BY LAYLI WHYTE
Staff Writer
RED BANK — The borough will apply for county open space funding to upgrade the marina at Marine Park.
The Borough Council recently approved a resolution authorizing the borough to apply for a Monmouth County Open Space Grant for renovations at Marine Park.
Councilman Arthur Murphy said in an interview last week that the $1.6 million grant, if approved, would be used to upgrade electrical service, bring water service to each slip, put up a 6-foot high chain link fence around the marina, install new sidewalks and benches, and add a ramp with a handrail to make the marina ADA-compliant.
There is also a security system with cameras and new lighting planned. Other items include gates and a ten-foot by 20-foot floating dock. Trash receptacles and a landscaping allowance are also planned.
The estimated cost of the project is $2.1 million, said Murphy. The borough has asked for 75 percent of that cost.
The grant request is in addition to an application submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for a $250,000 grant for bulkhead replacement.
“It’s not that the parks have been let go,” said Murphy, “They just haven’t been as kept up with as they could have been.”
Murphy said the borough is hoping to hear back about that application before the end of the year.
The borough is also in the process of replacing the office for the tennis courts at Marine Park, which would include a new ADA-compliant restroom. Murphy said he hopes that will be completed by June 1.
Murphy said that the repaving of the sidewalks leading down to Marine Park has been discussed as a new project.
“We always ask what’s next,” said Murphy, “It all depends on what grants come across the table.”
Count Basie Park is currently under renovation as the result of another Open Space grant received by the borough.
“We might even be looking for one or two more grants for Count Basie Park,” said Murphy, “The grants that we apply for this year don’t come in until next year and then it takes six months to get it rolling.”