MONMOUTH COUNTY PARK SYSTEM

2018 ANNUAL REPORT

EVERY DAY, RAIN or SHINE

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2018 Quick FactsLAND New Acres Acquired in 2018* 138

Total Acres of County Parkland** 17,284

Forest FieldWaterWetlandDeveloped (impervious)Other (unclassified)

57%26% 6% 3% 6% 3%

Number of Parks & Golf Courses 43

TRAILS (MILES) 141Paved: Easy: Moderate: Challenging:

312676 8

RECREATION FACILITIES 173Athletic Fields (Rentable)Ball CourtsBoat Rental SitesCampsites & CabinsHistoric Sites & Bldgs. Picnic Shelters/Buildings/TentsPlaygrounds PoolsVisitor/Activity Centers

1320

3 74

61616

421

VISITATIONTotal County Park Visits 2018 6,426,576

Visits to Park System Website 995,781

Major Event Attendance 95,469

Monmouth County Fair (5 day): Thompson Park Day: Creative Arts & Music Festival: Harvest Home Festival : Wind & Sea Festival:

71,50013,1092,5006,3602,000

RECREATION PROGRAMS‡

Number of Programs Offered 6,230

Program Attendance 110,541

GOLF

Number of Golf Sites 6

Number Golf Facilities(includes 2 FootGolf courses)

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Total Rounds Played 189,551

PERSONNELFull-time Staff 345

Hourly/Part-time Staff (Seasonal) 338

Program Staff/Instructors 298

2018 PARK VISITATIONBayshore Waterfront

Bel Aire Golf Course

Charleston Springs Golf Course

Clayton Park

Deep Cut Gardens

Dorbrook Recreation Area

East Freehold Showgrounds

Fisherman’s Cove

Hartshorne Woods

Henry Hudson Trail

Historic Longstreet

Historic Walnford

Holmdel Park

Hominy Hill Golf Course

Howell Park Golf Course

Huber Woods

Manasquan ReservoirMonmouth Cove Marina

Mt. Mitchill Scenic Overlook

Perrineville Lake Park

Pine Brook Golf Course

Seven Presidents Park

Shark River Golf Course

Shark River Park

Tatum Park

Thompson Park

Turkey Swamp Park

Union Transportation Trail

Wolf Hill Recreation Area

226,584

30,608

47,755

23,288

78,983

659,080

97,446

68,106

321,793

233,648

90,867

11,993

830,643

33,789

28,428

98,993

1,178,49022,874

163,456

13,688

17,967

625,918

31,004

114,203

118,974

717,652

159,549

19,264

361,533

TOTAL 6,426,576* Excluding easements.

** Represents approx. 6% of Monmouth County’s total acreage 301,804.

‡ Includes Visitor Services, Golf and Historic Sites, plus school group programs and birthday parties, etc.

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2018 – The Year in Review

W hen your business is serving the public outdoors, a certain kind of resilience is needed—especially concerning the

weather. This capability was put to the test in 2018 as the Park System maintained its usual operations while facing

some truly unusual cold and rain.

The year started with a polar vortex and bomb cyclone in January that brought painfully cold temperatures for days on end along

with a destructive nor’easter-style snowstorm. After a brief thaw--in February of all months-- there were four back to back snow

storms in March. Spring was late, summer was wet, and fall will be remembered for its never-ending rainstorms that included

multiple deluges where rainfall topped four inches in a single day. In fact, 2018 was New Jersey’s wettest year on record, with 64.3 average inches of precipitation (the normal average is 46 inches). Monmouth County in particular had the largest increase in

precipitation above the average of all 21 counties.

All this precipitation slowed construction projects, tested the capacity of park drainage systems and gutters, soaked our trails

and fields, and prevented people from enjoying the beaches and golf courses. Yet through it all, the parks remained open

and programs and special events continued. Some outdoor classes were rescheduled of course, or brought inside, but race

participants competed in the rain, park visitors got wet, and golf staff took extraordinary efforts to dry out and restore the

greens. Ultimately, the wet weather did have an effect on year-end outcomes like attendance and revenue-- down 6% and 8%,

respectively. Conversely, it was a banner year for park accomplishments. Dozens of improvement projects were completed and

new facilities opened in 2018. These are highlighted on the pages that follow, along with the annual review.

We hope you will make time in the coming year to visit and see what’s new in your county parks, rain or shine.

