC, the owner and developer of the area. The tract at the end of Woodland is 2.67 acres, while the tract at the end of Birch is 1.35 acres.
Borough Attorney John O. Bennett III said the land will remain in the borough's openspace inventory and will never have construction on it.
Councilman Jonathan H. Bitman said the lots were mostly wetlands.
The Planning Board, which was opposed to development on the tracts, made the donation of them to the borough part of its approval of Clubway Associates' application for development of other land in the area.
The vote on accepting the two parcels of land was unanimous 6-0.
The council also approved the application for open space funds from Monmouth County for development at Santelle Park and Memorial Park.
The resolutions for both projects, adopted 6-0, noted that the county Board of Freeholders has an open space program to provide program grant funds in connection with municipal recreational development of lands for parks, recreation, conservation and farmland preservation purposes as well as for recreation and conservation development and maintenance purposes.
The borough is applying for $100,000 from the county for the recreational development at Santelle Park, on Riverview Avenue by the river, which it will match for a total of $200,000, if Little Silver is awarded a grant.
The borough is applying for $80,000 for the recreational development of Memorial Park, on Prospect Avenue across the street from the firehouse and Kings Road, which it will match for a total of $160,000, if Little Silver is awarded a grant.
Plans for development of both parks have been on the drawing board for some time and have undergone revision and refinement as the borough has sought the money necessary to bring them to fruition.
As currently envisioned, the boat ramp at Santelle Park will remain as it is, the tennis courts and the basketball court will be rebuilt and a tot lot will be added. The plan for this park also calls for tables, benches and landscaping.
Memorial Park will remain just that. A walkway from the street will lead to a reflecting pool in front of a flagpole. A nature trail will run in a half circle around the rear of the property and will have four individualized gardens branching off it. The veterans monuments around borough hall will be moved here and some statuary may be introduced. It will be a quiet place for personal reflection.
The council doesn't expect to hear for several months whether its applications for the grants have been approved by the county.
