By DON STINE
Neptune Township has received $550,000 in state grant money to develop a park on West Lake Avenue under the townships West Lake Avenue Redevelopment Plan.
It will be a passive park and entertainment area where community events, farm markets, and events of that nature will be held, said the townships Chief Financial Officer Michael Bascom.
Bascom said the township received $150,000 of the grant money in a previous year and recently received a letter confirming receipt of the final $400,000.
The grant money is from the Centers of Place Program administered by the state Department of Transportation.
The program tries to invest money in designated areas that are already developed.
It helps rehabilitate existing areas rather than develop new areas, Bascom said.
Bascom said the park, to be built on an approximate 100-foot by 200-foot parcel, will have passive uses, like walking/biking paths, an amphitheater-like performance area and other park amenities.
Rainwater will be used to water the plantings, he said.
The park is the former site of old Chidnese junk yard and an existing park across the street, which has playground equipment, will be relocated to other areas in the neighborhood.
The existing park will then become the site of office and retail buildings which are part of the West Lake Avenue redevelopment plan.
Bascom said he hopes work on the new park will begin before the end of the year.
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