Maple Cove has a name but no sign

This riverfront parcel at the end of Maple Avenue now has an official name. RED BANK — Kayakers and those with an interest in river access voiced their opinions over the recently named Maple Cove at the June 23 Borough Council meeting.

Residents asked officials to preserve the borough-owned lot at the end of Maple Avenue as open space and to install a sign designating the area as Maple Cove.

"Is Red Bank considering an offer to sell Maple Avenue? The answer is no," said Mayor Pasquale Menna. "Is Red Bank considering retaining Maple Avenue as open space? The answer is yes."

Several residents inquired as to why there isn't a sign designating the park as public access.

"We've designated a name, and as soon as we figure out what can be done there, we'll get to it. There are liability issues, you know," said Menna.

Fair Haven resident and Red Bank property owner Cindy Burnham has led the effort to reclaim the once-overgrown lot at the foot of Maple Avenue, which is the borough's only stretch of riverbank easily accessed by the public.

After organizing a cleanup, the lot has been transformed into a waterfront site that can be used for the hand launching of small crafts, due to the efforts of a group known as Friends of Maple Avenue.

Burnham's goal is to preserve the small piece of waterfront property for conservation, preservation, open space, public access and recreational purposes.

"People wanted to use it for kayaking, and I said if and when it gets to that, maybe we'd do it," Menna said. "Right now we don't have any public monies to do the actual studies to see what can be done. We don't have the application for New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection permits, and we're not going to make those applications right now.

"The only thing we ever said from day one was that that lot would be maintained in perpetuity for open space. When we get around to a master plan for doing the right thing for it, then we'll do it. When the money's available. Right now we're laying people off, we've got furloughs coming up, a lot of people aren't getting raises, and we just don't have the money for tinsel. And that's what it is. It's tinsel," said Menna.

"We're not going to do it haphazardly. We're going to do it right, when we get around to it. Just give us a half million-dollar donation from the [American] Littoral Society, and we'll be happy to put it in. It'll be first class," Menna said.

"It will remain open space. We'll put up a sign as the first step, and then we'll worry about the rest. There's going to be a longrange solution; it's just [that] getting there isn't going to be that simple in this particular kind of an economy," said Menna.

Kathleen Gasiemica, of Locust Avenue, a member of the board of trustees of the American Littoral Society and an avid kayaker, voiced her opinion to council.

"I've had the pleasure of launching my kayak at Maple Cove, and it's amazing what you can see from the river that you can't see from land. This is the entire environment that is accessible on the riverside, and it is beautiful. The ecological environment is so important. The vast majority of the harbor in Red Bank is bulkheaded out of necessity, but that destroys the intertidal zone of the marine animals. Please consider the preservation of Maple Cove, and the ALS to help you with it," Gasiemica said.

"I'm glad to hear that you're still keeping the Maple Avenue property and moving forward as best as you can, as it's a great asset to the town and I'd like to see it kept up better," said Greg Held, of Spring Street.

"We have an association called Friends of Maple Avenue, and we got an estimate on the cost of a sign that says Maple Cove Waterfront Access or River Access, and we would like to offer to pay for that sign," Burnham said.

"I've talked to so many people that I've met down there that think it's Hovnanian private property, and they don't know if they can park there, they don't know where to go. I find them wandering over by the rowing club, so we really need a sign saying Maple Cove River Access," Burnham continued.

"I have no problem with a sign that says Maple Cove," Menna said. "The other question is from a liability perspective, with the 15,000 other residents of Red Bank that don't have the exposure on what that sign really means. I'm concerned about that."

Burnham questioned the liability issue at other parks. Menna responded that no other parks have signs stating riverfront access.

"It doesn't say riverfront access or kayak access or swimming, does it? I have no problem with a sign; it's about what that sign says. I'm not going to play with the money that comes from the hard-earned taxpayers' [dollars] in defending legal lawsuits that will come from people getting injured because something is not done in standard form and up to legal standards for public access," Menna said.

Councilman Michael DuPont suggested a compromise of putting up a sign identifying the site as Maple Cove, and when the issue regarding access is resolved and properly insured, hanging a sign stating river access and kayaking.

"We're identifying a destination that has already been designated. We're not drawing people down, we're just identifying the area," DuPont said to Borough Administrator Stanley Sickels, who said he had concerns that by putting up a sign, the borough is opening itself up to legal problems.

"It's a matter of scheduling. It's like putting the carpet down before you paint the ceiling. We're opening ourselves up to liability issues," said Sickels.

"We named it, let's clearly identify it by putting up a sign," DuPont said. Menna agreed.

Steve Hick, of Branch Avenue, expressed his opinion on the issue.

"I think there are a large number of people that agree with you, Mr. Mayor, that it's important for us to set priorities. Sewers are backing up, storm sewers are overflowing, an infrastructure that's falling apart, and taxes that are in danger of going out of control are in fact more important than access to this river at that place at this time. I think a number of people agree," said Hick.

Carl Alderson, an engineer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a coastal resource specialist from Atlantic Highlands, informed the council that the agency provides engineering services and grant money for the purpose of coastal land preservation.

"We have grant money available for water quality, habitat and open access. We're giving away $180 million to $190 million this year," said Alderson.

"It's welcome news," Menna told Alderson, as he asked for his business card.