Plumsted officials seek $75,000 grant for park

PLUMSTED - The Township Committee has approved the submission of a grant application requesting $75,000 in funding to construct the township's fourth park from the federal government's Community Development Block Grant program administered by Ocean County.

Mayor Ron Dancer said the Main Street New Egypt organization has been at the forefront of spearheading efforts, including the raising of private funds, to establish Volunteer Park. The site of the new park is where the former early 1900s firehouse was located on a downtown New Egypt vacant lot, Evergreen Road, with waterfront access to the Crosswicks Creek.

The Main Street New Egypt organization assisted in preparing the grant application that requests a brick paved path leading to a central landscaped plaza at the center of the park, Dancer said. At the plaza a monument wall would be erected as a tribute to the former volunteers who served as firemen and first aid members.

Main Street New Egypt architectural drawings depict a walkway around the perimeter of Volunteer Park with a canoe and kayak launch to Crosswicks Creek. Site amenities in the park would include lighting, benches, picnic tables and landscaping.

Dancer said the development of Volunteer Park is one of many notable projects in a continuing effort by the Main Street New Egypt Board of Directors and their committees to improve the downtown area, encourage greater public use and broaden the visitor base for businesses.

The Township Committee recently appointed Liz Barnes, the former chairwoman of the Arts Council, as a part-time administrative assistant for the Main Street New Egypt and neighborhood preservation programs that are under the leadership of Executive Director Peter Ylvisaker.

In other news, Dancer said the multimillion dollar business improvements at the site of the former Marshall's Corner Restaurant (Route 539 and Route 528 intersection) by theWawa Corporation have advanced with a building permit application by Wawa submitted to the township construction office. Presently, the building permit is under review and expected to be issued shortly. The new Wawa store will provide Plumsted with its first 24-hour-aday gasoline service area.

And, Stacy Burrows, president of the MOMS Club of New Egypt, is encouraging residents to support the club's first fundraiser to help the Township Committee provide the community with a new playground. The MOMS Club of New Egypt has partnered with a corporate sponsor, Chick-fil-A, which will donate 15 percent of all sales generated by the MOMS Club on Feb. 29 from 5-8 p.m. at the Hamilton Market Place Chick-fil-A. Guests must tell the cashier when placing their order that they are helping to build the playground.

The Township Committee will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting on March 5 at 8 p.m.