Rejuvenated park will celebrate with party
BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - As the summer of 2008 unfolds, individuals in pursuit of passive recreation pursuits can add the revitalized Thompson Grove Park to their list of sites to visit.

Manalapan officials will host a celebration of the park from 3-7 p.m. June 29. Thompson Grove Park is on Thompson Grove Road, off Kinney Road, on the south side of Manalapan.

The park's opening will mark the start of the Summer Concert Series sponsored by the Manalapan Arts Council. Tropical Rhythms, a New York-based Caribbean band, and Tropical Expressions, a cover band based in Manalapan that plays familiar songs with an island sound, will perform.

There will also be face painting, balloon animals, food and family activities. Thompson Grove Park features walking trails, picnic areas and an 8-acre open field.

Given the major makeover, no one could be faulted for thinking that Thompson Grove Park is a new facility. For years, the township-owned park was overgrown with brush and did not look very inviting to people passing by on Thompson Grove Road.

The Manalapan Department of Public Works (DPW) provided the labor and the township put up $75,000 for the cost of improvements that were started late last year. DPW employees cleared the brush from the trails and placed new wood chips along the paths.

Several local Boy Scouts conducted projects at the park as they pursued their Eagle Scout honors. Peter Hauge developed the Heroes Landing Picnic Grounds, Jake Witkowski conducted a drainage clearing project and Shane DeLorme spruced up the trails and benches.

DPW employees built parking areas at the entrance to the park and near a picnic area overlooking Millhurst Lake. According to Township Committeeman Richard Klauber, the jewel of the park's renovation project is an 8-acre area known as the great lawn, an expanse that has been cleaned and freshly planted so it waits invitingly for Frisbee play, other activities or just for people to stretch out on to catch some rays on those special summer days.

Klauber said the Township Committee, township administrator and DPW personnel made the plan a reality.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring a passive recreation park to Manalapan. We hope everyone comes and enjoys the festivities (June 29) and continues to use the park," he said.