Neglected 'Too Long,' Brick's Parks Finally Getting Attention

For years, Brick Township’s neighborhood parks were a favorite family hangout -- places parents could take their children, pack a picnic, and in some cases catch a movie.

But time and weather, neglect and vandalism, caused many of them to fall into disrepair, causing many families to stop using them.

Brick Township officials are trying to change that.

With renovations complete at Windward Beach’s playground and park area, officials have turned their attention to the more localized parks. And if the weather cooperates, three of those parks -- Colorado Park, Lake Riviera Park and Angela Hibberd Park -- should be completed this year, bringing new recreational opportunities to the town.

Mayor John Ducey and Councilwoman Andrea Zapcic outlined the projects that are expected to be completed this year as Ducey announced the three parks the town aims to address next year at a recent council meeting.

Colorado Park, in the north end of the township, is first on the list, Zapcic said, with construction expected to begin around June 12. At 32 acres, it is second in size only to the Drum Point Sports Complex as the township’s largest parks, she said. The plan, she said, is to present as much of the natural landscape as possible. The park will have two new playgrounds, one geared to children ages 2 to 5 and one for those 6 to 12; two basketball courts; a baseball diamond, and electrical wiring is being installed to present movies in the park in the summer. There also will be a walking trail that will connect to the Sawmill Bike Path, she said. The parking lot also will be reconfigured, and more security lighting and cameras will be installed to deter the vandalism that has occurred at the park in the past, she said.

Angela Hibberd Park will be the second project completed, Ducey said. The renovated park will have the township’s first dog park, with one area for large dogs and one for small dogs. It will have playgrounds for toddlers and geared to older children, and a tennis/pickleball court. Pickleball is similar to tennis and pingpong, but is played using wooden paddles and a wiffleball-style ball, with rules that mimic the other racquet sports. It has become popular in senior communities.

Lake Riviera Park will be the last park started and completed in 2015, Ducey said, because of some environmental approvals that are needed because the park sits at the edge of Lake Riviera. Zapcic said the parking lot at Lake Riviera will be reconfigured to eliminate the problem of young drivers who’ve been using the parking lot as a place to do donuts, she said. New playgrounds, again for ages 2-5 and 6-12, will be installed, and a new fishing pier, docks and a walkway will be put in. A new gazebo will be built as well, she said.

Colorado Park has drawn attention at past council meetings, as residents complaining about issues in Maple Leaf Park have said the rundown condition of the park has turned it into a place to avoid.

The money for the work begin done was appropriated last year, Ducey said, trying to clear up confusion about what projects are being done when. Ducey said the recreation capital budget the council approved this year provides for design and construction of the park in Birchwood Park, as well as the design for both Bernard J. Cook Park off Burnt Tavern Road, just west of the Garden State Parkway, and Bayside Park on the barrier island, which was severely damaged during Hurricane Sandy. The construction of those two parks will likely take place in 2017.

Councilman Jim Fozman said the parks had been neglected too long in the past, but also noted that the budget for each park projects is less than $1 million -- the bid award for Colorado Park was for $998,452.

Ducey said the work is being done while at the same time the township’s debt load is being reduced, because it is retiring a larger amount of bonds than the amount of money it is bonding for.

(Mayor John Ducey and Councilwoman Andrea Zapcic present the artist‘s rendering of Colorado Park. Angela Hibberd Park and Lake Riviera Park also where displayed at the council meeting. Credit: Karen Wall)