Four Open Space Projects Approved

CREST HAVEN – The Goshen Schoolhouse will be restored to become a community showplace through the efforts of many aided by the county’s Open Space program. Recreation areas in Stone Harbor will be revamped, and a historic Cape May building will be restored.
Planning Director Leslie Gimeno told freeholders and students who were sitting in their places April 28 of projects recently approved. They included two park and recreation applications as well as two for historic preservation. Two projects are located in Stone Harbor, one in Cape May and the Goshen project.
Gimeno said “zero applications” had been received this period for land acquisition. The projects she addressed at the meeting were from rounds two and three from last August and September.
Stone Harbor
Stone Harbor’s 82nd Street, on the border with Avalon is the largest recreation facility on Seven Mile Island. The project there will receive $645,525 of the $1.02 million total to upgrade the parcel. Of the total, $396,500 will provide playground improvements; $232,500 will resurface pickleball/clay courts, $180,000 to upgrade fencing and windscreen, and $105,000 for engineering design and inspection.
Additionally in Stone Harbor, Chelsea Park, between 105th and 106th streets, will be upgraded. The borough’s $808,485 project will receive $600,000 from Open Space. The project will include its playground, walking trail and exercise system and other site amenities gazebos and shelters, Gimeno said.
Goshen
The Goshen Schoolhouse on Route 47, listed on the state and federal registers of historic places, had first sought $419,000 from the county toward the $860,000 project. Gimeno said the board asked advocates to scale back the project, which they did. They then asked for $200,000, which the fund approved. That amount must be matched by advocates. Architect James Lindemon of Goshen was present with renderings that showed what the two-story schoolhouse would look like when the project is completed.
Cape May
Cape May Stage, which rents the facility known as Cape Island Presbyterian Church from the city, sought funding for exterior restoration of the Lafayette Street site. The board recommended $35,000 with a $35,000 match from the advocates for the $70,000 project. The building is listed on the state and federal registers of historic places.
Gimeno reminded the board that all the projects are required to be completed prior to funds being reimbursed.
With two years’ experience on the new funding from Open Space, Gimeno said there are plans to reach out to municipalities May 19 for input on how the program is working for them, and what types of projects they might be looking to do in the future. She said plans are also being made to make the public more aware of what the fund can do.