— Cover Photo: Deep Cut Gardens

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2018 Accomplishments

New Facilities & Features • Battery Lewis restoration with inside exhibits in the newly designated Navesink Military Reservation

at Hartshorne Woods Park

• Benches at Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area

• Bird blind to view wildlife at the Claypit Pit Creek section of Hartshorne Woods Park

• Bike repair stations at Dorbrook Recreation Area, Manasquan Reservoir,

Thompson Park (pictured), and the Rocky Point Section of Hartshorne Woods Park

• Cross-country trail (seasonal) at Big Brook Park (pictured)

• Dock repairs at Big Brook Park

• Holmes Hendrickson House transferred to Holmdel Park from Monmouth Historical Association

• Kayak rack at Manasquan Reservoir Visitor Center

• Parking lot expansion (39 to 62 spots) and ADA walkways at Deep Cut Gardens

• Pool renovations at Big Brook Park

• Restroom building, plaza, and parking lot expansion (48 to 97 spots) at Hartshorne Woods Park (pictured)

• Wayside site information panels at Tatum Park Holland Activity Center and Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park

Maintenance & Improvement Projects• Barn roof wood shingles replaced at Longstreet Farm

• Carpenter shop improvements at Thompson Park

• Cart path repairs at Charleston Springs Golf Course (10 miles)

• Demolition of old buildings on park land

• Exterior painting of Thompson Park Visitor Center

• Sensory Trail improvements at Sunnyside Equestrian Center

• Storage shed at Big Brook Park

Although it’s not a pretty plant, our staff maintain

patches of milkweed throughout the parks and

golf courses to help the local monarch butterfly population.

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2018 Accomplishments (cont.)

Environmental Projects • Culverts/drainage pipes repaired at Holmdel Park

• Living snow fence at Dorbrook Recreation Area

• Annual tree, shrub and herbaceous plantings around the parks (pictured Dorbrook Recreation Area)

• Stream bank restabilized at Thompson Park’s Marlu Lake

• Treatment of Southern Pine Beetle infestation at Turkey Swamp Park; involved removing three acres,

or 400-500 affected pitch pine trees (pictured)

Outside Projects Affecting the Parks• As part of the Port Monmouth Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction Project, the US Army Corp of Engineers is

working on two high-profile flood protection projects near the county parks: a half-mile (2,661 linear ft.) floodwall with a

road closure gate between Bayshore Waterfront Park and the Monmouth Cove Marina; and a new levee, tide gate and

pump station along Pew’s Creek behind the marina.

• Monmouth County rebuilt the bridge on Schoolhouse Rd. overlooking the water near the entrance to Shark River Park.

Park System Accolades 2018 • The Battery Lewis Restoration at the newly designated Navesink Military Reservation Historic District (NMR, formerly

Rocky Point) at Hartshorne Woods Park received a 2018 Historic Preservation Award from the NJ Department of

Environmental Protection. (pictured)

• Sunnyside Equestrian Center staff and volunteers were recognized by the TODAY Show for National Volunteer Week.

The show aired interviews with volunteers, riders and staff and gifted the site with 10 rider scholarships, some new

equipment including much-needed “petite” saddles, and a new feature for the Sensory Trail.

• The Monmouth County Park System and 4-H, Fair co-sponsors, were recognized by a legislative bill from members of

the NJ State Assembly 11th district for a meritorious record of service in producing the Monmouth County Fair.

• Therapeutic Recreation staff were honored by the NJ Recreation and Park Association (NJRPA) with the Jackie Stanley

Excellence in Recreation Programming Award for their 2018 “Night Out” Programs, providing social opportunities for

adults with special needs (received, February 2019).

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2018 Land Acquisition

NEW PARK ACRES

Crosswicks Creek Park 32 Turkey Swamp Park 10

Fort Monmouth Recreation Area 1 Swimming River Park & Greenway 2

Freneau Woods Park 14

Shark River Park 3LAND ADDITIONSEASEMENTSTOTAL

138470608

Holmdel Park 52

Metedeconk River Greenway 13

Perrineville Lake Park 6

Another 470 acres of open space were protected as easements, which reached a total of 3,249 acres in 2018 (NOT shown on map).

