UPPER FREEHOLD – The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has rescinded its previous authorization for the purchase of property in Upper Freehold Township for the purpose of adding the land to Crosswicks Creek Park.
The freeholders took the action on March 8 and reversed a decision they initially made on Aug. 24. Last summer, the freeholders passed a resolution to acquire the Stummer property at 86 Route 539. The 2.79-acre parcel was to have been acquired for $340,000 and added to Crosswicks Creek Park.
A resolution passed by the freeholders on March 8 rescinds the earlier action and states that the owner of the property “is unwilling to enter into the county contract.” The county Board of Recreation Commissioners recommended the freeholders rescind the Aug. 24 action.
Crosswicks Creek Park is a 2,277-acre park, according to the county website. Most of the park forms a corridor of land around Crosswicks Creek. Another 2,700 acres of surrounding farmland is preserved by the county and state farmland preservation programs. Crosswicks Creek offers locations for hiking, canoeing and fishing.
In other action involving Upper Freehold, the freeholders accepted a bid submitted by the operators of Fair Winds Farm, Red Valley Road, for the temporary use and occupancy of county land for pastureland use at Crosswicks Creek, Field 1F, from 2018-22.
Bids were received on Jan. 9 and Fair Winds Farm submitted the highest responsible bid for the temporary use of the land. The company offered to pay $2,192.40 for 2018; $2,192.40 for 2019; $2,192.40 for 2020; $2,236.25 for 2021; and $2,280.98 for 2022, in the total lump sum five-year contract amount of $11,094.43, according to the resolution.
The Board of Recreation Commissioners recommended that the freeholders accept the bid.
