On behalf of the Board of Freeholders, the Monmouth County Planning Board presented three organizations with 2020 merit awards during a virtual meeting held on Dec. 21.
“The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders and the Planning Board are pleased to award three outstanding honorees who have made significant contributions to planning in Monmouth County,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, the county governing body’s liaison to the Planning Board.
“Through partnerships, redevelopment, education, public outreach, resiliency, stakeholder cooperation and coordination, the Planning Board has recognized those who are working tirelessly to keep Monmouth County the place you want to be,” Burry was quoted as saying in a press release from the county.
The 2020 merit awards were presented to:
• The Anderson Building, Red Bank, in recognition of Adaptive Reuse or Redevelopment. The project revitalized the abandoned historic Anderson Moving and Storage warehouse on Monmouth Street across from the Red Bank train station. The building has been redeveloped into a functional and beneficial reuse for office and retail purposes.
• Monmouth County 4-H, Freehold, in recognition of Education and Public Outreach. Monmouth County 4-H has continued its traditions and educational values that surrounded the Monmouth County Fair throughout the 2020 global coronavirus pandemic by reimagining, assembling and creating the “It’s Not Fair!” virtual 4-H county fair experience.
• Seawall Reconstruction, Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach, in recognition of Resiliency, Stakeholder Cooperation and Coordination. The project coordinated its effort to undertake multiple government jurisdictions, agencies and stakeholders to improve coastal resiliency from the effects of climate change and storm events through the repair and reconstruction of the Sea Bright-Monmouth Beach seawall.
The 2020 Merit Award honorable mention was presented to Kathy Buchan in recognition of Enhance Community Character. Buchan has exemplary leadership in spearheading a volunteer effort that has mobilized Long Branch and members of the community to help revitalize Jackson Woods Park in the city, according to the press release.
The Planning Board established the merit awards program in 1984 to recognize those plans, projects, programs, individuals, municipalities, businesses, community leaders and stakeholder organizations that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of planning and planning outcomes in Monmouth County, according to the press release.