SPOTSWOOD-The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will be giving the Borough of Spotswood a $2.5 million grant to fund improvements for DeVoe Lake.
“This is a significant investment by the NJDEP in DeVoe Lake,” Senator Linda Greenstein said in a prepared statement. “The Borough of Spotswood has sought funding for dredging the lake that will assist in the management of storm events. This is more than just an aesthetic improvement, it will benefit the surrounding areas at risk for flooding.”
DeVoe Lake in Spotswood was created in 1935 after the construction of the dam on the Manalapan Brook.
The shallow depth of the 38-acre lake, in addition to the accumulation of sediment, has resulted in flooding after storms, according to a prepared statement from the New Jersey Legislative Democrats.
The grant will facilitate the borough’s ability to have the lake dredged, alleviating future flooding.
Additionally, the borough hopes to make some aesthetic improvements to the landscaping and lighting around the lake and to open the area to public recreation, according to the statement.
“The local long-term goal of remediation and restoration of the lake and surrounding land will alleviate many concerns, including regional flooding,” Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo said in the statement. “This NJDEP support will go a long way toward restoring DeVoe Lake to become the centerpiece of Spotswood that the community is looking to create. Ultimately, the residents of Spotswood will greatly reap the benefits of this investment.”
Mayor Edward Seely expressed his gratitude to the legislative team in securing the grant, according the statement.
“For a number of months, we at the borough have been seeking financial assistance with the dredging and revitalization of DeVoe Lake,” Seely said in the statement. “We reached out to Greenstein, together with Assemblymen [Daniel Benson] and DeAngelo, for direction and possible assistance with this project. I am excited to say that they sought funds from the state and Spotswood has been awarded a $2.5 million grant dedicated to the lake. This could not have been achieved without their help, and, as a borough, we are extremely thankful.”
“This is great news for Spotswood,” Benson said in the statement. “DeVoe Lake has been a central part of this community for generations. An opportunity to clean it up and improve its surroundings has been the long-term goal for the municipality and its residents. This funding will put Spotswood one step closer to creating the open, family-friendly environment they’d hoped for.”
“This is great news for Spotswood and for the surrounding municipalities,” Middlesex County Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios said in the statement. “Spotswood will see the return of a great gathering spot for its residents. Additionally, since DeVoe Lake is where the Manalapan Brook meets up with the Matchaponix Brook and forms the South River, the work to be done on the lake will help a much broader area.”
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
