Politics & Government

Township Hopes Traders Cove Mud Will Turn to Cash

Traders Cove fill may turn into cash for township

As work to turn the former Traders Cove Marina site into a park continues, the township is expecting to generate revenue from excess fill from the site.

The township council is expected to approve a resolution at its meeting Tuesday authorizing the sale of dredge material and mulch that was moved to the township recycling center on Ridge Road from the marina site.

In March, the fill that had been laid down was removed in favor of soil more sandy in nature that was given to the township free of charge from a construction project at Ocean County College.

Find out what's happening in Brickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The OCC soil will help with drainage at the Traders Cove site and be a better fit for the property, mayor Stephen C. Acropolis said at the time.

The original fill material – mostly mud dredged from Lake of the Lillies in Point Pleasant Beach last year – was moved to the Ridge Road facility, where much of it was used to shore up the police firing range, which needs a dirt backing to help avoid ricochets.

Find out what's happening in Brickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The remaining soil, if the resolution authorizing its sale passes muster with the council, will be sold.

"Some people are interested in that, so we have to a bidding process," said Council President John Ducey.

Potential bidders have approached the township in hopes of purchasing the fill.

Meanwhile, the township is expecting another $2.4 million in state grant funding for the overall Traders Cove project.

Councilman Jim Fozman said at a recent council meeting that the funding will allow the township to install permanent restrooms at the site and complete some of the final steps for the site to open as a park.

Township officials also have said the funding may allow for the reinstatement of a play area for special needs children at the park. That part of the project was put on hold earlier this year when the council reconsidered certain aspects of the project, including a planned splash park, the inclusion of which was canceled.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here