New Details On Indoor Swim Center Eyed For Port Monmouth School

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — On Friday, Monmouth County Parks Director Andrew Spears released some new information about the indoor aquatic center the county may build at the former Port Monmouth Elementary School.

First, it will either be an indoor swim center OR a rec center. Monmouth County has not decided which yet, said Spears.

"Both the Rec Center option and the Aquatic Center option are being considered by the Commissioners. No final decision has been made yet," he said Friday.

Residents in the area have asked for both, he said, and the county is still collecting and gauging public feedback. Monmouth County plans to collect additional public input later this spring, and make a final decision then.

Secondly, no matter what is built there, the existing Port Monmouth school building will have to be torn down.

"The school building will be demolished. It cannot be repurposed for any type of recreation facility," said Spears Friday.

If it does become a rec center, it will have an indoor gymnasium and other fitness aspects. If it's a swim center, it will have a large indoor pool used to host competitive swim meets, plus lessons and adult classes.

When would a new aquatic center or rec center open?

Not for some time. The land sale deal between the Middletown school district and the county is expected to go through before the end of 2024. After the sale goes through, the county would first have to tear down Port Monmouth Elementary, then build entirely new from the ground up. An opening date is several years in the future.

Monmouth County offered to pay the Middletown school district $2.5 million for the building; Board president Frank Capone said the district accepted their offer.

The NJ state Department of Education has to sign off on the sale.

You read it on Patch first: County Wants To Buy Port Monmouth School, Turn It Into Swim Center (Feb. 1)