Municipal officials in Holmdel have agreed to a land swap with Monmouth County.
Holmdel traded the county 115 acres at Cross Farm Park in exchange for a 13.8-acre parcel near Holmdel Park.
Mayor Tom Critelli said the 13.8 acres, near 44 Longstreet Road, could eventually be developed to accommodate a need for additional athletic fields in town. He said there is no proposal for playing fields at the present time and he said the parcel will remain passive.
“We will discuss potential options with our community members and athletic user groups in the future. These user groups have been vocal about the need for additional fields closer to the center of town,” he said.
Critelli, who called the land swap a fair trade, said the 115 acres at Cross Farm Park that will now be under the jurisdiction of the county will be preserved. He said the county will preserve an historic building on the property.
“It’s not merely about the acreage, but the location of the parcel the township is receiving and the opportunity the acquisition of that parcel provides us. The 13.8 acres is in the heart of our community and gives us options for traffic safety improvements, as well as possible recreational development.
“You also have to consider that the 115 acres we are trading to the county is an extension of the Thompson Park system and prior to this agreement that land was available for development, which we would prefer to avoid. The county also agreed to pay for all renovations to the historic building on the property at Cross Farm Park,” he said.
Asked why municipal officials did not consider further developing Cross Farm Park when seeking out areas at which to construct athletic fields, which residents have said are necessary, Critelli said residents were opposed to the idea of further developing the property.
“We do plan on making modest improvements to the existing fields based on recommendations received from the Holmdel Youth Athletic Association,” Critelli said.
At present, the property at 10 Longbridge Road features a baseball diamond, a concession stand, lacrosse fields, a playground, a soccer field and a pavilion.
Critelli said county officials took an interest in the land swap “because it provides an opportunity to expand the Monmouth County Park System and bolsters protection of the Swimming River Reservoir.”
Payment and cash considerations are not included in the land exchange, officials said.