TOTAL PARK ACRES

Bayshore Waterfront Park 229 Perrineville Lake Park 1,247

Bel-Aire Golf Course 114 Pine Brook Golf Course 61

Big Brook Park 432 Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park 38

Charleston Springs Golf Course 789 Shark River Golf Course 176

Clayton Park 450 Shark River Park 991

Crosswicks Creek Park 2,346 Sunnyside Recreation Area 135

Deep Cut Gardens 54 Swimming River Park & Greenway 18

Dorbrook Recreation Area 535 Tatum Park 366

Durand Tract (leased to Freehold Twp.) 94 Thompson Park 667

East Freehold Showgrounds 81 Turkey Swamp Park 2,281

Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area 55 Union Transportation Trail (UTT)† 110

Fort Monmouth Recreation Area 9 Weltz Park 169

Freneau Woods Park 210 Wickatunk Recreation Area 98

Hartshorne Woods Park 794 Wolf Hill Recreation Area 92

Henry Hudson Trail (HHT)* 215 Miscellaneous Trail Corridors (2) 4

Historic Longstreet Farm 9

Historic Walnford 36 UNDEVELOPED SITESHolmdel Park 618 Baysholm Tract 71

Hominy Hill Golf Course 262 DeBois Creek Recreation Area 165

Howell Park Golf Course 348 Metedeconk River Greenway 457

Huber Woods Park 381 Yellow Brook Tract 369

Manasquan Reservoir** 1,208

Manasquan River Greenway 478TOTAL ACRES OWNED AND/ORMANAGED BY THE PARK SYSTEM

17,284Monmouth Cove Marina 10

Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook 12

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A total of 138 additional acres were added

to nine park properties in 2018. Highlights

include a large new parcel at the Ramanessin

section of Holmdel Park (pictured, right) and continued

growth at two of our newest parks, Freneau Woods and

Swimming River. The Park System now owns/manages

17,284 acres at 43 parks and golf courses across

Monmouth County.

83 acres of the HHT are owned by the county and leased to the Park System; another 103 acres are under 20 year lease from NJ Transit.

1,052 acres at the Manasquan Reservoir are owned by the NJ Water Supply Authority and leased to the Park System for perpetual use.

64 acres of UTT are under permanent easement from JCP&L as a right-of-way.

***†

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2018 Park Partners

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Special People United to Ride (SPUR) is a non-profit organization that supports therapeutic

horseback riding and equestrian programs at Sunnyside Equestrian Center. In 2018, participation continued to grow with 68 new SPUR students and 66 new volunteers. The Equine Facilitated Learning and Horses for Heroes programs enjoy continued success, and in April, Sunnyside staff and volunteers received national recognition when they were featured on the NBC Today Show for National Volunteer Week.

www.spuronline.org

Founded in 1991, this

non-profit, provides

funding for special park

projects. In 2018, this

included research and application fees for the Park System’s

seventh site to be listed on the National Register of Historic

Places, Brookdale Farm in Thompson Park, as well as

equipment; historic attire and notions for historic sites; and

disc golf course improvements at Wolf Hill Recreation Area.

Support continued in 2018 for professional education of Park

System staff, scholarships for urban youth to attend park

camps, and special activities for volunteers and young adults

with disabilities.

www.friendsofmonmouthcountyparks.com

Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF), now celebrating its 42nd year, is dedicated to saving open space, creating

parks, preserving farmland, protecting wildlife, teaching environmental sustainability and safeguarding waterways throughout Monmouth County. MCF has directly preserved more than 6,500 acres of open space and farmland and is one of nearly 420 accredited land trusts out of 1,700 nationwide. Jointly, MCF and Monmouth County are working to restore the future home of Swimming River Park (formerly Chris’ Marina and Deli) in Middletown and transform it into a beautiful park with riverfront access for all to enjoy.

www.monmouthconservation.org

In 2018, 1,266 dedicated volunteers of all

ages contributed 25,425 hours of service

in 1,970 positions across the parks. In

addition to the extensive time spent

maintaining park trails and gardens and

leaning our beaches, park volunteers spend thousands of

ours staffing programs, camps and special events each year.

ere are the groups who worked with us in 2018, along with

he individuals who gave >40+ hours and >100+ hours (bold)

n 2018. ww.monmouthcountyparks.com

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Volunteers>40+ Hours (names in bold >100+ Hours)

CORPORATE GROUPSJohnson & JohnsonL’OrealMorgan StanleyNovartisPSAVStantecVonage

STUDENT GROUPSBiotechnology Community HSBrookdale CollegeCollier Youth ServicesColts Neck HS ROTCHolmdel HSMarlboro HS Key ClubMarlboro HS LEO ClubMASTRaritan HS Interact ClubRaritan HS Key ClubRed Bank Catholic HSRutgers UniversitySt. John Vianney Key Club

NON-PROFITSBoy Scouts of AmericaGirl Scouts of AmericaMonmouth Reform TemplePrimetime EatontownYMCA Camp Zhender

