The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has taken action to acquire land in Millstone Township and in Upper Freehold Township.
During their Aug. 7 meeting, the members of the county’s governing body authorized the acquisition of vacant land at 26 Pinehill Road and 32 Pinehill Road in Millstone Township for additions to Perrineville Lake Park.
The two parcels total 24.67 acres and are expected to be acquired from M. Lesley Stone, LLC. The freeholders said an offer of $640,000 has been accepted, contingent upon a satisfactory title and environmental review of the properties.
The Board of Recreation Commissioners recommended the purchase of the properties and the freeholders agreed with the recommendation, according to a resolution. The funds will come from the Monmouth County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.
According to the Monmouth County Park System website, Perrineville Lake Park is a 1,247-acre site in Millstone Township and Roosevelt. Visitors may fish for bass or catfish in the lake.
Watercraft may be launched into the lake where visitors can canoe, kayak and fish (car top, electric powered boats only). Lake access is on Perrineville Road/Sweetman’s Lane (between Agress and Millstone roads).
There are two trails in the park. The Lakeside Loop is a 1.5-mile multi-use trail on Agress Road. The Pine Creek Trail is a 1-mile unpaved multi-use trail on Baird Road.
And, the freeholders authorized the acquisition of land at 880 Route 537, Upper Freehold Township, for additions to the Union Transportation Trail.
The parcel is 1.4 acres and is known as the Conk property. The freeholders said an offer of $400,000 has been accepted, contingent upon a satisfactory title and environmental review of the property.
The Board of Recreation Commissioners recommended the purchase of the property and the freeholders agreed with the recommendation, according to a resolution. The funds will come from the Monmouth County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.
According to the Monmouth County Park System website, the Union Transportation Trail is “ideal for equestrians, hikers, walkers, joggers and bicyclists. The first 2 miles of the gravel trail, which opened in 2010, include a rehabilitated historic wood trestle bridge over Lahaway Creek. Two parking lots and access points are available at Millstream Road, Route 537 and Jonathan Holmes Road.
“Miles 3 and 4 of of the trail (from Jonathan Holmes Road to Davis Station Road) opened in 2011. This linear section of trail crosses Miry Run Creek, via earthen berm, and offers vistas of fields and rural scenery. The park system continued to open sections of the trail as work was done until the last section of the trail was finished in January 2017. Now complete, the Union Transportation Trail runs 9 miles,” according to the website.
According to the county, Upper Freehold Township recently completed a short connector trail from the parking lot at the municipal building, 314 Route 539, to the Union Transportation Trail.
The 560-foot-long spur connects to the Union Transportation Trail just north of the Jonathan Holmes Road trail parking lot and was completed with the help of a New Jersey Trails Program grant. The connector trail provides another trail access point for municipal employees and residents.
