A slew of parks in New Jersey’s northernmost “beach” county will be getting some major improvements following $6 million in grants awarded to spruce up green spaces.
Monmouth County’s Board of Commissioners has announced the recipients of their 2025 Municipal Open Space Grant program, which aims to improve public spaces throughout the area. The 27 grants were awarded to different municipalities, with legislators aiming to spread the investment across towns.
“This important annual program is one of many ways in which the County works with its municipal partners to ensure local parks are constructed and upgraded for our residents,” Monmouth County Commission Director Thomas Arnone said in a statement. “Providing funding for parks and open spaces in our communities helps residents to maintain and improve their physical and mental health.”
The biggest grants were awarded to seven projects around the county, each of which snagged $361,817 each. The biggest winners were Fair Haven Road towards waterfront improvements, an interior fit-out project in Hazlet for a recreation building, improvements to Van Court Park in Long Branch, and renovations to Kunkel Park in Middletown.
Also getting the highest grant investment were Memorial Park and Adams Field renovations in Neptune City, Red Bank’s Count Basie Park Open Space improvement project, and Rumson’s Jumping Point Park.
Other notable improvements coming thanks to the grants from Monmouth County include:
Allenhurst: $144,727 for phase three of Railroad Park Plaza
Atlantic Highlands: $180,908 for improvements to Municipal Harbor Park
Belmar: $203,341 for the Silver Lake Recreation Trail reconstruction project
Brielle: $75,981 for the Brielle Eco Path
Eatontown: $161,370 for the F. Bliss Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary Bridge replacement
Freehold: $49,931 for the Veterans Park improvement project
Freehold Township: $122,294 for the Opatut Park improvement project
Highlands: $225,050 for improvements at Veterans Memorial Park, Huddy Park, and the local community center
Little Silver: $220,708 for Markham Place Complex improvements
Manalapan: $54,272 for Dreyer All-Inclusive Playground surfacing
Manasquan: $344,811 for Winterstella Park Playground improvements
Matawan: $180,908 for Terhune Park improvements
Millstone: $126,636 for the Baird Homestead Improvement Project 2025
Monmouth Beach: $108,545 towards Monmouth Beach Memorial Park and Griffin Park
Neptune: $267,744 for improvements to Sunshine Park Playground
Oceanport: $280,770 for Blackberry Bay Park improvements
Spring Lake: $217,090 for the third phase of Marucci Memorial Park improvements
Union Beach: $68,022 for Scholer Park improvements
Wall: $361,817 for the second phase of Camp Evans recreational upgrades
West Long Branch: $72,363 for Valenzano Park
