Still hope for rec program

There is still hope for a summer camp program in Allentown.

A story in last week’s Examiner about the Upper Freehold Township Committee discussing unofficial notice that the program would be dropped, although it was still under discussion, prompted Allentown Mayor Stuart Fierstein to clarify the matter.

According to Fierstein, a letter sent to the Upper Freehold recreation liaison on Oct. 20 stating that the Allentown Recreation Commission had decided to suspend administration of the summer camp program was unofficial.

But there are some problems that need to be addressed.

Although fees are charged for summer recreation, they do not cover all expenses, and the program is subsidized by the Allentown Recreation Trust Fund, the mayor said.

He also noted that a dialogue with all interested parties needs to occur before a final decision is made and that he is starting that.

From the sound of it, a concerted effort by both towns should be able to preserve a program everyone apparently values.

As an Allentown resident states in the following letter, most parents would probably be willing to pay more to make sure the program continues.