Post by admin on Jul 29, 2008 20:00:55 GMT -5
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Center St. will be first test of new program
Freehold official hopes neighborhood pride effort will take root
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — Neighborhoods in Freehold Borough are about to become stronger.
In a unanimous vote, members of the Borough Council have approved a resolution to establish a Neighborhood Pride Committee. The committee's goal will be to bring residents together and in turn, bring neighborhoods closer and increase the sense of community throughout the town.
Councilman Marc Le Vine, who will be the council's liaison to the committee, said this is the most exciting
FREEHOLD BOROUGH
committee with which he has been associated. He said Freehold's Neighborhood Pride Committee is based on a successful undertaking in Columbus, Ohio.
The program's mission, according to borough officials, is "to strengthen community activism, build stronger relationships and empower neighborhoods and businesses to work toward improving the community."
The committee of about 20 members has chosen to work on the Center Street neighborhood as its first project. Le Vine said they chose this area in order to work in conjunction with the scheduled repaving of Center Street.
Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina has already met with area residents to explain the repaving project to them and to hear any concerns they may have about the work that is planned.
"We have already begun knocking on doors and connecting with residents to explain what our committee is all about," Le Vine said. "We are telling them what we would like to see done in their neighborhood and, in turn, asking them what things they would like to see take place in their neighborhood."
Suggestions have included scraping and repainting fire hydrants, removing tree stumps and dead trees, cleaning up areas that are overgrown with brush and trees, and adding landscaping on this gateway street to the borough's downtown area.
"Some residents have a hard time getting to certain home projects, whether due to cost or physical issues," Le Vine explained. "They were happy and appreciative about the idea that some volunteers might be able to help them with these things."
Residents have suggested replacing some damaged equipment at Vinyard Park on the corner of Center and Jackson streets.
"One of the biggest concerns are the speeders on Center Street," Le Vine said. "Center Street is used as a cut-through street. We need to take a look at traffic calming measures."
Le Vine said residents seemed satisfied with the living conditions on the street, but they are hoping the Neighborhood Pride Committee will help to make it even better.
He said the committee is also working on a plan to have a block party at the New Hope Church, Center Street. The idea behind that will be to get residents to connect with one another, instilling in the neighborhood more of a sense of community, he said. Seminars on "going green" and home repair projects are also a possibility to bring residents together, according to the councilman.
BOROUGH The idea is to eventually reach every neighborhood in the borough and then to bring the neighborhoods together as well.
Le Vine also mentioned the idea of a community garden that was recently discussed at a council meeting. He said the area behind the Rug Mill Plaza, at Jackson and Center streets, which is owned by Trap Rock Industries, would be ideal for this project.
The idea put forth by resident Donna Koloski seems to be taking off. Le Vine said the property owners think it is a positive move and are only concerned with liability. LeVine said Borough Attorney Kerry Higgins has assured the owners this would not be a problem.
Two things that need to be done, according to Le Vine, are setting up an administration for the community garden and testing the soil to make sure it is viable for growing fruits and vegetables.
"We are continuing to learn more about neighborhood pride committees and are receiving many ideas from various sources," he explained. "Of course, we will inject the Freehold Borough flavor into everything.
"We are building community pride into town pride and hopefully we will market this to people looking to relocate their home or business. We want them to say, 'We want to live here. We want to do business in your town.' That is our overriding goal," he said. "The great thing is we have no parameters here. Everything is fair game. Residents may want a crime watch program or street talent shows. This is revolutionary. It's a tough world and this is a way for residents to feel as though they belong to the community. Gas is going up and we'll all be spending a lot more time in Freehold. We want to create an opportunity to enjoy living here more."
Center St. will be first test of new program
Freehold official hopes neighborhood pride effort will take root
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — Neighborhoods in Freehold Borough are about to become stronger.
In a unanimous vote, members of the Borough Council have approved a resolution to establish a Neighborhood Pride Committee. The committee's goal will be to bring residents together and in turn, bring neighborhoods closer and increase the sense of community throughout the town.
Councilman Marc Le Vine, who will be the council's liaison to the committee, said this is the most exciting
FREEHOLD BOROUGH
committee with which he has been associated. He said Freehold's Neighborhood Pride Committee is based on a successful undertaking in Columbus, Ohio.
The program's mission, according to borough officials, is "to strengthen community activism, build stronger relationships and empower neighborhoods and businesses to work toward improving the community."
The committee of about 20 members has chosen to work on the Center Street neighborhood as its first project. Le Vine said they chose this area in order to work in conjunction with the scheduled repaving of Center Street.
Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina has already met with area residents to explain the repaving project to them and to hear any concerns they may have about the work that is planned.
"We have already begun knocking on doors and connecting with residents to explain what our committee is all about," Le Vine said. "We are telling them what we would like to see done in their neighborhood and, in turn, asking them what things they would like to see take place in their neighborhood."
Suggestions have included scraping and repainting fire hydrants, removing tree stumps and dead trees, cleaning up areas that are overgrown with brush and trees, and adding landscaping on this gateway street to the borough's downtown area.
"Some residents have a hard time getting to certain home projects, whether due to cost or physical issues," Le Vine explained. "They were happy and appreciative about the idea that some volunteers might be able to help them with these things."
Residents have suggested replacing some damaged equipment at Vinyard Park on the corner of Center and Jackson streets.
"One of the biggest concerns are the speeders on Center Street," Le Vine said. "Center Street is used as a cut-through street. We need to take a look at traffic calming measures."
Le Vine said residents seemed satisfied with the living conditions on the street, but they are hoping the Neighborhood Pride Committee will help to make it even better.
He said the committee is also working on a plan to have a block party at the New Hope Church, Center Street. The idea behind that will be to get residents to connect with one another, instilling in the neighborhood more of a sense of community, he said. Seminars on "going green" and home repair projects are also a possibility to bring residents together, according to the councilman.
BOROUGH The idea is to eventually reach every neighborhood in the borough and then to bring the neighborhoods together as well.
Le Vine also mentioned the idea of a community garden that was recently discussed at a council meeting. He said the area behind the Rug Mill Plaza, at Jackson and Center streets, which is owned by Trap Rock Industries, would be ideal for this project.
The idea put forth by resident Donna Koloski seems to be taking off. Le Vine said the property owners think it is a positive move and are only concerned with liability. LeVine said Borough Attorney Kerry Higgins has assured the owners this would not be a problem.
Two things that need to be done, according to Le Vine, are setting up an administration for the community garden and testing the soil to make sure it is viable for growing fruits and vegetables.
"We are continuing to learn more about neighborhood pride committees and are receiving many ideas from various sources," he explained. "Of course, we will inject the Freehold Borough flavor into everything.
"We are building community pride into town pride and hopefully we will market this to people looking to relocate their home or business. We want them to say, 'We want to live here. We want to do business in your town.' That is our overriding goal," he said. "The great thing is we have no parameters here. Everything is fair game. Residents may want a crime watch program or street talent shows. This is revolutionary. It's a tough world and this is a way for residents to feel as though they belong to the community. Gas is going up and we'll all be spending a lot more time in Freehold. We want to create an opportunity to enjoy living here more."
