HOWELL – Township Council members have authorized an application to be submitted for a grant that would be used to construct a concession building at Soldier Memorial Park, Lakewood-Farmingdale Road, Howell. The council is seeking funds from the Monmouth County Open Space Trust Fund.
The 178-acre park is owned by Howell and consists of five baseball/softball diamonds, nine soccer fields, three tot lots, four picnic areas, parking areas, portable restrooms and storage trailers.
Soldier Memorial Park is the largest park in Howell and is used for practice, games, camps and tournaments for sports leagues and teams, including Howell Girls Softball, Howell Lacrosse and the Howell United Soccer Club. The park hosts the annual Howell Day community event.
Municipal officials said the proposed project would include the construction of an 1,800-square-foot building with restrooms, a concession stand, permanent utility service and a storage area. A new seating area would supplement the park’s picnic tables.
Representatives of Maser Consulting presented the proposed project to the council during a public hearing on Aug. 4. The total construction cost is estimated at $750,000. Officials said the grant could pay 50 percent of eligible construction costs, up to $250,000.
Councilwoman Evelyn O’Donnell said she believes it is “an ambitious project with an ambitious pricetag.”
“I am sure the cost factors have been worked out carefully. (The project) looks lovely, of course. I am concerned with money, but it certainly looks lovely,” O’Donnell said.
Deputy Mayor Robert Nicastro thanked the master plan subcommittee which worked on the recreation element of Howell’s master plan.
“This is one project that was recommended … recreation is a big part of Howell and what makes Howell a special place,” he said.
Nicastro said Howell’s amenities such as open space, the Manasquan Reservoir, and its lakes and playing fields “invite a little bit of everything for everyone.”
“This is a perfect project for this area and quite frankly it is needed,” he said of the proposed building at Soldier Memorial Park.
Mayor Theresa Berger sought clarification regarding the expenses, saying, “The maximum amount (for the county grant) is $250,000. So it is a minimum of $500,000 that Howell would have to put in, is that correct? Is anything budgeted for this?”
Jim Herrman, Howell’s director of community development and acting deputy township manager, said there is more than $3 million in Howell’s open space trust fund for projects “just like this.”
“This is exactly what that open space trust fund money is for and the money would be proposed to be taken out of the township’s trust fund to supplement the county grant if we receive it,” Herrman said.
Nicastro said the proposed construction of the building at the park is not a budgeted item.
Resident Elizabeth Naskiewicz, who has served on committees related to municipal projects, said Soldier Memorial Park was initially designated for “passive, low-key recreation. It was railroaded into a much more aggressive project, it is there now, that is fine. Expanding it is a no-no since it is in a very critical watershed situation.”
Naskiewicz said she has no problem with the proposed building, but is concerned about the proposed water mains that would be used for the restrooms.
“The time is here and now for you, the current council, to show if you (support) preventing development in areas that have been designated natural resource preservation zones by way of large lot zoning. The best weapon any municipality has on its side to protect these areas is the absence of sewer facilities, which are a necessity for builders if they are to bring in developments,” Naskiewicz said. “Route 547 is ripe for picking from the Lakewood border straight through … to the Farmingdale border and beyond.”
Nicastro said the governing body knows about Naskiewicz’s institutional knowledge of the property and said the council is listening, but there is a difference of opinion. He said he respectfully disagreed.
“It is really sexy to say overdevelopment, that is the buzzword today,” Nicastro said. “Today in Howell, which is 64 square miles, you have 17,000 homes. Please do not tell me Howell is overdeveloped.”
Herrman said municipalities and/or emergency services are allowed to connect to the water main about which Naskiewicz spoke.
“That is it. No developers, no residential, no commercial, no nothing. That has been in the rules for probably 30 years,” he said.
Luis Vieira, vice president of the Howell United Soccer Club, thanked the council members for looking into obtaining a grant from Monmouth County.
“I think it is an opportunity to build our facilities, we do have phenomenal facilities in Howell. Just getting these upgraded, I think, would add that much more value. Our club consists of 500 kids and some very top level soccer teams. Having the proper facilities would add tremendous value to the town and the community,” Vieira said.