Manalapan to determine cost of developing park

MANALAPAN - Steps are being taken to clean up Thompson Grove Park in order to make it a site for passive recreation.

Mayor Drew Shapiro announced at a recent Township Committee meeting that members of a Girl Scout troop have already started to weed the 65-acre municipal park on the south side of Manalapan.

The park is off of Thompson Grove Road.

Shapiro succeeded in getting the governing body to green light a study of the cost of cleaning the park and clearing it of debris. He noted there has been a problem over the years with people dumping debris at the park.

According to Shapiro, just recently tons of asphalt were dumped at the park. He said the township will have to clear the material. The mayor said a chain to be hung across the park entrance will be one way to stop the illegal dumping.

However, he said police and municipal officials can only do so much and he called on residents to be on the lookout for trucks going in and out of the park. Shapiro said he could not imagine that a truck going into the park during the day with that much asphalt to dump would go unnoticed.

The mayor asked anyone who witness dumping at the park or has information about such incidents to call police. He said the park can be a resource for residents instead of a dumping ground.

Finally, as there is uncertainty over who actually owns the lake at Thompson Grove Park, Township Engineer Greg Valesi said he will look into that matter while he develops a proposal for the park's continued renovation.

Following Shapiro's remarks, the committee approved a suggestion to have the Department of Public Works put together an estimate to develop the 65-acre site into a passive recreation park.

In other business, Planning Board alternate member Don Holland was appointed to fill the unexpired term of board member Howard Benkov, who resigned from the panel because he is moving to North Carolina. Benkov has served on the board for 15 years and has lived in Manalapan for more than 20 years. Benkov said he accepted the appointment to the board all those years ago because he wanted to give something back to the community that had educated his children.

- Kathy Baratta