Aberdeen Park Among Honorees For County Planning Merit Awards

FREEHOLD, NJ - Veteran’s Memorial Park Improvements in Aberdeen is among four honorees for merit in county planning.

In the Aberdeen case, workers took what county planning board members described as a "significantly underutilized" five-acre passive and active recreation facility on Raritan Bay and "substantially improved" the waterfront parcel," promoting preservation of natural resources and public land for conservation and recreational uses.

Added features include playgrounds, water spray park, gazebo, restrooms, multi-purpose field, natural boat launch, picnic grove and an expanded parking lot. The site also was raised in key spots to avoid regular flooding and landscaping was upgraded to include hardy native plantings best positioned to survive in harsh, seasonal waterfront conditions.

The Monmouth County Planning Board presented four organizations with 2017 Planning Merit Awards Dec. 18.

“All of the honorees this year have made significant contributions to the county as a whole,” said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry, planning board liaison in a release. “Through partnerships, improvements and redevelopments, each of those recognized by the planning board are working toward keeping Monmouth County the place you want to be.”

A second honoree is Bell Works of Holmdel, which was praised for its contributions to economic development, adaptive reuse/redevelopment, placemaking and planning innovation.

The former and historic Bell Laboratories site has become the new Bell Works mixed-use campus, incorporating office/work space, restaurants and retail, nature trails, child care, indoor and outdoor sports complex and fitness facility, health-care facilities, hotel and conference center, event space, green roof, a public library, 185 active-adult luxury townhouses and 40 luxury estate homes.

Bell Works has attracted many tech companies as tenants and is being called “one of the coolest places to work in the state”. "Bell Works is an outstanding example of successful economic development through redevelopment of vacant infrastructure and cooperative and innovative local planning principles," according to the county.

The other honorees include Marina Grill of Belmar, for economic development and public-private partnership. Located at the base of the Shark River Bridge, on public land, the grill is now under a long-term land lease agreement between Belmar and a local restaurant operator.

In addition to the direct financial benefits to Belmar from the lease revenue, the project has been a catalyst for economic development in the area, and has been termed the “Gateway to Belmar," the county said.

The final honoree is Ocean Avenue Streetscape Improvements in Sea Bright, for adaptive reuse/redevelopment, economic development, placemaking, resiliency and transportation services/projects.

The streetscape project, the first of several post-Sandy downtown improvement projects in storm-ravaged Sea Bright, has brought walkability, access and aesthetics back to the downtown area, according to the county. The project was funded by a grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and developed with the cooperative help of the Sea Bright Streetscape Committee, consisting of borough officials, residents and business owners.

Components of the project include new concrete sidewalks, curb bump-outs at intersections, additional crosswalks, ADA compliant ramps, new benches and trash receptacles, decorative street lights, landscaping and street trees and enhanced signage.

“Every year, the planning board receives numerous merit award applications for projects, plans and programs and it is difficult task to narrow down the selection,” said Freeholder Serena DiMaso, a planning board member. “Each of the applicants are deserving of awards and we thank all of you for your contributions to planning in Monmouth County.”

Established in 1984, the Monmouth County Planning Board's Planning Merit Award program recognizes those plans, projects, programs, individuals, municipalities, businesses, community leaders, and stakeholder organizations that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of planning and planning outcomes in Monmouth County.

The purpose of the Planning Merit Award not only is to recognize and honor exceptional examples of planning in Monmouth County but to inspire others to pursue the same level of planning achievement and excellence, according to the release

For more information, visit the Monmouth County division of Planning section of the Monmouth County website at www.VisitMonmouth.com or call 732-431-7460.

Veterans Park in Aberdeen has new benches to enjoy the views. Image via Shutterstock.