Major Middletown Parks/Playground Improvements Are Coming

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Last November, Patch reported how a majority — 66 percent — of Middletown residents agreed to pay more in property taxes to help preserve open land in the Township, and pay for improvements to existing parks and playgrounds.

The question was the same day as the Nov. 5 presidential election: 17,125 Middletown residents (66 percent) voted in favor of the 2020 Open Space Referendum, pitched by Mayor Tony Perry, compared to 8,642 (33 percent) who voted against it.

Before the tax increase was passed, the average Middletown homeowner paid two cents per every $100 of their quarterly tax bill to the town's open space trust fund, about $89 a year for a home assessed at $447,629.

That went up to three cents per every $100 starting January 2021.

And now this April, Middletown Twp. is giving this rundown of how the increased tax revenue will be spent:

Middletown parks and facilities upgrades report as of April, 2021:

Completed:

Croydon Hall Gym (Leonardville Road) – walls and interior painted, complete brand new subfloor and hardwood floor, bleachers (anticipated to arrive in May or June), new roof

Nearing completion:

• Nut Swamp Turf Field (Nut Swamp Road)
• Normandy Park Project (Nut Swamp Road)

Upcoming:

• Tindall Park (Tindall Road) – as part of the new Master Plan, tennis courts and basketball courts will be resurfaced and the Township will be seeking bids this summer for the construction of the dog park
• Ideal Beach (Bayside Parkway) – installation of fencing and plantings, as well as security cameras
• Butterfly Pollinator Garden at Poricy Park (Oak Hill Road)
• Bodman Playground (Market Street) – Getting a brand-new playground; existing fully removed and all brand-new elements installed
• Chanceville Playground (Aberdeen Terrace) – Getting a brand-new playground; existing fully removed and all brand new elements installed
• Countryside Playground (Cherry Tree Farm Road) – Getting a brand-new playground and new location; playground will be positioned near the basketball court on Cherry Tree Farm Road
• Roosevelt Park (Port Monmouth Road) – purchase and installation of an ADA compliant, stainless steel, outdoor water fountain in Roosevelt Park; water fountain features a bottle filler, pet fountain, and hose bib

The playground upgrades are expected to be completed over the next 8-12 weeks, Middletown Twp. said in this press release as of April 20.

“Thanks to the voters of Middletown, the Township is able embark on an aggressive campaign to not only preserve open space and historic farmland across town, but also make the necessary upgrades to our recreational facilities,” said Mayor Perry. “Over the course of the next several years, Middletown is set to make significant improvements and upgrades to 10 of our parks and playgrounds all across the township.”

Related: Middletown's Open Space Tax Increase Overwhelmingly Supported: With Yay/Nay Thoughts From Residents (Nov. 5, 2020)

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