The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, in partnership with the Monmouth County Planning Board, presented seven organizations with 2023 Merit Awards during the Planning Board meeting held Dec. 18.
“On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, I want to commend our award recipients and the Planning Board for taking this opportunity to recognize all of the great work that is being done to support our communities,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “Thank you to all of the organizations that continue to enhance our remarkable County while inspiring others to pursue planning excellence.”
“Once again, the Planning Board has done an extraordinary job of recognizing plans, projects and organizations that truly add community value to Monmouth County,” said Commissioner Ross F. Licitra, liaison to the Monmouth County Planning Board. “We encourage any organizations interested in applying next year to contact the Planning Board to learn more.”
Those receiving awards included Monmouth County Merit Awards were presented to:
City of Asbury Park Arts and Culture Plan
Category: Creativity and Innovation
The Asbury Park Arts and Culture Plan, created during a one-year period starting in August 2022, is the result of collaboration between Asbury Park and the nonprofit Asbury Park Arts Council.
The planning process was guided by a steering committee comprised of city officials, representatives of the Monmouth County Division of Planning, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Asbury Park Arts Council.
The Arts and Culture Plan received a resolution of support from the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners and was adopted unanimously by the city’s Planning Board on Aug. 21, 2023 as an amendment to the city’s Master Plan.
The Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County – Wellness Garden
Category: Creativity and Innovation
The Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County, in partnership with landscape architect Eleanor James of Sparrow and Bramble, developed a wellness garden across from the Asbury Park location.
The land was donated by long-time supporter Vince Gifford and is planned to be a community space for Asbury Park and the Boys and Girls Club.
Douglas Eagles, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club, describes the garden as “an extension of the trauma-informed support we provide to our club kids, their families and the community as a whole.”
The garden is planned to be used for displaying local artists’ work, a place for community events and the center for mental and physical wellness programs.
Neptune Township – Shark River Living Shoreline Category: Environmental, Resilience, Sustainability and Regeneration
With funding and/or in-kind services provided by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency and Neptune Township, Neptune with the American Littoral Society and a suite of partners (Avakian Engineering, Albert Marine and Stockton University) worked together to restore 2,050 linear feet of shoreline at the Shark River Inlet, creating beach, reef sill, marsh and berm habitat that provides improved resiliency for the natural and human-built communities.
In addition, stormwater outfalls were replaced and affixed with tide valves to reduce periodicity of flooding and better treat stormwater runoff.
