Eatontown Council Outlines Plans For Husky Brook Park Improvements

The Eatontown Council finalized it plans for Husky Brook Park and will vote on a resolution to approve new features for the park next week.

Borough Engineer Ed Broberg discussed the proposed park improvements during Wednesday night's Eatontown Council Workshop.

Phase 1 of the park, located at the intersection of Route 36 and Grant Avenue in Eatontown, was completed over a year ago.

Phase 2 will add a gazebo, a tot lot with playground equipment, a walking trail, additional landscaping and parking lot improvements.

A buffer fence that would help protect the park from garbage and form a barrier between it and Route 36, could also be part of the plan. The council decided to vote on the fence separately at the next meeting.

Mayor Gerald Tarnatolo said he did not believe the fence was necessary, but other councilmembers including Council President Anthony Talerico said they would like to see the fence as part of the plan.

The improvements would have a construction cost of $250,000, according to Broberg. Mayor Tarantolo said the money for the project has already been secured and a current bond ordinance would cover the cost of the improvements.

Broberg said there would actually be money remaining in the bond for further improvements.

One improvement that would not be covered in the $250,000 construction cost would be a "lighted crosswalk" on Grant Avenue. Broberg said the crosswalk would need to be added later, because a wetlands permit would need to be secured by the borough before it could be built. The area where the borough would like to build it is in close proximity to wetlands, and no town is allowed to build near them without getting a permit.

The lighted crosswalk would cost between $10-$15,000, according to Broberg.

Broberg said the walking trail would be a "lollipop shape" that would be in the area of the Capilupi Farm property. He said the trail would be made with wood chips and not be paved.

He suggested that the walkway should be constructed as a volunteer or Eagle Scout project. He said some preliminary cleanup work would need to be done by the DPW to clear some brush and fallen sheds in the area, but the majority of the project could be done by volunteers.

Broberg said the park improvements could be built this year if the resolution is approved at the next council meeting on March 14.