Old Fort Monmouth land could soon become county park for jogging, walking your dog

TINTON FALLS - A new park with trails to jog or take the dog for a walk may soon be coming to piece of land at the former Fort Monmouth.

Monmouth County is under contract to purchase the Woodland Track at Fort Monmouth with a plan to preserve the woods for an open space, passive park.

The county will pay $63,000 for the land, which is a 30% discount from the property's value, according to the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, the state agency in charge of redevelopment of the shuttered fort.

FMERA had the land appraised for $90,000, but seven years ago the county requested the land be administered as a "Local Beneficial Use," meaning that uses for the land such as a park would result in a reduction on the sale price. The county now has 90 days to conduct its due diligence on the land before closing on it. FMERA will grant it one 30-day extension.

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The U.S. Army is also obligated to address any pre-existing contamination that may exist on the land.

The land is on the Tinton Falls section of the old fort. It consists of a little more than 23 acres in a wetlands area between Hope Road to the east, Laboratory Road to the north and the Anthem Place residential development to the west. While not part of the tract, Wampum Brook runs adjacent to the southern border.

The property also butts up against an existing county park at the fort, called the Fort Monmouth Recreation Area, which has a swimming pool open to the public.

Due to the fact that the land is wetlands, it cannot be developed. However, the county can invest $5,000 to create walking trails and a wetlands boardwalk. As it is a preservation initiative, no permanent jobs will be created at the park.

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When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth County to buy wetlands for new park at Fort Monmouth