Resident urges state to withhold grant over missing accessible family restroom at Five Points park

Kevin O'Brien, a Colts Neck resident, told the board he had written the Division of Community Affairs and asked that the township be denied a county grant until work at Five Points complies with Jake’s Law and New Jersey DCA requirements. "The new bathroom plan for Five Points does not include a family bathroom," O'Brien said, adding that the distance from the all‑inclusive playground to the existing restroom is roughly 500 feet and difficult for children with mobility needs.

O'Brien said a 2024 warning letter about noncompliance led to a denied $440,000 Green Acres grant in the past, and he described a local $200,000 county award for Five Points that he said was returned or unused. "In short, we were given $640,000 in grant money for Five Points which was not secured because of poor leadership," he said. He also criticized the project survey for being distributed mainly to sports‑foundation members rather than families of roughly 200 special‑needs children the district serves.

Board members asked whether the Sports Foundation or the township had responded. A Sports Foundation representative said architects are already revising the plans and the foundation is exploring options to create an all‑accessible restroom. President Vulpy said the board would research the matter and reach out to the mayor and township officials for clarification.

The board did not take action on O'Brien’s request during the meeting but said staff would follow up with township officials and seek more information about the grant status, survey outreach and whether plans will be updated to include an accessible family restroom.