Mayor Maurice B. Hill and members of the Township’s Governing Body are voicing their support for the Toms River Regional School District’s Local Recreation Improvement grant application through the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
The proposed project includes turf replacement for Toms Riverfields (“TR for TR project”).
Mayor Maurice Hill says, “This project promises to have a tremendous and positive benefit to Toms River students, their families, district staff members, and the community at large. Renovation of these fields will improve our town’s health and quality of life, and provide long-term and sustainable recreational resources for communities in need.”
The Toms River Regional School District and the Township have a shared services agreement for several recreation fieldsincluding those at East Dover and Walnut Street Elementary Schools.
(Walnut Street Elementary School turf field)
“We’re especially hopeful for this grant for a number of reasons,” said Superintendent Thomas Gialanella. “It will provide a tremendous and much-needed benefit to the Walnut Street and East Dover school communities, for one, and it will undoubtedly serve to maximize and place into action the strong and longstanding partnership between the school district and township. We’re so grateful for their support.”
Council President Kevin Geoghegan says, “I am hopeful that Toms River will be the recipient of this grant. Communities need accessible, versatile play surfaces for youth and people of all ages. Parks and sports fields with synthetic turf promote year-round activity on safe and resilient surfaces.”
Council Vice-President Maria Maruca says because of the pandemic, parks and fields have become more important to people than ever before.
“The pandemic has inspired a surge of interest in outdoor recreation and one thing it has shown us is how important our parks and fields are to every walk of life. Our fields in Toms River are vital to the public, our youth and our sports teams and this grant will be a welcome makeover for our families.”
(West Dover Elementary School turf field)
About the Local Recreation Improvement Grant
Governor Murphy has appropriated $2.5 million in the FY2021 budget for the Local Recreation Improvement Grant to support urgent improvement and repairs to public recreation facilities during this time of heightened community need.
The Local Recreation Improvement Grant is a competitive grant that supports improvement and repair of public recreation facilities including local parks, municipal recreation centers, and local stadiums. Local Recreation Improvement Grant funds will be allocated to each grant recipient to help cover costs associated with updating community centers, playgrounds, pools, fields, walking or bicycle trails, rail trails, multi-sport courts, and recreational facilities.