By Allison Perrine
MIDDLETOWN — Deep Cut Gardens will see renovations in the coming weeks as part of a sequence of upgrades outlined in the park’s master plan.
A $1 million contract was approved in August by the county recreation commissioners for a new maintenance building as well as employee facilities and staff parking.
Current staff operations are conducted in the white and green Gardener’s Cottage at the front entrance of the park. Once staff operations move to the new maintenance building, outside the public area of the park, the cottage will open for public use.
Future plans for the cottage have not yet been finalized. However, ideas for the three-story building include office spaces on the third floor, with the first floor used as a welcome area or program area, said Robin Ostrowski, principal landscape architect for the Monmouth County Park System.
A patio may be installed in front of the cottage as well, but Ostrowski said the cottage and its new design will be the next project after the maintenance building is completed.
“The Deep Cut Gardens Master Plan was updated in 2014 and consensus on the parking lot expansion location, maintenance area location and conversion of the Gardener’s Cottage to public use was achieved as a result,” said Ostrowski.
The new building will be located east of the pole barn, according to the Monmouth County Park System states, screening it from Red Hill Road. It will have a tan exterior with a brown roof, matching the storage pole barn already at the site.
Any stormwater from the roof will collect and divert to a dry well where it will filter into the ground. Gravel will also be used to minimize stormwater runoff.
Work is set to begin this fall and will conclude in spring 2020.
The park, a former estate, is located on Red Hill Road and is filled with beautiful flowers, trees, ponds and wildlife. The scenic views at Deep Cut Gardens attract people from inside and outside of the local area.
On a warm Friday afternoon Aug. 30, William and Anabel Arzola traveled to Middletown from their home in Perth Amboy to enjoy the park, as they do at least once a week.
“I like the park. It’s good for exercise, it’s good to destress,” said William. The couple said they also love to walk the trails and sit by the pond.
Keyport residents Kelly Rosman and her 6-year-old niece Emma Matarese were also walking through the park that Friday afternoon. Emma said she likes seeing the flowers and hummingbirds when she visits Deep Cut Gardens.
“We enjoy the fish pond, the big koi, and the big trees that you can actually go under and relax,” said Rosman.
