Count Basie Park Being Mistreated

Just months after residents clamored that public access to Count Basie Park was and demanded longer park hours, officials now say that some are abusing that same access by not following the rules.

Councilman Ed Zipprich said some park visitors are not abiding by the posted rules, especially those that relate to food and drink consumption. Enough food and bottle trash has been found at the park to prompt concern from both the Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments.

There’s also the issue of how some are using the park’s resources. According to Zipprich, who is the liaison to the DPW, the sandpit used for the long and triple jump is being treated by some like a sandbox.

“We want to protect our very important borough asset and investment,” he said.

The to convert the park’s football field into one with an artificial surface, among other improvements. Much of the money used was grant funding, but the borough also received financial assistance from Red Bank Catholic. The high school uses the athletic fields and also pays the borough an annual fee for that privilege.

Some wondered if RBC’s investment led the borough to restrict access to the park. At Westside Community meetings, and later in council chambers, residents asked for hours to be extended to accommodate those who wanted to use the park for exercise, mostly in the early morning hours.

Their request was eventually granted.

Councilwoman Juanita Lewis, liaison to parks and recreation, said enforcement would be stepped up to combat the recent problem. Parks and recreation employees, and even Red Bank police, will be making the rounds more often to ensure that the rules are followed, she said.