The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, in partnership with the Monmouth County Planning Board, presented two organizations with 2021 Merit Awards during a Planning Board meeting held on Dec. 20.
“The county commissioners and the Planning Board are pleased to recognize four outstanding honorees who have made significant contributions to planning in Monmouth County,” Commissioner Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Planning Board, was quoted as saying in a press release from the county.
“The honorees should be commended for their dedicated work to the community and I want to thank the Planning Board for taking this opportunity to highlight those who work tirelessly to keep Monmouth County the place you want to be,” Burry said.
Commissioner Ross F. Licitra said, “The Planning Board has done an extraordinary job at recognizing plans, projects, programs, individuals, municipalities, businesses, community leaders and stakeholder organizations that truly add community value to our great county. Thank you to all the organizations that continue to make Monmouth County a wonderful place to live.”
The 2021 Merit Awards were presented to:
• Crossroads St. Peter’s Church; Category: Community and Culture
Downtown Freehold Borough has been home to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church since the 1700’s. The project is also known as Crossroads, which is a new 7,000-square-foot multi-purpose building that blends new construction and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance with the 1700’s architecture of the surrounding structures.
This new building was created to expand the church’s public services such as its meal preparation and youth tutoring program to the surrounding community. Crossroads also offers a new event space that is available to rent for patrons and the public alike.
• Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Village (Soldier On); Category: Development and Redevelopment
The Gordon H. Mansfield Village in Tinton Falls, also known as the Soldier On project, is a 70-unit affordable housing development constructed to assist veterans of Monmouth County.
This project not only houses these veterans, but offers a multitude of amenities such as workforce assistance, holistic wellness programs, meal preparation, and legal and transportation services.
Features of the building include flexible community spaces, patios with grill stations, and green technologies to promote sustainable living.
The 2021 Merit Award honorable mention was presented to:
• Keyport Complete Streets Plan and Demonstration Project; Category: Plans, Publications and Web-Based Services
The development of Keyport Complete Streets Planning and Demonstration Project was a collaborative effort to develop a design guide and implementation plan to help provide safer access and mobility for all travelers.
Products from the project included a Complete Streets Design Guide, Implementation Plan, and demonstration project where the Henry Hudson Trail crosses Maple Place in Keyport.
• ReOpen 2021; Category: Community and Culture
Asbury Park officials developed an outdoor dining and entertainment plan to assist local businesses and promote tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ReOpen 2021 outlined the policies and guidelines of how business owners could use a temporary pedestrian-only area on Cookman Avenue. The plan allowed for art installations, performances, and outdoor dining and retail that would have otherwise been restricted due to the pandemic.
The Monmouth County Planning Board established the Merit Awards program in 1984 to recognize those plans, projects, programs, individuals, municipalities, businesses, community leaders and stakeholder organizations that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of planning and planning outcomes in Monmouth County, according to the press release.
