A rendering of the proposed zip line for Marine Park.
By BRIAN DONOHUE
Hammocks for avid outdoor nappers. A jet ski launch for yahoos. And a bocce and corn hole court for lawn sports heroes.
More details of the seemingly something-for-everyone remake of Marine Park were revealed this week as the borough released detailed plans and prepared to go out to bid for the second phase of the dramatic makeover of Red Bank’s riverfront crown jewel.
Besides the aforementioned newly-announced features, the next phase of the $4 million makeover also includes the construction of a larger all-accessible “iconic destination playground” with an 80-foot zip line, tall towers and slides, and climbing elements built into the slope of the park’s hill.
Micheal Reiser, representative of the borough engineering firm CME Associates presented the plan Wednesday to the Red Bank Planning board, whose role in the approval process, chairman Dan Mancuso said, is limited to an advisory one. Reiser said officials are hopeful they can begin construction in late spring and be done by winter.
The complete plans can be downloaded here.
A site plan for the second phase of the Marine Park makeover.
The first phase of the remake entails the (already-completed) construction of a new parking lot in the southwest corner of the park and the (currently underway) conversion of the old parking lot to a grassy lawn to be used for passive recreation and events.
The second phase includes the construction of the new playground and other amenities. It garnered praise from several members of the Planning Board, including Barbara Boas who said, “I think this is going to be one of the best things Red Bank has done in a long time.”
Board members Wilson Beebe, Lou DiMento, and Brian Parnagian all lamented the planned removal of several mature trees from the hill leading down towards the water.
“I think this is a bad decision,” DiMento said. “I would love to see inclusive park but I don’t know why we have to use the the whole hill in Marine Park.” DiMento also warned about the “enormous amount of maintenance” the ambitious plans would require.
A current view of the Marine Park hill and playground (photo by Brian Donohue)
Reiser explained the trees at the bottom portion of the slope need to go because the hill must be regraded.
The move is required to create the levels of accessibility required for the borough to qualify for a state “Jake’s Law” grant for the creation of accessible playgrounds. The top part of the hill will remain unchanged, he said, with grade changes only on the lower portion of the slope.
The plan calls for the planting of far more trees than the 19 headed for the chipper, Reiser noted. The total includes 29 new shade trees, 28 ornamental trees and “hundreds of shrubs, grasses and wildflower seed mixes” he said.
The plans also include a kayak launch, a jet ski launch, a gazebo or a band shell, and a “decorative spray area.”
The plan received praise from several residents who had packed the borough council chambers for the next item on the board’s agenda, the train station redevelopment plan.
But in an email interview, one member of the town’s environmental commission lamented a process she said largely excluded the “sustainability expertise and interest” of EC members.
“Traditionally, the environmental committee has the opportunity to provide input on proposed development plans around town,” EC member Ana Almerini said. “This doesn’t mean the recommendations put forth by the EC are implemented, but it allows those with sustainability expertise and interest to provide insight into the most environmentally friendly way for development in Red Bank. This was not the case for Marine Park. The EC was brought in after the plans were approved and only to offer insight into native landscaping options, not about the overall park build. For an environmentally forward town, this is a disappointment.”
Borough Manager Jim Gant responded in an email saying the borough’s engineer met on-site with members of both the shade tree and environmental commissions.
“The shade tree committee and environmental commission got the landscape plan the day after I received the landscape plan. The types of plantings have not even yet been determined, we have placed that advisory role in these two bodies to come back to us with their suggestions. That was determined when our Engineer met with both groups and after we met on site with representatives from each group.”
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331 or yelling his name loudly as he walks by. Do you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen? Please become a financial supporter if you haven’t already. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.
