MARLBORO — The township is the recipient of a state Green Acres matching grant in the amount of $825,000 from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Garden State Preservation Trust through the Planning Incentive Grant program.
Capt. Shital Rajan, who chairs Marlboro’s Open Space Committee, said the grant will be used for the acquisition of four properties by the end of the year.
“We want to make sure that Marlboro is a healthy place for future generations to come,” he said.
In a letter to Mayor Jonathan Hornik, DEP representatives said, “Preserving open space and improving and expanding local parks are critical components of New Jersey’s efforts to combat sprawl.”
“Not only is Marlboro one of only four towns in Monmouth County receiving an open space grant, but $825,000 is the largest amount given to any single municipality in the state,” Hornik said.
“This grant will help Marlboro continue our mission to preserve open space, protect land from development forever and preserve Marlboro’s quality of life.
“The Open Space Committee has been a partner with my administration in aggressively pursuing open space opportunities, and I want to thank Capt. Rajan and the committee members for their dedication,” the mayor said.
According to a press release, since 2007, Marlboro officials have preserved more than 220 acres.
One acquisition, the Geohegan parcel on Tennent Road, will be the future home of Marlboro’s community garden. The parcel was dedicated in 2013.
In 2010, the Monmouth County Park System acquired and preserved several hundred acres in the vicinity of Harbor Road and the former Marlboro Airport.
In 2014, Marlboro protected 87 acres of open space with the Smith, Penska and Baydock parcels, and preserved the 29-acre Baymar property on Harbor Road as a farm forever.
And, municipal officials said the state is well underway in the cleanup of the former Marlboro State Psychiatric Hospital property on Route 520 near Conover Road. The hospital tract consists of 411 acres which will be turned over to Monmouth County for a dedicated park, according to the press release.
“As the Township Council’s liaison to the Open Space, Farmland Preservation and Shade Tree committees since I was first elected in 2007, it gives me tremendous pride to see our hard work be rewarded with funding. Having grown up in Marlboro, it is even more gratifying to be part of keeping Marlboro beautiful, green and preserving our quality of life,” Councilwoman Randi Marder said.
Members of the Open Space Committee are Jack Appel, Harry Cross, Linda Lee, Fran Owitz, Dennis Stack and Linda Sullivan. The Agricultural Advisory Committee is comprised of Chairwoman Heidi Rajan, Vice Chairman Tom Chenal and member El Geran.
— Contact Peter Elacqua at [email protected]