Reclaimed lot is a place to launch a kayak, canoe

In spite of the on-and-off drizzly day, about 35 students from Red Bank Regional High School, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, along with officials from Tinton Falls, the Monmouth County Park System, Birds Unlimited — who gave a generous donation to the cause — a member of the Red Bank Library board, two members from the Red Bank Environmental Commission, a representative from Clean Ocean Action as well as various local businessmen and businesswomen came out to help clean up a small parcel of land at the foot of Maple Avenue in Red Bank that has been recently placed on the DEP Green Acres list.

This lot is intended for the hand-launching of small crafts and is especially important due to the fact that at this time there is no public access to the Navesink River east of the railroad tracks. No funds have been allocated from the town to aid in the cleanup, so work has been funded through private donation and volunteer labor, and all work has been approved by the Red Bank Council and in accordance with DEP regulations. Red Bank Department of Public Works helped out by taking away the debris that was collected, and for that we thank them.

Besides cleaning up, kids were treated to Kathleen Gasienica, who is on the board of the American Littoral Society, and the Red Bank Education Foundation, and is a Red Bank resident. She along with the help of the Brookdale chapter of WaterWatch gave a wonderful presentation about the waterfront tidal zone and took the children seining in the Navesink River. It was amazing to see the wonderful treasures that they found — crabs, snails and three different kinds of fish. Ms. Gasienica spoke of how important an area like this is for sustaining food and life for other fish in the river as well as in the sea.

Children munched on subs donated by Foodtown, cupcakes donated by Brennan's, and of course lots of water donated by Murray MacGregor's in Rumson. After they ate, the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association — who had brought down a trailer full of wooden boats built by local children — got the kids out on the river. It was great! Some of the kids had never been on the water before, and this was a wonderful opportunity for them to experience that.

All in all, it was a wonderful day and we, the Friends of Maple Avenue, encourage anyone looking for a place to launch a kayak or canoe to check this site out and then, when you're finished, go and grab a bit to eat or drink in downtown Red Bank.
Cindy Burnham
Fair Haven