Photo courtesy Borough of Fair Haven
FAIR HAVEN – At the end of De Normandie Avenue overlooking the Navesink River sits Fair Haven’s newest park on the site of a historic home.
Officials gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 15 to celebrate the official opening of Williams, Albert and Robards Park, a 0.6 acre of land and one of 10 parks and open spaces in Fair Haven.
“The park is remarkable,” said Mayor Benjamin Lucarelli, adding it will allow residents to enjoy passive recreation activities like walking, seining, fishing and enjoying the views. “It’s really kind of special because those places are disappearing,” he said. “It’s a great place.”
Lucarelli noted how special four memorial benches are that sit on the property to honor former Fair Haven residents who have died but will not be forgotten: active community volunteer Joseph Gallagher, councilman Jerome Koch, student Jack Moore and special police officer Robert Henne. Lucarelli said it’s a place where residents can remember those four individuals who “meant so much to so many people.”
The property was once home to Charles Williams and his wife Julia in 1853. Charles was a free black man who received the property as a wedding gift from the owner of Rohallion Estates. The couple lived there for the remainder of their lives and would allow the public to use the beach on the property and enjoy the Navesink River, free of charge.
A plaque welcomes visitors at the entrance of the park to remind everyone of its history and of that same generous attitude the Williams’ had during their time in the house. It reads, “It is in that spirit for which this land is preserved and protected to allow free and open access to the beautiful Navesink River for all time.” Lucarelli said that their generosity “embodies the spirit of Fair Haven.”
After Charles and Julia Williams, the home became a meeting place for the Williams, Albert and Robards families. It was updated in the 1950s and was left intact. The borough obtained the property in 2015 after negotiating with the property owners for six years. Some delays stemmed from an overlooked issue about combining what was originally two lots, which required the borough attorney to do extensive research on the property title, which went back about 100 years.
Eventually the site was purchased in 2015 for $1.2 million with financial support from a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres/ Blue Acres Grant, a Monmouth County Open Space Trust Fund Grant and the Monmouth Conservation Foundation. According to Lucarelli, the borough paid about $200,000 of the total.
“I hope a lot of people make a habit of visiting it often,” said Lucarelli.
