RED BANK – A Rumson resident has offered to donate $500,000 to bring back the clay tennis courts at Marine Park, the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association would build a boathouse and docks and a developer wants to build a multi use recreation area joined with office space.
Residents will have the opportunity to express their preference at a special public hearing at 6:30 p.m. May 28 in the auditorium of the middle school, 101 Harding Road.
The special meeting will be to present the three proposals offered for the area of Union Street, adjacent to Marine Park that had been the site of the red clay tennis courts destroyed by Super Storm Sandy, explained Borough Councilwoman Linda Schwabenbauer, who chairs the council’s Parks and Recreation Committee.
“I’m sure people will have a lot of questions,” Schwabenbauer said.
Schwabenbauer, who kiddingly calls the proposals “The Goldilocks” bidding process said one proposal has Rumson resident James P. Cullen offering a $500,000 donation to the borough, with $400,000 used to rebuild the four courts and the remaining $100,000 would be for an operating fund and maintenance for the courts. Richard Nicoletti, who had been the site’s resident tennis pro since 1989 and had been its manager until Sandy, would return to that post.
Cullen plans to have an annual fundraiser and tournament that is expected to generate between $50,000-$60,000 with half of the proceeds going to the borough, according to Schwabenbauer.
Cullen would charge a fee – as had been done in the past – for use of the courts. The charges would be $150 annually for residents’ unlimited play and $250 for non-residents, with discounts for seniors and the group would provide access for some local youth organizations.
The second proposal is from the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association, a not for-profit historical and educational organization, which would use the site overlooking the Navesink River to construct a boathouse and floating docks along with conducting some of its educational programs.
The third proposal, as explained by Schwabenbauer, would be the most ambitious. The plan, proposed by Jetsun Enterprises, a Red Bank-based real estate development and investment firm focusing on green projects, would remove the courts to construct an outdoor family activity center that would include a synthetic year-round skating rink, a small miniature golf course and have office space for Red Bank RiverCenter, the business association, and Red Bank Visitor Center, and a location for the public to rent kayaks, canoes and paddle boards, among other potential future features, according to Schwabenbauer.
“This is really an opportunity to change the face of the waterfront in Red Bank,” said Borough Councilman Edward Zipprich, who is also a member of the parks and recreation committee, and the public should come for ward to offer its assessment with the council in attendance.
Schwabenbauer said she wants the process to move for ward as quickly as possible on establishing what will be an important recreational asset for the community. “I’m going to do everything I can to keep pushing this forward,” she insisted.
“I’m looking for ward to hearing from the townspeople, to gather data on each of the proposals we receive, which makes the most sense and which has the most popularity,” Zipprich added.
The final decision rests with a public majority vote by the borough council, which will be in the unspecified future.
The tennis courts were built in 1930. It has long been a draw for tennis enthusiasts and traditionalist because of its red clay playing service, which is thought to be more challenging.
The site remains damaged and overgrown with vegetation since Sandy in 2012. Zipprich said the borough has lacked the funds to repair it, having yet to receive still-owed Sandy relief money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Since the storm, borough officials have had to prioritize projects and still have to repair and upgrade the electrical system and restroom facilities at Marine Park, according to Zipprich.
– Written by John Burton, with photos by Joey Dominguez
