Mayor reviewing options for rec center expansion
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - Mayor Andrew Lucas and other municipal officials met with township professionals last week to resurrect discussions regarding the recreational development of land that was acquired for that purpose, and to talk about the development of a location for a new first aid squad building.

The Manalapan Recreation center is on Route 522, directly across from the municipal complex. The recreation center was developed on the former Dreyer farm.

Lucas said new playing fields and other facilities have been planned for what is referred to as the Dreyer expansion property as well as on the separate Dreyer and Herbert parcels since they were purchased by Manalapan more than two years ago.

The smaller Dreyer and Herbert parcels are directly on Route 522.

Lucas said that at the heart of the discussion is a two-phase construction plan that was initially presented for development of the tract.

According to a plan presented more than a year ago to municipal officials by township engineer Greg Valesi, the project would cost $15 million; $10 million of which would be spent on the construction of Phase 1.

Lucas said Phase 1 work at the Dreyer expansion property calls for the construction of:

+ Four baseball fields (two Little League fields and two full-size fields).

+ Three full-size soccer fields.

+ A practice field adjacent to the existing Pop Warner youth football field.

+ Three new basketball courts added in the vicinity of the existing basketball courts.

+ Two handball courts added in the vicinity of the existing tennis courts.

+ A 10,000-square-foot skate park.

+ A potential splash pad (water play area).

+ A bike and fitness trail to join the existing recreation center.

Lucas said he has a problem going ahead with the originally proposed two-phase development plan because Phase 1 calls for a total expenditure of $10 million, with $2 million of that amount earmarked for field construction.

Lucas said that $2 million would be wasted if Manalapan officials realize their desire to purchase an additional parcel of land known as the Tillis property which lies along Route 522 between the Englishtown border and the Herbert-Dreyer tract.

In order to acquire the Tillis property, Lucas said township officials would have to negotiate a purchase price with the Providence Corporation, which owns the 48-acre property.

The firm has litigation ongoing against Manalapan because several years ago township officials changed the zoning on the parcel from one house on a 1-acre lot to one house on a 3-acre lot. This move would limit the number of homes that could be built on the Tillis property.

Lucas said Phase 2 of the recreation center expansion calls for $5 million to be spent, part of it for two baseball fields that would replace the soccer fields that would have been constructed in Phase 1.

Lucas said he cannot justify spending money knowing it is being "wasted."

"I'm not willing to spend money on Phase 1 if we are going to acquire the Tillis property," he said.

Lucas said officials have directed Valesi to present them with an updated plan that is more fiscally responsible.

Also, noted the mayor, the original plan for the expansion of the recreation center incorporated a spot for a first aid building to be located on the Herbert-Dreyer tract.

At present, the Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad has its headquarters on Sanford Street, just outside Englishtown. For the past few years squad officials have been asking Manalapan's elected officials to provide a more centralized location in the township for a headquarters.

Lucas said that since the original plans for the recreation center expansion were produced, Manalapan has been informed that because state Green Acres funding was used to help purchase the Herbert and Dreyer properties, no municipal building such as a first aid headquarters may be constructed on the property.

The mayor said Valesi will present an updated plan for the Herbert-Dreyer tract and a proposal for a first aid building to be located in the back of the parking lot that separates the municipal building from the post office.