FREEHOLD – Municipal officials in Freehold Borough are seeking $117,000 from Monmouth County to help pay for improvements to local parks.
During a meeting on Sept. 7, members of the Borough Council authorized Business Administrator Stephen Gallo to submit a grant application to the Monmouth County Municipal Open Space Program.
The funding, if received, would support Freehold Borough’s planned park improvements project.
According to a resolution, improvements are scheduled to take place at three parks that are owned and operated by Freehold Borough: Veterans Park on Schanck Street in the borough; Liberty Park on Liberty and Second streets in the borough; and Lake Topanemus Park on Pond Road in Freehold Township. The total cost of the improvements is $234,000.
Freehold Borough will provide the balance of the funding necessary to complete the work. If the application is approved by the county, the borough will use the approved open space trust funds in accordance with all guidelines.
Members of the Borough Council held a public hearing on the resolution prior to their vote.
During the public hearing, Gallo said the improvements will include bicycle repair stations, water fountains, dog water fountains and bottle-filling stations. There will be new paths and exercise stations at Lake Topanemus Park and Liberty Park may have a splash pad.
When asked by council members about a potential start date for the park improvement project, Gallo said work may begin in 2023 if Monmouth County officials approve the grant application.
No members of the public spoke about the grant application during the hearing.
