Johnny Jazz Park, at the corner of Shrewsbury Avenue and Drs. James Parker Boulevard in Red Bank. (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)
By BRIAN DONOHUE
Red Bank officials are seeking a state grant to remake Johnny Jazz Park and want the public’s input about what should be included in the plan.
The small park at the corner of Shrewsbury Avenue and Drs. James Parker Boulevard hosts the West Side holiday tree lighting, summer jazz concerts and other events throughout the year.
The concerts and events there require the installation of a temporary stage. Preliminary plans released by the borough show a permanent 18 inch high concrete platform for performers. The four trees in the park will remain, according to the plans.
An environmental impact statement prepared by borough engineers CME Associates also includes the following planned features:
- Electrical connection for sound, lighting, and performers, and a spotlight
- Construction of a 6’ wide concrete ADA walk/ramp along the northern side of the park and around the stage platform
- Construction of open lawn space
- Construction of a stone dust/crushed gravel walkway/patio along the eastern and western portions of the park
- Installation of outdoor musical instruments, 4’ wide decorative game tables, trash receptacles, and a Portland Loo bathroom
- Other general landscape improvements
Last year’s Juneteenth celebration at Johnny Jazz Park.
The plans have been posted to the Borough’s web site here.
The Borough has also released an online survey seeking the public’s input about the Johnny Jazz Park plan. The survey can be found by clicking here.
As part of the Borough’s application process to the state Green Acres program for funding for the project, a public hearing will be held during the regular meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council Thursday, February 12. The meeting will be held at 6:30 at Borough Hall, 90 Monmouth Street and can be attended virtually via zoom at this link.
The meeting was not initially posted to the calendar on home page of the borough’s web site, as all meetings usually are.
But a search engine query for “Red Bank Council” confirmed the meeting is scheduled, and it was listed on the borough’s agenda center section. A glitch, it appears, that was quickly corrected after we notified Borough Manager Jim Gant.
Nonetheless, the hiccup did have us thinking for three days we’d finally be able to catch NBC’s stellar Thursday night lineup of Cosby Show, Cheers and Hill Street Blues. And it also explains why we are posting this story the day of the meeting and not further in advance. (Apologies to our newsletter readers who may get this late.)
The agenda also includes a new five-year contract with Delisa Demolition Inc. for municipal trash collection and the issuance of $2.5 million in general improvement and water/sewer bonds.
A full agenda can be found here.
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.
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