Municipal officials in Middletown have decided to withdraw an open space grant application seeking funds that would have been used for the first phase of a multi-phase concept plan to develop athletic fields at Stevenson Park.
The announcement of the application withdrawal that will be carried out was made on Oct. 23 by Township Committeeman Tony Perry during a candidates forum that was held at the Lincroft Elementary School.
News of the withdrawal came after moderator Anne Torre asked Republican Township Committee candidates Patricia Snell, Rick Hibell and Perry, and Democratic candidates Tricia McGuire, Sean Byrnes and Danielle Walsh to state their position on the potential development of a sports complex at Stevenson Park, West Front Street.
The possibility of development at the passive property has been met with opposition from residents, some of whom have said they want to keep the undeveloped land as is.
“The Township Committee has taken the stance that we would look for an alternative,” Perry said. “I don’t think anyone would deny we have an issue with fields. The committee weighed very heavily this question and we have decided to withdraw our application for Stevenson Park.”
Stevenson Park is adjacent to the Shady Oaks and Shadow Lake Village adult communities, as well as other residential properties along Shadow Lake. Residents who live near the undeveloped park have previously said the noise that would come from games and events being played on athletic fields, if they were constructed, would have disturbed the peace.
Residents said the development of playing fields would have caused an environmental disturbance and could have contributed to traffic congestion on West Front Street. Motorists need to use West Front Street to reach Stevenson Park.
Municipal officials would have relied on assistance from a Monmouth County open space grant to help fund the first phase of the project. Officials said existing athletic fields in Middletown can no longer meet the demand of local athletic programs and said they need to address the matter.
After listening to concerns that were expressed, Perry said members of the governing body decided to address the “serious concerns” by scratching the Stevenson Park concept plan, for now.
“With regard to Stevenson Park, there was an incredible amount of time and effort in several meetings to hear both sides,” Perry said. “You have parents, coaches and sports players who obviously are looking for fields. It is our responsibility to try and accommodate that.
“The people of the area came and voiced their opposition … The people of Shady Oaks, the people of River Plaza and the area along West Front Street had serious concerns, valid concerns,” Perry said.
Perry and Snell said members of the governing body will continue to look for an alternative location at which to develop athletic fields.
Walsh, who said “pulling the grant (application) is not enough,” suggested that municipal officials should adopt an ordinance that identifies Stevenson Park as a passive site that cannot be developed.
“No one should be able to make a sports complex in the backyard of people who have worked so hard and deserve their peace, quiet and privacy,” Walsh said.
Maguire said the grant application that has been withdrawn does not mean the passive property is excused from future development.
“I think it is really important to say this,” Maguire said. “Someone asked, ‘If you pull the grant, does that mean the project is off the table?’ The township administrator said ‘No, we will find the money from other sources.’
“Because we are talking about transparency and process, I hope you are aware that even though the announcement was made … there needs to be follow-up and people need to know we can take the grant away, but the process has not ended,” she said.
