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Eatontown seeks county and borough matches to replace crumbling park bridges
Summary
Mayor Anthony Talerico told the council the borough applied for a Monmouth County park-improvement grant to replace pedestrian bridges at Bliss Price Arboretum; total project cost is estimated at $444,000, with prior County award of $161,000 and a remaining local funding gap. The council held the public hearing and agreed to pursue matching funds.
Mayor Anthony Talerico opened a public hearing on July 8, 2026 seeking Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant funding to replace pedestrian bridges at the Bliss Price Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary.
The bridge-replacement project is estimated at $444,000 "all in," Mayor Talerico said; the county awarded the borough $161,000 in 2025 and the borough is required to match that award. The borough still needs approximately $122,000 to complete the project and is applying this year for an additional $65,000 from the County, which the borough would match if awarded. "The bridges in the park are in awful condition," Mayor Talerico said, explaining DPW and Parks and Recreation had difficulty getting the course ready for a recent 5K run.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing. The resolution authorizing an application for Monmouth County Open Space Trust funds (Resolution 148-2026) was adopted as part of the consent agenda. The resolution commits the borough to provide any required local match and authorizes the borough administrator to sign required documents if the grant is approved.
The council and staff framed the work as a priority for public safety and ADA access at the arboretum; the project scope in the application includes replacement of pedestrian bridges and installation of ADA accessibility improvements. If the County awards funds, borough staff said they will return with implementation details and a timeline for construction.
