Millstone aims to get more residents out and about Next public hearing on recreational study slated for June 14 BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer MILLSTONE - The township wants to know what its residents would like to do in their hometown in their spare time. Although attendance at the April 25 Recreation Study Meeting in Wagner Farm Park was sparse, the public did bring forward several new ideas concerning township recreation. Deputy Mayor Bob Kinsey said the township has been working on the recreational needs study since last year. Tom Miller and Tim Kaluhiokalani, representatives of Environmental Resolutions in Mount Laurel, the company doing the study, said public comments are an integral part of the process. Mayor Nancy Grbelja said that while the township has about 600 acres of municipal parkland, it also contains county-owned parkland in excess of 1,000 acres and state-owned land monitored by the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife. Grbelja said that while the county and state are focused on purchasing land, the town has no idea when they intend to improve the properties they have purchased. Grbelja said it may be 20 years before the county and state know what they are going to do with their land in Millstone. "It may not be in the best interest of Millstone for the next five to 10 years," she said. Grbelja continued, "We feel it is in our best interest to move the project forward and not rely on the state, county or school. Our initiative is to take care of our residents' needs." Miller said the recreation study looks at the township's needs for the next 15 to 20 years, and breaks down recreational needs by age groups. He said he looked at previous population growth projections for the township, which have generally been accurate. Resident Manny Blanco, who is also the president of the Horsemen's Association of Millstone Township (HAMT), asked that park designs take into consideration that Millstone is a horse community and include the development of trails. He also asked for parking lots to have enough room for horse trailers to park and pull around in easily. Former committeeman Cory Wingerter congratulated the governing body for taking on the recreation study, saying it was long overdue. Kids spend too much time in front of computer screens these days, he said. "One of the advantages of living in Millstone is that they can go outside, get fresh air, and see wildlife," he said. Wingerter asked about long-range plans for the new middle school fields on Baird Road. Kaluhiokalani said he had a breakdown of the school's plans for the fields. Grbelja said the township wanted to hold title to some of the school's property so it could get grant money to acquire fields. She said an uproar in the community accusing the township of trying to take the property, precluded the township from getting such grants. Committeeman Elias Abilheira said much of the 79 acres on the middle school property has been set aside for the potential construction of a new school. However, Grbelja said the increased demographics the Millstone Township Board of Education anticipated when planning to build the middle school have not come to fruition. The new middle school will have two gymnasiums, which Kinsey said will help indoor recreation programs tremendously. Kinsey said there is an issue with grading the school fields. Even if they are graded and seeded this year, he said it would be two years before they could be used. Wingerter said he hoped the recreation study looked at the school property "so it doesn't grow up to be weeds." Part of the school acreage could also be leased to farmers, he said. "Kids don't realize where their food comes from," Wingerter said. Resident Gary Mangino asked about commercial recreational uses coming into town. He said such facilities help fill a gap for community needs, while also creating a ratable for the town. Miller said the study does look at commercial facilities, but such businesses need the population to support them. Wingerter noted that camp facilities in the town, including Frogbridge, Black Bear and the YMCA, are not used for eight months out of the year, and probably total 500 acres. Recreation Commission member Jim Bella said that his group reached out to the camps, but could not use the facilities because of scheduling conflicts with the YMCA and a matter of profits with the private camps. Wingerter asked the consultants what they considered the premier recreational community in Monmouth County. Miller said he worked all over the state, and thinks the best park systems are in Monmouth and Somerset counties. Wingerter said he believes the best recreational communities in the county are Manalapan, Wall, Lincroft and Colts Neck. He said Colts Neck ties their recreational programs in with the county at Dorbrook Park. Wingerter suggested Millstone contact the county about working with the Open Space Council to clear trails at Perrineville Park. Since bird watching is a major activity for township seniors, Wingerter also suggested the township identify an area for that on an otherwise marginal township property. Grbelja said the township has contacted the county about bird watching in Rocky Brook Park and planting certain vegetation to attract birds there. A walking trail in Rocky Brook could also facilitate bird watching, she said. A second hearing on the recreation study is scheduled for June 14. Kinsey said the township hopes to wrap the study up by July. The recreational study will be posted on the township's Web site. Anyone who would like to comment on the study can contact Township Administrator James Pickering at j-pickering@millstone.nj.us.