OUR VOLUNTEERSWerner AehlichArbob AhmadJodee AndersonAndrew AntoniolliJoshua AuyeungPaula BelemMitchell L. BermanPatricia BernsteinKatya BevinovaPaige BiebelElizabeth BirdDenise BixbyJanice BlakeLinda BradleyChristine BremsethSandy BurnJulieann CaggianoMonica CantorBarbara CarrollSusan CartmellAnne Caruso

Mary ChristopherJames ChurchElizabeth ClarkeShayna CohenMarie CostaAshley CreanEvelyn DainoDenise DayLouise DelColloDaniel DiPietroPaul DrewBarbara DugganPatricia DuplakDeborah ElsingerNancy EndresenHarvey EvansRobert FinnHarden FowlerKathleen FreemanMichael GalantiJames GaultLoma GaultBernadette GilbrideCarolyn GiovannielloEllys M. GorodischBeth S GoughMary C GreenCheryl GreenfieldSusan HalleJudy HandsKathleen HarbortEllen HarroldCiara HayesJames HenryHope HershmanJulianne HinesAmanda HintelmannIda HosseiniCarol HuberParinita JainMarisha JainKalpana JhaveriDawn JohnsonKaren KacaniChristina KadenKatie KalfayanDenise KalfayanElizabeth KaneNadide KaracayJulie KellyAnne KellyRoberta KilduffHunter KniceMolly Kocsik

Arthur LacknerDouglas LaheyLinda LawtonKaitlyn LeePatricia LeoSusan LevantinoElizabeth LillestonSusan LindgrenDaniel LingelbachJeanette LingelbachGerry LingnerKirsten LittlefieldAlvin LiuChelsea LivingstoneLauren LoshiavoIriane LundeLois LyonsMaura MagnierPaulo MakalinaoLinda MaklaryRalph MarateaDanielle MartinezPeter MastropaoloSamantha MastropaoloMaureen McCaheryAlexandra McCarthyElaine McColganEmily McNeillPatricia MehlemRichard MerkerCatherine MerkerMichael MillerZachary MillerNicholas MillerRichard MoscaEileen MurphyNeill NapolitanoLaurie NassDavid NassLes NeimanFrank NofiMadelyn OliveiraAlex OsnatoDeborah PalumboJames PeggMary PennellaAva PrestigiacomoThomas PuskarApril QinBetty RandallRachel RauBrenda ReamyEileen Reed Patricia Richter

Linda RovderLorraine RoyKelly RuggieroMaryAnn RussoDiana-Lee SalernoWalter SalzmannElizabeth ScharmannMarlis Schlegel-SteadmanFritz SchwagerAmy SechianoMadeline ShanleyRegina SiebenRita SmithJill SochaFran StefanelliBenjamin StillmanLynn StoneMargaret SwanEleanor SwansonKylie SwansonPriya ThamburajMargo ThorntonPatricia ThulOlivia TownsendRosemary TunnicliffeDaniel TutlerJean VailKelli ValentiniDonald Van BurenBarbara VenanziniHoang-Nam VuJeanne WadleElaine WeiglJohn WheelockLewis WhitakerJasper WilsonSandra WolfeLouise WyhopenChristine YovnelloCaleb ZettellAnna Zimmer

LIFETIME MILESTONES1,000 hoursAndrew AntoniolliElaine Weigl

2,000 hoursLes NeimanEleanor Swanson

4,000 hoursWerner AehlichEileen Murphy

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2018 Financial Statement(unaudited)

TOTALS GENERAL TRUST CASH DONATIONS

BEGINNING FUND BALANCE $12,176,592 $0 $12,041,486 $135,106

INCOME

County Appropriation

Salaries/Wages 18,703,848 18,703,848

Other Expense Approp. 1,918,410 1,918,410

Revenue

Donations 4,773 4,773

Golf Courses 9,039,015 5,421,140 3,617,875

Parks 2,770,919 1,278,650 1,492,269

Monmouth Cove Marina 1,083,595 1,083,595

Visitor Services 3,053,648 3,053,648

Open Space Tax 7,650,000

TOTAL INCOME $44,224,208 $27,322,048 $9,247,387 $4,773

EXPENDITURES

Personnel 20,920,912 18,843,873 2,077,040

Operations 8,689,795 1,685,748 6,997,725 6,322

General Revenue Returned to County Treasurer

Golf Courses 5,421,140 5,421,140

Parks 1,278,650 1,278,650

Open Space Tax (a) 7,650,000

TOTAL EXPENDITURES $43,960,497 $27,229,411 $9,074,764 $6,322

Excess (Deficit) in Revenues 265,259 92,637 172,622

ENDING FUND BALANCE $12,440,301 $92,637 $12,214,108 $133,556

Capital Cash & Open Space Expenditures: (b)

