YMCA skate park project gets boost from Rotary
By JOHN BURTON
Staff Writer

RED BANK — With its recent donation of $30,000, The Rotary Club of Red Bank has contributed $56,000 toward the YMCA’s in-line skating rink project.

The rink is part of the Fahey Outdoor Sports Complex located at the YMCA’s Red Bank branch, 166 Maple Ave. It offers a full-size hockey rink that can be used for skating lessons and youth hockey instruction as well as games. The facility will have lighting for nighttime activities and is open to the public, and open skating and hockey times are available, according to YMCA Executive Director Maureen Fitzgerald.

"The YMCA is grateful that the Red Bank Rotary made such a generous donation, which has allowed us to provide in-line hockey for the community of Red Bank," Fitzgerald said.

The Rotary raises funds through a variety of ways for numerous charities, according to Horton Hickerson, a current member and past president of the Rotary’s board of directors.

This donation was made possible through proceeds raised by the Two River Food and Wine Tasting fund-raiser. The money from that event was specially earmarked for the YMCA; the Rotary’s annual golf outing, which raises between $40,000-$50,000 for charity; and other contributions, such as those solicited at the Kaboom on The Navesink fireworks display and RiverFest, Hickerson said.

The Rotary Club foundation arm contributes approximately $75,000 a year to local charities, such as the Women’s Center of Monmouth County, HABcore, which provides housing for the homeless, and Epiphany House.

"Generally we try to target the smaller local charities in Red Bank," Hickerson noted.

The Rotary also provides $6,000 in scholarship assistance to area students, he added.

The Fahey Complex cost about $450,000 to construct and includes the Millennium Basketball Court, in addition to the in-line skating facility; funding for it was made available through donations, Fitzgerald said.

The YMCA also has submitted plans to the borough for its proposed skateboard park and is waiting on approval for that project. The skateboard park will be included in the Fahey Complex, The YMCA has received a $75,000 state grant to assist in the construction of that facility, Fitzgerald said.