As an elected official and a member of the community, I have watched with interest the debate over the National Park Service’s plans to rehabilitate Fort Hancock through a public-private partnership with Sandy Hook Partners.

Our democratic process teaches us not only to respect differences of opinion, but to embrace those differences. It’s the expression of opinions that make our towns and our country unique and great. I want to make it clear I admire and applaud many of those who have weighed in on one side or the other of this issue, and they are some of the finest individuals that I have the honor of knowing. It’s obvious that the one thing we all share is our passion for Sandy Hook, its beauty and its history.

To me the choice is very simple. I am supporting this partnership and Sandy Hook Partners’ plan for saving these historic treasures. Fort Hancock has proudly served and protected our community and our nation for more than a century. And I am thrilled the fort is going to be put back on “active duty” to the benefit of Monmouth County and New Jersey.

As a National Historic Landmark District, Fort Hancock, by law must be preserved. But even if this was not the case, I would advocate for its preservation. The alternative of just allowing these beautiful buildings that have housed countless service men and women who have protected our liberties and quality of life to further deteriorate, is unthinkable to me.

Did you know that whether we like it or not, the use of public funds to rehabilitate these buildings is not an option? Our government must choose its priorities and in our current times, there are many more pressing demands. I applaud presidents Clinton and Bush for recognizing this reality and for their initiative in establishing the Preserve America program that encourages public-private partnerships to save and to celebrate our nation’s history. And I am especially pleased the executive order cites as a mandate that these restorations provide some contemporary benefits to our society.

This is the exciting part of the partnership between the National Park Service and Sandy Hook Partners. Their plans for The Fort at Sandy Hook include an expansion of the marine/environmental research and education programs. Living by the Atlantic Ocean, most of us take for granted its beauty and never think about its potential in areas of cures for diseases, food resources and observations systems that are used in business forecasting. The hospitality services that will provide meeting space to share this research; to celebrate the history of the fort and our community; or to continue our lifelong journey of learning is indeed an asset to our region. I am also pleased this partnership will add to the richness of cultural arts, education and heritage programs that celebrate our past, our present and our future, and in everything they do Sandy Hook Partners asks the question what are the potential networking, mentoring, internship opportunities for our children in the surrounding school systems.

The National Park Service has been financially strapped for years, and with the exception of increased taxes dedicated to saving our historic treasures and protecting our open spaces and our environment, public-private partnerships are the only answer. The dollars the Sandy Hook Gateway Recreation Park receives from this partnership will stay at Sandy Hook to protect the environment, expand the interpretive programs more than 20,000 schoolchildren participate in each year and help restore the other historic sites such as the gun batteries and the Nike missile site.

Let me add the existing buildings to be rehabilitated will not be enlarged. There are to be no new buildings and no additional parking. This is of utmost importance to those of us who are opposed to overdevelopment in general and most particularly in this wonderful, environmental sensitive area.

I believe if people would take the time to understand the plans for Fort Hancock they would become part of the solution of saving our history while at the same time protecting our environment.

Joan A. Smith

mayor

Middletown Township