Toms River Vows To Make Brown's Woods A Safe Place For Residents To Enjoy

TOMS RIVER, NJ -- Toms River is stepping up patrols and enforcing a no-overnight parking rule as township officials try to tackle issues occurring at Brown's Woods, township officials announced.

The 40-acre stretch of preserved land on the Toms River at Washington Street and Whittier Avenue has seen an increase in the amount of criminal activity, including drug overdoses, a suicide, underage drinking and fights, township officials said.

Township Clean Communities workers conducted more cleanups at the property due to juveniles leaving behind glass bottles, remnants of campfires and drug paraphernalia. In response, the Toms River Police Department has taken several steps to address these issues, including adding extra police and sanitation patrols at the property. 

The township also passed an ordinance enforcing no parking from dusk to 8 a.m. along Cedar Drive, and will be adding new security lighting along the beach, officials said.

“We want to create a balance between protecting the natural beauty of this open space and the safety of our residents," Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little said. "The no-parking enforcement is nothing new to town parks. We are simply adding this park to the overnight restricted activity."

The land at Brown’s Woods is owned by the township, which acquired it through funding from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program. The house on the property was leased to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for several years. In 2011, the governing body passed an ordinance that created a lease agreement for the Barnegat Bay Partnership to use the property for $1 a year. The lease agreement is between the township and Ocean County College, who oversees the non-profit that works to save Barnegat Bay.

“Our goal is to protect the natural beauty of Brown’s Woods and make it a safe place for residents to enjoy," Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher said. "The governing body will continue to work with law enforcement and the Barnegat Bay Partnership to ensure that Toms River is responsive, proactive and efficient when it comes to keeping our parks clean and our residents and community safe.”

“With over 40 acres of forest and other habitats, a beautiful beach, and an abundance of wildlife, the Brown’s Woods Preserve is an incredible public resource for the citizens of Toms River,” said Dr. Stan Hales, Director of the Barnegat Bay Partnership. “We support the Township’s actions to ensure the safety of those who visit the property. As Barnegat Bay Partnership continues to provide educational programs and conduct research at Brown’s Woods, public safety and the protection of natural resources are important to us. We thank the Township for taking steps so the property can be safely enjoyed by all.” 

(Toms River Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher shows a sign installed on Cedar Drive noting the no parking on the street from dusk to dawn. Photo courtesy of Toms River Twp.)