Middletown Plans To Turn Wooded Lot Off Rt. 36 Into 3-Acre Park

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown Township and the Monmouth Conservation Foundation are working together to create a new, permanent green space on a three-acre parcel in North Middletown.

The property is located between Rt. 36 and Thompson Avenue near the Polar Bear Ice Cream stand. Monmouth Conservation Foundation and Middletown Township have a shared goal of turning it into a passive park.

The property is currently densely wooded and would require improvements for public access.

The three-acre property was originally zoned for commercial use. It was on the market for sale when its owners donated it to Monmouth Conservation Foundation in 2020 as a "trade land" — this means proceeds from its sale would benefit Monmouth Conservation Foundation's conservation work in Monmouth County.

However, some Middletown residents raised concerns that the property could still be developed once it was sold. Their concerns are correct: This specific property could still be developed, and proceeds from its sale could be used to preserve land elsewhere. That's how trade-land deals work.

Monmouth Conservation Foundation and Middletown came to an agreement, and MCF recently transferred the three-acre property to Middletown Township. Middletown will now place it on the Township’s Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI). This designation permanently restricts use of the land to only be used as park land, and MCF and Middletown will together make it into a jointly branded park.

"We welcome input from the community on what amenities they would like to see added, such as a nature trail, habitat improvements, or benches, honoring our shared commitment with Monmouth Conservation Foundation to save open space and create parks," said Mayor Tony Perry.

“The Township Committee and I will not relent to developers that want to build high-density housing as we continue to fight for open space preservation,” Perry added. “We have made significant investments in protecting our remaining open space, including designating this natural oasis on Rt. 36 as a respite for our community in this highly developed and commercial area.”

“As a land trust, MCF’s objective is to facilitate how a property will be best preserved and utilized so the public-at-large benefits,” said MCF Executive Director Bill Kastning. “We applaud Mayor Perry’s commitment to open space, and we are proud to work with him and the Township to bring this open space to the community, in line with our efforts to #KeepMonmouthGreen.”

Monmouth Conservation Foundation was founded by visionary, lifelong Monmouth County residents Judith Stanley Coleman and Michael Huber, both of whom hailed from Middletown.

Many of MCF's collaborative projects to preserve land and open space have been done in Middletown, including:

• Buying the 99-acre Timolat Farm to expand Huber Woods Park
• Buying the 40-acre Fisher-Stern parcel, known today as the Claypit Creek extension of Hartshorne Woods Park
• Buying another 17 acres along the Navesink River to further add to Hartshorne’s footprint
• Buying 18 acres to create Swimming River Park.
• And most recently, MCF took over ownership of the 90-acre Scudder Preserve and will be working with Middletown to restore the site and improve public access.