Morganville parcel could become ballfields

BY REBECCAMORTON Staff Writer

A n open space parcel could be used for baseball fields at some point in the future if grant money from Monmouth County is awarded to Marlboro.

The Township Council recently passed a resolution to seek $250,000 from Monmouth County’s Open Space Trust Fund to help pay for the development of baseball fields on a parcel known as the Geoghegan property on Tennent Road in the Morganville section of Marlboro. The Geoghegan property is in the vicinity of the existing Marlboro Little League baseball complex.

According to the resolution, the estimated cost of the project including all matching funds is $503,000.

When members of the public had a chance to comment, resident Desiree Smith, who lives next to the Geoghegan property, raised concerns with regard to safety on what she called an already dangerous road (Tennent Road).

Smith asked where parking for the new baseball fields would be provided and what measures would be taken to ensure safety. She noted that a housing development known as Wildflower has been approved for construction in the immediate area.

Mayor Jonathan Hornik and Councilman Frank LaRocca sit on the Marlboro Planning Board and assured Smith those are issues that will be addressed during the planning phases of the baseball fields.

They said Smith could raise her concerns when the Planning Board holds hearings about the proposed playing fields.

Council President Randi Marder said if the Geoghegan property is determined not to be a suitable location for baseball fields, the fields will not be developed.

Marder said the parcel was suggested as a possible location for new playing fields because it is next to the existing Little League baseball complex.

Hornik said that at this point Marlboro is only seeking grant money. He said there are no formal plans in place for the development of the property.

Councilwoman Carol Mazzola asked if the development of the Geoghegan property would proceed if Marlboro is denied the county grant.

Hornik said that was a hypothetical situation and said he would deal with that decision if the township’s request for a grant is denied.

The resolution to seek the grant from Monmouth County was passed in a 4-1 vote. Marder, LaRocca, Council Vice President Jeff Cantor and Councilman Scott Metzger voted yes. Mazzola voted no on the motion to pass the resolution.

— Contact Rebecca Morton at [email protected]