Hazlet Receives $475K Grant For New Recreation Building

HAZLET, NJ — Hazlet Township has been selected for a $475,000 grant to fund the town’s new indoor recreation building.

Mayor Michael Sachs was recently invited to a Monmouth County Commissioner meeting where Hazlet and other Monmouth County towns were named as the recipients of over $6 million total in grant agreements.

The funds come from the county's Municipal Open Space Grant Program. According to County officials, the program provides vital funding that helps municipal officials meet their local open space acquisition, recreation, historic and conversation goals.

“The MOSG program is one of many ways in which the County works cooperatively with municipal partners to ensure local parks are built and upgraded for our residents,” Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone said. “Having beautiful parks and open space provides a great way to help residents maintain and improve their physical and mental health.”

Concept plans for Hazlet’s new recreation facility were presented to the Township Committee in July.

According to the Hazlet Township website, the most recent concept plan shows a 25,000-square-foot recreational facility that would replace the shuttered roller hockey rink in Veterans Park. The preliminary design calls for a flexible layout that could accommodate pickleball, a multi-purpose ball court and a fitness area.

The town is planning to build the facility with grants from the Municipal Open Space Grant Program.

In the program’s 2023 round, the town was awarded $343,000. For their second round in 2024, they’ve now been awarded $475,000 – nearly the maximum amount.

“The open space program aims to preserve open space, enhancing local parks, and further beautify Monmouth County communities,” Hazlet Township officials said. “Mayor Sachs expressed his gratitude to the Commissioners for their continued support.”

The town's goal is to have all the funds in place and the building completed by 2027, officials said.

To learn more, you can visit the Hazlet Township website.