By Sunayana Prabhu
RED BANK – The borough has entered into a shared service agreement with Red Bank RiverCenter, an agency that promotes the borough’s downtown businesses, to create a “parklet” at the intersection of Monmouth and Broad streets.
The borough council is looking to improve the streetscape on Monmouth Street by converting the intersection at the corner of Monmouth and Broad into a “small public space that converts part of a street or a parking area to a pedestrian-friendly environment,” Bob Zuckerman, executive director of the Red Bank RiverCenter said at the March 14 borough council meeting as he introduced the concept, likening its features to that of permanent streateries.
“They typically have seating, a greenery, sometimes they have a bike rack and they’re just great respite for people who are around downtown shopping or dining.”
Parklets usually consume parking spots – a taboo in Red Bank – but in this case, Zuckerberg said it will cover an “unused area.”
According to the presentation, a parklet in the area could have many positive social and environmental impacts and serve the borough’s business community. It will enhance walkability and the pedestrian experience, encourage social interaction and community engagement, beautify an urban environment, and support local businesses by increasing foot traffic.
Zuckerberg said RiverCenter has applied and secured a $30,000 Main Street New Jersey District Transformation Grant for the parklet design and installation.
Red Bank RiverCenter proposed using “flexible delineators” or orange plastic posts on bases along Monmouth Street.
At the Thursday meeting, the council approved RiverCenter to work on behalf of the borough to hire the necessary services to complete the project. Red Bank RiverCenter is a nonprofit formed in 1991 to manage the borough’s Special Improvement District (SID), an area in the central business district of a downtown. According to details on its website, “no taxes from individual residents are used to fund RiverCenter staff, events or facilities.” The nonprofit is funded by property owners in the SID and through its own special events like the International Flavour and the Guinness Oyster festivals, grants and donations.
RiverCenter has hired ENGenuity Infrastructure for the civil design and Danielle Boyle for the landscape design of the parklet.
Jefferey King, coastal designer at ENGenuity Infrastructure, an engineering and environmental consulting firm based in Red Bank, explained the design process and features that will be added to the parklet.
The parklet will begin on the north side of Monmouth Street at the intersection of Broad and extend 2 feet back from the existing yellow line; it will be around 7 feet wide at its largest width. King noted that the curb extension is limited by an NJ Transit Bus turning template since there is a NJ Transit Bus Stop located at the proposed parklet spot.
“NJ Transit agreed to a 20-foot open space” to allow for the bus to pick pedestrians up, allowing for ADA access. The parklet will include ADA-compliant seating area with benches, tables, brick pavers, two bike racks, trash cans, lights and three separate planting areas. The flexible bollards and parking signs will be removed in the area.
According to the borough ordinance for the project, RiverCenter has obtained a cost estimate of $76,500, which will be partially funded by the Main Street NJ grant. RiverCenter will bear all the costs and expenses associated with the parklet, which is expected to be completed by summer, in time for the Broadwalk season, which turns Broad Street into an outdoor pedestrian-friendly area from May through September.
Other Council News
At the Thursday meeting, council members discussed some of the state decisions that could impact the community – cuts to state subsidies for several school districts including Red Bank, an NJ Transit fee hike and bills proposing changes to Open Public Records Act (OPRA).
• School Funding – According to Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 state budget, several school districts will receive more state funding than last year. However, about 140 districts will face cuts. Most of the school districts in the Two River area will receive full funds but the Red Bank Borough School District faces a 19.6% funding cut – a $1.7 million loss.
Mayor Billy Portman said he spoke with state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-11) and has signed on to a joint letter from Red Bank, Long Branch, Asbury Park and Neptune “because all of these districts were decimated” while schools such as “Colts Neck or Little Silver” were being “100% funded. clearly the formula’s not working,” Portman said.
“It is ridiculous that we have to go through this exercise every time,” council member Ben Forest said. The district has been facing funding challenges for nearly “40 years” now but he said the school board is making efforts to get “funding restored.”
• OPRA Bill – A state bill (A4045/ S2930) proposing reforms to certain provisions in OPRA could place restrictions on public access to government records. The dual bill, fast-tracked and passed through two committees March 11 in Trenton, was scheduled for a hearing in the state Assembly Appropriations Committee March 14 but was abruptly pulled from the agenda and put on hold.
Council member David Cassidy said he does “not support a significant retraction of OPRA” but he noted that the law needs “reasonable reform” to avoid being “abused” by commercial interests. “But that can’t happen at the cost of a free and open access to our government, a free and open press in this country. And if that’s the trade-off, then I guess we’ll live with some extra marketing,” said Cassidy.
Portman said he was not “a fan” of the bill and would like residents to have easier access “to see what’s going on rather than (making it) more difficult.”
• NJ Transit Fee Hike – Portman voiced concerns about the recent NJ Transit fee hikes that he said “are disproportionately affecting those who can least afford it.”
The New Jersey Transportation Authority has proposed a 15% hike in fares beginning July 1, followed by indefinite 3% increases each year for those riding its buses and trains. For adult passengers taking a one-way train trip from Little Silver or Red Bank to New York Penn Station, tickets will be $18.40 instead of $16 next year. For bus passengers traveling locally, a one-way trip will cost $1.80 instead of $1.60.
“I think that there’s going to be a better way to make up the budget shortfalls rather than on the backs of the working poor and the working-class people. It definitely affects us here at Red Bank because we are a train station town,” said Portman.
The article originally appeared in the March 21 –March 27, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
