M'town introduces Recreation Master Plan MELISSA L. GAFFNEY, Staff Writer,The Courier, May 8 Posted:05/09/08
The Middletown Parks and Recreation Department presented its Recreation Master Plan at both the Township Committee meeting on Monday, May 5, and a public meeting at the Arts Center on Tuesday, May 6.
Parks and Recreation Director Gregg Silva said the planning began in December 2006 with the required proposals. Silva said the consultant team of Brandstetter Carroll Inc., Lexington, Ky., put together a plan that "shows how the public feels" about current and future use of recreational space.
According to project manager Patrick Hoagland and consultant Wayne Bain, both of Brandstetter, this plan is the reality of what people would like to see in Middletown. "This plan reflects what people told us they wanted," Hoagland said. "It is a tool to use for implementation."
Hoagland said the past 14 months were spent seeking public input and compiling information. "[Brandstetter] held two public workshops, 45 stakeholder meetings and sent out 'Community Attitude and Interest' surveys," he explained. Hoagland said Middletown middle and high school students were also surveyed.
Silva said the Master Plan Steering Committee also helped greatly with the process. "The steering committee had a broad representation of the township," he noted.
The steering committee consisted of: Laura Agin, Karen Bilboa, Pamela Brightbill, Robert Czech, John Deus, Dawn Diorio, William Doering, Joyce Ferejohn, Peggy Flanagan, Faith Hahn, Anthony Mercantante, Gregg Silva, Tim Sodon and Thomas Wilkens.
Hoagland said Middletown is fortunate because it has over 862 acres in 43 parks, as well as 413 acres of open space at 23 sites.
The township also benefits from the Monmouth County Park Commission, which provides an additional 2,496 acres at nine parks, and the state and federal governments, which provide over 2,000 acres of parkland at the Leonardo State Marina, Swimming River Reservoir and Gateway National Recreation Area.
Hoagland presented the "citizen driven" plan in several parts: What the township residents told Brandstetter, the future vision of parks and open spaces, major recommended facilities and other recommendations.
He said the three most identified items residents reported were to improve the existing parks and build an indoor ice rink as well as an indoor swimming facility.
Approximately 82 percent of households and 87 percent of students responding to the surveys visited a park at least once in the past year, Hoagland said. "The Sandy Hook National Recreation Area was the most visited, followed by Thompson Park and the Croydon Hall Activity Center and Park."
Major recommended facilities included: Recreational centers, an indoor aquatic center, paved trails, a skate park and upgraded existing park facilities
Hoagland said when Brandstetter asked residents if they would consider a tax to raise money for such improvements, the percentages were split into practically equal fourths. "[Results] almost always come out to a perfect pie," he said. "I'm not promoting the idea [of a tax], we just ask the question."
Bain reiterated to the Township Committee that these are the public's recommendations, not Brandstetter's. "The results we're presenting are what we heard from the community," he said.
Committeeman Patrick Short said he was impressed with the master plan. "It's a very thorough study, especially considering the input from students and all the groups who participated," he said.
Committeeman Sean Byrnes said there were some great ideas in the master plan, but his focus is the financial implications. "I don't know if the town should be running all of these things," he said. "[The township] is not going to be able to tax our way into these things, but [the township] can membership its way."
Residents can view the Parks and Recreation Master Plan online at: www.middletownnj.org.
