Politics & Government

Husky Brook Park Back on the Eatontown Council Table

Mayor and council agreed to consider adding some additional elements to the Grant Avenue park.

Like Lazarus rising from the dead, the issue of whether to add improvements to the project in arose at the council's Feb. 1 workshop meeting.

"I came here tonight with my blood pressure medicine," joked Council President Anthony Talerico about the among the mayor and council over the last few years.

Although the council voted in April to go forward with the least expensive concept plans to develop the property at the intersection of Route 36 and Grant Avenue, Mayor Gerald Tarantolo proposed last week that officials consider adding a few more elements to the design.

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In particular, the mayor wanted the council to authorize the borough engineer to determine if three particular elements could be added without interfering with the current park design. Tarantolo specified he was interested in:

  • a tot lot
  • a centerpiece/gazebo
  • extended trails

The current plan calls for a passive park with wallking trails, which also satisfies state department of environmental protection requirements the borough needed to address.

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After extensive discussion, council agreed to funnel suggestions from various interested parties within the borough -- like the shade tree commission and recreation advisory committee -- through the borough administrator to T&M Associates for a new conceptual plan to be presented at the March 7 workshop meeting. T&M had agreed to do the work at no cost to the borough.

"This is deja vu all over again," said Tarantolo, who said that the issue had been discussed extensively and there had already been ample opportunity for interested parties to have their say. "We went through chaos on this park," he added, "I'm trying to keep it simple."

When Councilman Kevin Gonzalez told the mayor, "We're willing to work with you," Tarantolo quickly replied, "I don't believe it."

Historically the mayor and his fellow Democrats supported the idea of a park with more features for residents, or allowing for the phasing in of amenities, while Republican council members wanted a less costly design and to satisfy DEP stipulations.

According to Borough Administrator George Jackson, the borough still needs to install signage for the DEP to sign off on the project and absolve Eatontown of any penalties following the borough's earlier work in the wetlands-designated area.

After a suggestion by Councilwoman Jennifer Piazza that interested parties had two weeks to get ideas to the borough engineer and assurances from Robert Stetz of T&M that he understood the intent of the mayor and council, an action plan for next month was agreed on.

Additions to the design mentioned at the meeting included correcting the gravel parking lot, adding more of a buffer along Route 36 and sidewalks along Grant Avenue.

"We may actually get more in it than you're asking for," Talerico said to the mayor.

The borough has money earmarked for the improvements through a bond acquisition.

"We're going to sing 'Kumbaya' by the end of this thing," said Talerico, "and I'm going to be leading it."


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