LAKEHURST – Borough officials informed the public about grants to help improve recreation in the area and two ordinances pertaining to land development.
Councilman Robert McCarthy reported that grant applications have been submitted for improvements at Lake Horicon off Union Avenue. The Borough is pursuing a New Jersey Green Acres Program grant to replace the existing, outdated playground at Lake Horicon Park with a new, inclusive, and accessible playground. The project, featuring specialized equipment for children of all abilities, is estimated to cost up to $700,000, with the borough seeking to match funds through the state grant.
The project site and the adjacent properties along Lake Street and Church Street are within the single family residential (R-1) Zone. The playground would be surrounded by a parking lot that is used for both the Lake Horicon Beach and the Lake Horicon Playground.
“So, fingers crossed on that,” McCarthy said. “I also put together an AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons a US-based, nonpartisan 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization serving people aged 50 and older) grant for improvements at the lake for our seniors. A clearly delineated walking path around the lake. Some cooling amenities around the existing pavilion, some ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) seating – some stationary, some permanent – around the perimeter of the lake.”
McCarthy said there has been some discussion about lighting around the walk path. “Obviously it would be solar just to minimize vandalism, something to add light around the perimeter. That grant (application) actually went out.”
Mayor Harry Robbins and Councilman Oglesby also discussed the winter storms. The Public Works Department faced challenges of snow that remained due to the frigid temperatures and where to put existing snow that didn’t melt when another storm emerged.
Councilwoman Bernadette Dugan who heads the finance committee reported that the committee had recently met and that this year’s municipal budget would be introduced next month and adopted in May. She noted that some financial figures were received from the state recently that were needed for the spending plan’s preparation.
