Neptune Township and Monmouth Conservation Foundation are pleased to announce the creation of a new waterfront park in Neptune Township

At a time when sustainability and waterfront access have never been more important, Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) teamed up with the State of New Jersey Green Acres Program and the Township of Neptune to create a 2.5-acre public waterfront park along the Shark River in the Shark River Hills section of Neptune Township. The property was approved to be developed into a 9-lot single family subdivision had the land not been preserved.

After the area was submerged during Superstorm Sandy, Neptune Township officials lead the effort to ensure the property did not become developed. The location of the land, adjacent to the already popular municipal marina, made it the perfect location for a new park that not only creates new recreation opportunities for the community, but also ensures the landscape remains undeveloped to mitigate against future storm damage. Monmouth Conservation contributed $127,000 of private funding to the overall purchase price of $1,255,000. The remaining funding was provided by the Township of Neptune and the State Green Acres Program.

“Public access to the waterfront and sustainability are two driving priorities of Monmouth Conservation when choosing projects we preserve. It was a no-brainer for MCF to provide funding to ensure this land along the Shark River was preserved. However, it would not have been possible without the thought leadership, vision and sustainability planning efforts shown by the Township of Neptune,” explained William D. Kastning, Executive Director for Monmouth Conservation.

“It is a gift for our residents, especially our young people, to be able to explore this beautiful natural park. There is a time for development and a time for preserving land just for enjoying the richness of our environment. We are so very fortunate to have a staff of professionals who understand and appreciate the importance of preservation and I do wish to acknowledge Mr. Gadaleta [Neptune Township Administrator] for his commitment to driving this initiative,” remarked Mayor Carol Rizzo.

“I’m proud to see Neptune Township continuing its conservation efforts by securing this waterfront land for public access. It’s important to protect our open spaces for future generations to enjoy, and I’m grateful for Neptune’s excellent leadership in environmental protection within Monmouth County,” remarked Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling, Chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee, lifelong resident, former Mayor of Neptune Township and dedicated environmental advocate for District 11.

Contact Monmouth Conservation Foundation for more information about land preservation at www.monmouthconservation.org or (732) 671-7000.