The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].
Question:
Hi!
We took a trip to Monroe, NY this summer and discovered the most wonderful park – it’s called Ruach Hachayim. It is a gender-segragated park, sponsored by the community itself. It was beautifully done, with large, up-to-date climbing equipment and enough things to do for everyone in the family.
On the way home from Lakewood, my children kept asking me why Lakewood does not offer a single park that can come close to the park we just went to. And they were not referring to the segregation – they were simply referring to the quality of the park!
It had grass! Picnic tables! Large umbrellas for shade. Huge, safe play structures! it kept us busy for hours!
Have you been to Brick Reservoir? At this point when you go there – you will meet more people from Lakewood than from Brick. Why are we not keeping up with the Jones?
Lakewood has so so many children – we should be dedicating an entire piece of land to build a park that we can be proud of! With a beautiful lake at the center of our town, we should be building a scenic and big park everyone will benefit from!
What do you think, Mr Mayor?
Response from Mayor Coles:
I agree that we cannot have enough parks. I am working with our Public Works Department to upgrade the play structures and other amenities at many of our parks. I think many of our existing parks, including the county parks in Lakewood can stand up to the one you mention. I often go to the Brick reservoir to walk with my wife I agree it is a beautiful facility. The walking path around Lake Carasaljo is another wonderful place to walk. Because of state DEP regulations, we cannot asphalt the entire path, but Public Works spends a lot of time maintaining it. I cant tell you have many requests we receive from out of town people who want to use our parks for family events. I guess sometimes we just take what we have for granted. When we look at it through the eyes of other folks we see what treasures we have here.
As to your last point I fully agree, We are in the process of dedicating the land and creating 2 parks on the west side of town. Both will be in the “Triangle” near prospect Ave. One is more of a Pocket Park but the larger of the 2 will be something we will be proud of. I hope to announce the exact location at the next meeting.
Thanks
Ray
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Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to [email protected]
How about a park in the Central/New Central ave area?
You’re the best Mayor Coles! Always looking out for our best interests! Looking forward to the announcement.
@safedrivers
There is one on sunset, and pine park isn’t too far either. You don’t expect the township to build one on every block!?!
Lakewood parks are beautiful, plentiful and most importantly open to all. If you go to the municipal park in Monroe, NY (Kiryas Yoel is a part of this municipality) there is a sign that the park is for residents only. An obviously frum person that uses the playground or walks on the path around the small lake will almost certainly be approached by police and requested to leave. Let us appreciate all that we have. Having frum people around using the public facilities was so unwelcome by Monroe that the frum community built their own playground for their own use-Ruach Hachaim, and yes, they went all out.
Thank you so much mayor for addrssing these issues.Im not sure if the mayor understod question .lakewood has alot of nice parks but they could really use one stunning
park with lots of of different playground toys such as the park in monroe or vansaun park ,that can be outdoor treat for children .non of the parks in lakewood come anywherenear the park in monroe
Just curious,if the point of your question was to adress that there should be more parks why did you have to throw in that the park you visited was a segregated one….?
I emaild a few times already asking about the parks and i get no respons why is the park on 4th and prinction in such disrepair please pas on to the mayer and respond ty
They are turning it into a parking lot, so why fix it.
I just wanted to chime in with my thanks to Mayor Coles! We really appreciate your endless work for Lakewood!!!
Mayor Coles is to be commended for keeping his word & delivering the soon-to-be pocket park for the neighborhood in Red/White Oaks. This is the type of governing that makes more residents become his fans.
I don’t believe this town has had such a responsive mayor in many years. Thank you!