A new Monmouth County park appears destined to rise on nearly 88 fallow acres in Aberdeen and Marlboro.

Fall Trees
Photo by Justin Louis
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Freeholders this week authorized $10,600,000 from county Open Space Trust Fund for the purchase from Aberdeen/Wilson Associates, LLC. Board members say the acreage houses a significant piece of the Matawan Creek Watershed.

"Time is of essence," said board Director Gary J. Rich in a prepared release. "The property owners have made their inteion to sell the entire 87.8 acres by this spring."

The decision to fully fund the purchase stems from the failure of a 2014 agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, officials said. In August last year, Freeholders authorized $5,600,000 on the strength of a commitment from the Authority for the remainder.

The Port Authority was part of a coalition formed in 2011 to pursue the park concept, along with Aberdeen township, NY/NJ Baykeeper, Monmouth Conservation Program and the New Jersey Green Acres program.

Board members added another $2,000,000 to their commitment in December.

Parks Liaison Lillian Burry added that the agency's collaboration would have paved the way for a park eventually encompassing 250 acres.

"The Port Authority's offer to help move this deal forward appears to have been withdrawn," Burry said in a statement.  "Fortunately, Monmouth County has an invaluable Open Space Trust Fund to finance the entire purchase."

A resolution adopted this week requests the Port Authority to "uphold their agreement to provide funding for the acquisition of this project to create a new park in the Townships of Aberdeen and Marlboro." A clause stipulates that if agency officials opt back in, their portion would become reimbursement for the County.

"The new park would encompass hardwood uplands, open recreational areas and headwater lowland areas with significant storm water storage capacity," Burry said. "Protecting and managing these resources are important issues to the local community. This park needs to be created in perpetuity."

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