8th Street Park Improvement Project Breaks Ground In Hazlet

HAZLET, NJ — The 8th Street Park Improvement Project is now underway and will continue to September, the township has announced.

Ground was broken Tuesday on the revitalization project for the 3.75-acre park in the West Keansburg section of the township, and the park closed as of Monday, April 24, for the work to begin.

The project includes the construction of an inclusive playground, an all-purpose court, a basketball court, walking path, benches, trees and more parking to provide visitors with improved access to the park, according to the township.

Construction of the park is expected to be completed by September.

The project has been a true township-wide community undertaking of residents, township departments and the Open Space Advisory Council, among others.

Former Mayor Tara Clark was authorized to spearhead the project and the 8th Street Park Core Committee included Jason Cinquegrana, Jennifer Brennan, Cliff Moore, Andy Brennan, Donna Wendland, Clark and John Powers, the township has said.

There was a community meeting in August, for example, attended by 70 residents who could give input and hear plans for the park. Earlier that month, township children weighed in on their ideas of what would make the playground at the park fun - ideas about saucer swings, wavy slides, spinners and rope towers.

The township provides a continually updated timeline on the 8th Street Park Improvement Project on its website.

For example, a bid was awarded to Shore Top Construction in February for $790,400. The scope of work included the rehabilitation of the existing playground and basketball court, installation of a perimeter walking trail, installation of a multi-purpose court, installation of a new irrigation system, landscaping, lighting, drainage improvements and various park amenities.

In 2022, former Mayor Clark was authorized by the Mayor Michael Sachs to work with T&M engineers and the original West Keansburg neighborhood committee to give input on the park design.

A $1.5 million bond ordinance to provide financing for the construction of the park was approved at the July 12, 2022 Township Committee meeting.

And the Township Committee passed a resolution May 3, 2022 to accept the Monmouth County Open Space grant of $250,000 and said it intends to accept the state Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Loan. The $600,000 DEP loan was at a low 2 percent interest rate.

There were many other steps along the way, but they all led to one goal - to provide a more usable park for residents and to preserve open space.

According to the township, the entire park is located within a 100-year flood zone. Apart from new amenities, maintaining this area as open space is beneficial for floodwater storage as well as reducing risks to life and property during flood events in this section of town.