Competing visions for Marine Park, and specifically the site of its deteriorated red clay tennis courts, received mixed reviews from residents, who agreed that something should be done to reclaim the riverfront park at the foot of Wharf Avenue.
At a May 28 special meeting of the Borough Council at Red Bank Middle School, residents heard presentations on three proposals with varied options that would either preserve the courts, create a river-centered activity center or a family-friendly space.
Speaking first, resident Jim P. Cullen presented plans to restore the historic red clay courts, which were already in disrepair when they sustained further damage during superstorm Sandy in 2012. The courts are owned by the borough and run by the Red Bank Clay Courts Tennis Association.
“It’s not about the tennis. I think you have a unique landmark with a great history, and it would be a shame to give that up,“ Cullen said of the courts, which date to 1930.
According to the proposal, founders of the courts include Don Budge, the first U.S. Grand Slam champion.
“Hard courts break your back and your knees. Clay courts are wonderful — it’s like walking on a cloud,” said Rich Nicoletti, a longtime resident of the area, who said during a question-and-answer session following the presentations that he played on the courts in his youth.
Red clay tennis courts, according to Cullen, are harder to find and usually are used in private court facilities.
If the proposal is selected, Cullen, a money manager, has promised to provide the funds to restore the courts. He projects it will cost at least $500,000, but Cullen said it is an expense that is more than worth it.
“When you travel around the world, you notice there aren’t a lot of [red] clay courts,” said Cullen, who noted he enjoyed playing on the surface during a trip to Monte Carlo — so much so that he wants to share the experience with those in the town.
Cullen also expressed interest in having a youth tennis program for children under 17. According to his presentation, children who play tennis at an early age have an increased chance of attending college on scholarship compared to children who play other sports. Next up was the proposal for Red Bank Harbor, presented by Anthony Setaro of Jetsun Enterprises, a group of local business owners who want to remake the area into a family-friendly space.
The proposal, which would involve leasing the land from the borough for 25 years, is for a miniature golf course, small threeon three artificial ice hockey rinks, and a station on the river for paddleboats and food concessions.
“We saw this as a reset on how we could [envision] the area,” said Setaro, a real estate developer who formed Jetsun with several other members of the community. The goal is to provide a space for familyfriendly activities that cannot be found elsewhere in the borough.
Project architect Michael Monroe said the park should provide a place for ongoing activities and events that appeal to a wide range of residents.
“It’s creating a place where activities should happen by the people who live here now and the people who will live here in 25 years,” he said.
If selected, the group promised to have a security patrol of the area to ensure that it is safe for children and adults at all hours of the day. The renovations would be funded by both public and private sources, according to Doug Booton, a member of the Jetsun team.
Several residents raised concerns about the potential traffic and lack of parking that could result.
“Why would you want to do this to this town?” asked Shelley Davimos, a business owner and resident. “You minimize the 90 spaces [on-site] and how it is never really used. I beg to differ, it’s all used. We can’t move on Broad Street as it is at 5 p.m.”
The remarks drew applause from the crowd of about 100 in attendance.
The third presentation, for the Marine Park Activities Center, proposes the building of a two-story boathouse in the area of the courts. The center includes a 20,000- square-foot boathouse with a dock, and will feature accessible facilities.
“We all love being on the river and, when we were looking at this space, we were thinking how we could get other people to see what a beautiful place this is,” said Sandy Talarico, a board member at the center, which will seek nonprofit status.
Part of the plan is to create recreational and competitive sailing and sculling programs that would be available for all ages and abilities. There would also be programs such as family canoe trips and lessons on rowing and sailing on the river.
“We want to put people on the river,” said Talarico, who is also a member of the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association.
Reaction to the three presentations was split, with opinions differing among older and younger families looking for activities.
“The biggest problem I see in this town, being someone who has lived here five years … is there is nothing for parents to do with their kids and nothing for people to do in this town but shop and eat,” said Chris Paseka, who owns Sugarush, a cupcake shop on East Front Street.
Many residents who have fond memories of the tennis courts do not want to see them abandoned.
“To me, it’s an historical site,” said Nicoletti, “Why change something that has been there for so long? What Mr. Cullen wants to do is make it so it’s more beautiful than it was.”
“What are you going to do with the older people in this town, what are they going to have?” asked Nicoletti.
“I think a lot of longtime residents remember Red Bank in its glory days,” Councilwoman Linda Schwabenbauer said of residents who seemed to be drawn toward the idea of remaking the tennis courts.
Some residents were pleased to see proposals for the park and something being planned in an area that has long been ignored.
“It’s nice to see that side of Marine Park improved because, even before Sandy, it seemed scruffy,” said Fred Stone, a resident of the borough.
“This is an opportunity to expand the access of all the people in Red Bank to the river,” Stone said.
Members of the Parks and Recreation Committee will consider the feedback from the community as they decide which presentation to send to the Borough Council for a vote.