By DON STINE
The Colonial Terrace Protective Association wants people to know where its residents live- so a large sign has just been installed to point them in the right direction.
“Our residents love being out in the Asbury Park area but when they tell people where they live, people have no clue. It’s like they get blindsided and have no idea where we live,” said association member by Jon Girrson, who helped oversee the sign project.
The Colonial Terrace section, which dates back to about 1925 and now has 138 homes, is located in Ocean Township at the southern end of Wickapecko Drive, just south of the nine-hole township-owned golf course that bears the neighborhood’s name.
Wickapecko Drive becomes Ridge Avenue in Asbury Park just as you leave the Colonial Terrace section to the south. The neighborhood extends west between two upper arms of Deal Lake, up to the Asbury Park traffic circle.
Girrson said the association decided to take a vote among residents at a block party about installing neighborhood signs.
“I believe it was about 80 percent of residents who voted that they wanted the signs. Then we held a contest for its design, then started fundraising, and built the momentum from that,” he said.
Association President Harry Mull said that 12 designs from residents were submitted for the sign and the top four were selected and then sent to all residents to vote for which one they wanted.
The sign, which cost about $3,300, is made of pressed wood that emulates a brick or stone. It was installed on Nov. 3. A similar, but somewhat smaller, sign will eventually be installed at the western end of Lincoln Avenue, where it enters the Asbury Park traffic circle.
“Lots of local neighborhoods have these types of signs and it has always been a goal of the board to identify the neighborhood with signage. We have had tons of comments about the new sign and residents are very excited about the next one,” Mull said.
Out of the 138 homes in Colonial Terrace, Mull said that about half are involved in some way with the association.
“Some pay their dues, others don’t. We have an e-mail blast that we send to all residents and a web site. According to what I have been told, we are one of the oldest residential asssociations at the Jersey Shore,” he said.
The Colonial Terrace Protective Association has been active since 1953 with the stated purpose “to promote the safety, well-being and interest” of its residents. The association has spoken up at public meetings and has been largely responsible for protecting the quality of life in the neighborhood, according to its website.
The association has a nine-member board with elections biannually. In addition to keeping residents informed about important events via the Internet, the group also runs a Spring Fling with a bicycle parade and planting of a children’s garden, a neighborhood-wide Garage Sale, a Fall Block Party, and other fundraisers.
Mull said the association maintains a close relationship with the Ocean Township police department. He added that new board members are coming on-board soon to help continue governing the association.
