Work set to begin on 27-acre Upper Freehold siteA nonprofit organization has been formed to raise money to construct the Byron Johnson Recreation Area. Township Committeeman Bill Miscoski said approximately $1.4 million is needed to complete the project.
By: Frank C. D’Amico
UPPER FREEHOLD – A nonprofit organization has been formed to raise money to construct the Byron Johnson Recreation Area.
Township Committeeman Bill Miscoski said approximately $1.4 million is needed to complete the project, which will include the constructing of sports fields on the 27-acre parcel off Ellisdale Road near Allentown High School.
Mr. Miscoski said a private nonprofit group, Friends of Upper Freehold, which is not affiliated with the township, has been set up to gather donations.
Developer K. Hovnanian, which is building single-family houses and age-restricted units nearby, donated $600,000 to the endeavor, Mr. Miscoski said.
Mr. Miscoski said the cost of the project is mainly because work needs to be done on the field’s soil.
"The soil is bad and the whole project is going to cost more than we thought because of this," Mr. Miscoski said.
Mr. Miscoski said its planned to have project completed in one year.
"We’re going to do anything and everything to raise money for this," Mr. Miscoski.
He said there are no definite plans for fund raising yet.
The recreation area, which had its groundbreaking this week, will feature three baseball fields, two soccer fields, one football field, bocce courts, horseshoe pits, four tennis courts and a basketball court, he said.
Mr. Miscoski said there also will be a picnic area, concession stand, a walking trail and a press box for the baseball fields.
Allentown High School will use some of the fields, but the Byron Johnson Recreation Area will be "for the entire community," Mr. Miscoski said.
The township acquired the 27-acre recreation site after it swapped lands with Monmouth County. It transferred the rights to Walnford Park to the county and it took over the Byron Johnson area.
Byron Johnson was the man who previously owned the land.
Mr. Miscoski and Township Committeeman Paul Burke serve on the Friends of Upper Freehold along with residents Leonard Yanchar, John Swanekamp, Douglas Walsh and Theresa A. Harchetts, assistant branch manager for First Washington State Bank in Allentown.
To contribute to the Byron Johnson Recreation Area, make donations payable to the Friends of Upper Freehold, care of Bill Miscoski, Box 89, 314 Route 539, Cream Ridge, N.J. 08514.