Colts Neck, requested over $440,000 from Green Acres for the All Inclusive Park project at Five Points. October 15, 2024 a letter from Green Acres requested a 4 year old compliance matter be resolved or Colts Neck’s request for grant funds would be rejected.
April 30, 2025...Green Acres wrote Mayor Buss, the grant request was denied.
Most communities getting grants supported a dollar invested for a dollar in grant funds. Colts Neck offered to put up 25% seeking 75% for a “matching grant”.
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Monmouth County Freeholders made grants funds available in 2024 and again in 2025. Colts Neck officials did not extend an application in either year. Colts Neck has not yet put to use a $200,000 grant from 2023.
Colts Neck Elected Officials tried to justify the $1.3 million field house with new bathrooms at Five Points, over a Port a John rental fees being too expensive. Records show the rental is $29,438.04 for all parks in 2024.
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The field house will cost tax payers an estimated $10,500 per year for utilities and cleaning services, with Port a John’s still in use at other parks. The return on investment is over 74 years.
The cost for architect plans, bid specification and septic design is $61,098.46. There are no itemized cost projections for a well, septic install, grading or a concrete pad for the playground equipment.
The planned new field house bathrooms do not support Jake’s Law (NJ Law 2018), as required for the All Inclusive (special needs) Park. One new bathroom must be a family style bathroom, for those with special needs.
Jake’s Law requires the All Inclusive Park be supported by 20% shade. There is no shade for the children in a park sandwiched between a soccer field and a parking lot.
The All Inclusive Park should be closer to the field house bathrooms. The Park walkway is estimated at over 500 feet, for those with special needs, including those in wheelchairs, to access the bathroom.
Colts Neck shared they would limit access to the bathrooms to only during sporting events. The All Inclusive Children’s Park warrants bathroom access when the park is open!
The All Inclusive Park is better suited for Bucks Mill Recreational Facility as it is more central in town, is on a 35 MPH country road opposed to being off Route 537, a 50 MPH congested roadway. Bucks Mill also offers more shade and it is much more tranquil.
Let not forget the safety for the children in the 360 unit apartments, who will cross Route 537 with cars going 50 MPH, to access the new park.
Colt Neck Board of Education supports perhaps 200 special needs children. BOE members are team players who support KIDS FIRST…they should have been asked by town officials, to post the meeting invite on their website and in their flyers. Jake’s Law calls for feedback from the users. Where is the user feedback?
Colts Neck public meeting notice on the park hearing was published in the newspaper for January 20th. The meeting was held on January 21st. For Colts Neck this project appears to be another SNAFU!
My approach is in speaking up for all the children and the parent of the children, who may not be aware or are unable to speak for themselves.
Kevin M. O’Brien
