'Dream Park' Ideas Welcomed For Hazlet's 8th Street Space

HAZLET, NJ — Township kids have already told town officials what they'd like to see in the proposed 8th Street Park in Hazlet. Now it's time for the community at large to hear their ideas and suggest some of their own to create a "dream park," officials said.

The next step in the Township Committee's plan to transform the 8th Street Park will be a community information meeting Tuesday, Aug. 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m..

The meeting will take place at the West Keansburg Firehouse, 91 Eighth St., the township said on its website.

Learn about the concept plan, talk to engineers, offer input and view the park site at the meeting.

Tara Clark, the township's former mayor, continues to spearhead this project, the township said.

On Aug. 10 she sought the advice of some playground experts at Hazlet Summer Recreation Camp. Clark read kids a true story about a girl who helped design a playground in her community. She then gave the children the challenge of helping design the future play space for 8th Street Park.

The children shared what they love most about playgrounds they have visited and gave feedback on structures like saucer swings, wavy slides, spinners, and rope towers.

They were excited to hear that their suggestions would be shared with community members, town engineers, and Hazlet's governing body and they could create a dream playground of their own.

The Township Committee authorized bonds for the project on July 12. It also approved the payment of $141,560 to T & M Engineering for design and construction services of the park.

The bond ordinance calls for $1.5 million, instead of the 2021 projected cost of $1.2 million, to cover possible inflation. The committee authorized the issuance of $1 million in bonds or notes for the financing part of the appropriation. The amount includes the sum of $250,000 expected to be received as a Monmouth County Open Space Grant and $250,000 as the down payment required by NJ Local Bond Law to be provided by the Open Space fund, the township said last month.