The “Cool” Park Grant
The borough council on Wednesday (25 August) approved a resolution allowing the town to apply for a Monmouth County grant that would pay for half of a $456,000 project to add shade to Count Basie Park and East Side Park.
The reason because of this grant application is the budget of Monmouth County. Each year this county makes $2 million accessible to its municipalities for land acquisition, development and improvements for parks. As the borough council informed, Red Bank is planning to ask for $228,000. It will fund the other half of the project.
What is Included in the Plan
Plans call for adding several small shade structures with benches, a couple of larger shade structures, six dugout roofs and an information kiosk at Count Basie Park, at the corner of Drs. James Parker Boulevard and Maple Avenue. East Side Park, between Marion and Mechanic streets, would receive three of the smaller coverings with benches, plans show.
Reason and Approval?
At the public hearing earlier this month, council members said both parks had an absence of covered areas where visitors can beat the elements.
The borough council unanimously approved the resolution, but not before a comical moment from Council President Cindy Burnham. She called the project, "more of a need than a want," but meant the opposite. Councilman Mark Taylor, chair of the council's park's committee, jumped on the gaffe and said, "You're right, it is more of a need than a want." Burnham added that she thought matching grants, like the one sought in this case, are one of the things keeping taxes so high in the borough. Still, she ended up voting in favor of the grant.
Deadlines and other previous payments
Red Bank must file its application by Sept. 14 to be considered for the upcoming round of funding. Borough Administrator Stanley Sickels said he expects the county to make its decision before the end of the year. The borough received $223,000 in grants from Monmouth County in 2015 for work at East Side Park and Mohawk Pond, according to the county's parks website.
Your Thoughts..
Were those parks improvements needed? Wouldn’t be smarter if that grand is invested in something else? Was it more “a want, than a need”? Let us know in the comments below, and maybe suggest some other grant idea.
For all of your travel needs, call Exclusive Taxi and Car Service at 732-350-8294, or visit us on the web at www.exclusivetaxiandcarservice.com