Residents oppose 'sports complex' at Lincroft site

BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer

PHOTOSBYDAN NEWMAN staff MIDDLETOWN - About three years ago, the township purchased two similar 7.5-acre tracts through the state's Green Acres program, which is used to preserve the property for outdoor recreational use.

Three years later, the buzz around town is that the space will be used to build a sports complex, complete with a football field, concessions stands, lights for night games and parking for approximately 100 cars.

While some agree the idea sounds like a good one, it's the location that is causing a problem.

"The concept of a new sports complex is fine, but not on such a busy stretch of road," said Tony Avallone, one of many neighborhood residents who oppose the site on Middletown-Lincroft Road, between Newman Springs Road and West Front Street. "It's on a bend and that's not safe at all."

Avallone, a resident of nearby Denise Court, was among a number of Lincroft residents who came out in opposition to putting a complex on the site during a meeting last week.

Above: Some Lincroft residents are opposed to having a sports complex in town due to traffic problems that may arise. This section of Middletown-Lincroft Road has been the scene of many accidents over the years due to its blind curve. At right: Part of the proposed space for a new sports complex in Lincroft is on land that was purchased as open space three years ago.

The road is already heavily driven and putting a sports complex at the site, across from Molzon Landscape Nursery, would not be good, according to Marianne Kligman, of the Lincroft Village Green Association.

"It's a very poor location and this is clearly not what Lincroft needs," said Kligman, whose organization is "firmly" against the complex. "There are better alternatives, such as contacting the Board of Education and seeing if they could help out."

Township Committeewoman Rosemarie Peters said that all the talk of there being a sports complex should stop because it's just not true.

"There is no plan to do anything right now with that land," Peters explained. "It could be used for anything - a walking path, a soccer field, a parking area."

Democratic candidate for Township Committee Patrick Short concurred with Kligman, saying that township schools already have fields and parking setup.

"Schools already have existing sites for sports and activities. The infrastructure is already there," Short said. "If the town wants to have a place where kids can play, then they need to look somewhere other than the site on Middletown-Lincroft Road."

Short said the drive to stop the complex from being built at the site started with letters being sent out to all Lincroft residents.

"Many of the people feel they like they have been duped," Short explained. "There is an existing neighborhood there and it's wrong to even think of putting a complex there. It's dangerous over there with so many cars driving by."

Peters said that, currently, a wetlands delineation is being conducted to determine if it's possible to build upon the land. She said the study had not been completed yet and does not anticipate its completion "in the next week or two."

"We need to know what is wetlands and what isn't," Peters said. "Until then, we cannot do anything. I think all of this is just a political ploy by some people. The Township Committee does not even know yet if the land can be utilized."

Avallone spoke for not only himself, but many of those who may be affected in the long run.

"I just want this done the right way," Avallone said. "I want the Township Committee to work with the people and listen to them. Maybe we can come up with a solution."