Published in the Times-Beacon 6/16/05
By JESSICA STENSTROM
Staff Writer
OCEAN TOWNSHIP -- The Forked River
Rotary Club funded the building of a
pavilion at Ocean Memorial Park to give
back to the communities it serves.
A picnic to celebrate the final payment
took place June 7.
"One of our elements is providing
community service," President Dan
Cortese said. "After we started the
project at Gille Park, we wanted to do
something for this township."
He said the club asked the Township
Committee to come up with some possible
project ideas and the pavilion was one of
them.
Deputy Mayor Robert Kraft, also a
Rotarian, said he had been considering the
need for a pavilion at Ocean Memorial Park
for a while before being approached for a
project idea by the Rotary Club.
"This park is the hub of our
recreation activity," he said.
"The park was being underutilized
before the pavilion was constructed."
The pavilion was built last year.
Deputy Clerk Diane Ambrosio said now
that the pavilion is there, the park is
used so much more.
She said the Haunted Hayride and Easter
Egg Hunt were both hosted there this year.
"The Rotary Club made three
payments of $10,000 each to us," she
said.
Kraft said, "Now there is a
sheltered area and families can come and
enjoy the park."
The spiking temperatures underneath the
warm summer sun during the picnic reminded
the township of just how valuable the
pavilion is.
"Thank goodness we have the
pavilion over us or we would be
baking," Ambrosio said. "Not
that this is here we will have more events
here."
Kraft said now there is the possibility
for people to have weddings, graduation
parties and more at the park.
"Thank you on behalf of the
township," he said, as he accepted
the final payment. "Without your
help, this project might have never
happened. This is just the beginning of
everything else that will follow."
Cortese said because this was the
Centennial Year of the club, the club also
decided to plant a tree in all of its
service areas.
A Bratford Pear tree was dedicated by
the club and planted next to the pavilion.
Kraft said the park also hosts The
Little Red Schoolhouse Museum where people
can visit and reflect on the past.
There are also plans in the works to
empty and dredge the lake next year. Kraft
said the township is in the process of
obtaining the proper permits.
He said while it is being dredged, the
township also plans to drill artesian
wells to help water circulation in the
lake.
Kraft said the project could possibly
take place during the upcoming winter and
be completed by next spring.
Plans also include four new ball fields
beyond the tennis court, Kraft said.
"We are looking to be able to host
Little League-size tournaments," he
said.