Site Improvements $13,425,597

Land Acquisition 5,269,353

Line Item Capital - Equipment (additiional & replacement) 1,175,685

TOTAL $19,870,635

NOTE:(a) Open Space Preservation Tax offsets maintenance personnel and other expense appropriation(b) Not included in above statement of expenditures

Capital items listed are not amortized. Appropriation does not include salary adjustments, fringe benefits, insurance, and legal services.

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Income & Expenditures

2018 INCOME$44,224,208

County Appropriation$20,622,258 47%

Golf Courses$9,039,015 20%

Open Space Preservation Tax$7,650,000 17%

Visitor Services$3,053,648 7%

Parks$2,770,919 6%

Monmouth Cove Marina$1,083,595 3%

Donations$4,773 <1%

2018 EXPENDITURES $43,960,497

Personnel$20,920,212 48%

Operations(suplies, utliities, services, contracts, etc.)$9,039,015 20%

Open Space Preservation Tax$7,650,000 17%

General Revenue Returned to Treasurer$6,699,790 15%

47%20%

20%

48%

17%

15%

3%

7%

17%

6% <1%<1%

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2018 Value of In-Kind Donations, Contributions & Grants(unaudited)

DONATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONSFriends of the Park

Battery Lewis $12,500.00

Benches for Various Parks 11,644.00

Deep Cut Gardens 1,175.00

Employee Training 5,749.00

Hartshorne Woods Park 7,209.00

Historic Longstreet Farm 713.00

Historic Walnford Park 401.00

Holmdel Park 5,300.00

Hospitality 242.00

Therapeutic Recreation Assistance 871.00

Thompson Park 1,020.00

Timolat Farm 22,435.00

Urban Recreation Assistance 18,210.00

Volunteer Services 2,681.00

Wolf Hill Recreation Area 4,189.00

$94,339.00

Land $1,145,012.00

Miscellaneous Donated Items $423.00

Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF)Acquisition 0.00

Support Services 20,000.00

$20,000.00

Monmouth University Urban Rec. Camps $16,930.00

Special People United to Ride (SPUR)Scholarships 50,813.94

In-Kind Donations/Equipment & Misc. Items 10,500.00

Instructor Training 250.00

$61,563.94

Sponsorships - Monmouth County Fair $600.00

GRANTSNJ Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund – Freneau Woods Property $99,605.00

PROJECT COST-SHAREMonmouth Conservation Foundation/DeFilippo $25,000.00

VOLUNTEER HOURS(a)

1,266 volunteers for a total of 25,425 hrs. @ $28.32/hr $720,036.00

TOTAL $2,183,508.94(a) Based on Independent Sector value for NJ, 2018

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2018 Monmouth County Park System Administration

2018 Monmouth County Park System Administration

(left to right)

Superintendent of Recreation Patti ConroyDirector of Development Maria Wojciechowski

Purchasing Agent Jen KaczalaPublic Information Officer Karen Livingstone

Assistant Director Andrew J. SpearsSecretary-Director James J. Truncer

County Park Superintendent Thomas FobesChief of Land Acquisition and Design Gail Hunton

Director of Personnel Kevin DunnOffice Services Manager Barbara Berry

County Park Superintendent Michael Janoski

2018 Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners

(Standing, left to right)

Park System Secretary-Director James TruncerCommissioner Thomas E. Hennessey Jr.Commissioner Mark E. ZelinaCommissioner David W. Horsnalland Commissioner Michael G. Harmon

(Seated, left to right)

Commissioner Violeta PetersChairman Fred J. RummelFreeholder Liaison to the Park System Lillian G. BurryVice Chairman Kevin MandevilleCommissioner Patricia M. ButchCommissioner Thomas W. Adcock

2018 Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders

(Standing, left to right)Gerry P. Scharfenberger, Ph.D.

Patrick Impreveduto

(Seated, left to right)Deputy Director Lillian G. Burry

Director Thomas A. ArnoneJohn P. Curley

Headquarters: 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ 07738732-842-4000www.MonmouthCountyParks.com

The Nation’s First Accredited Park and Recreation Agency

Printed on recycled paperPrinted with environmentally-friendly ink G19180/May 2019