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Wall Township seeks Monmouth County grant to build inclusionary playground, residents urge more parking
Summary
Wall Township presented a Monmouth County Park Improvement Grant application to add an inclusionary playground and site improvements at Camp Evans/Marconi Park (estimated cost $906,200; township seeks about $453,000). Neighbors urged the committee to expand overflow parking and connect bike paths to the site.
Nora Coyne, Wall Township’s director of planning and zoning, told the committee the township will apply to the Monmouth County Park Improvement Grant program to install an inclusionary playground and associated site work at Camp Evans/Marconi Park, across from Brookdale Community College. Coyne said the program covers up to 50% of project costs (with a $500,000 per-project cap) and requires a deed restriction for recreation and open-space use on the project site. "The estimated total project cost is $906,200 and the township is requesting grant program to fund roughly half of that which is $453,000," Coyne said.
The proposed work includes an inclusive-playground surface, a pathway connecting parking, shade trees, benches, bike racks and a new picnic pavilion with restrooms. Coyne said the plan shown at the meeting was prepared by the township’s consulting engineer and that the parking layout was calculated based on the proposed park uses rather than ancillary uses such as large events.
Several residents urged the township to re-evaluate parking for the project. "My only concern at this point is the the minimal parking that's been provided there," said Richard Steven Lang, a 60-year resident and trustee/director of the Camp Evans museum complex, who asked that the township consider expanding overflow parking on the Watson Road side of the property to serve larger events. "The parking area seems to be fairly small," said Barbara Gelada (1308 Gully Road), who added that the lot has long been used informally for driver- and motorcycle-practice activities and would benefit from modest additional space.
Citing the engineer-prepared plan, Coyne said township officials did not include ancillary uses when calculating spaces but acknowledged there "is certainly a lot of space in the area that we could look into" if the township wants to add parking. Deputy Mayor Farrell said the township is already having ongoing conversations with Brookdale Community College about shared services and will pursue parking arrangements for special events as needed.
The committee closed the public hearing on the grant application by motion and vote (4–0). Mayor Mangat also announced a new parks tab on the township website that will include project updates and information for residents.
What happens next: The township will submit the grant application and continue design work; staff indicated they can explore expanding parking if the committee requests further adjustments to the engineer’s plan. The committee closed the public hearing and voted to proceed with the application.
