Revised plans presented for waterfront park Plans reduce parking, add green space and welcome center BY DENNIS JORDAN Correspondent KEYPORT - The most recent design plan for the new waterfront park, featuring expanded green areas but reducing the number of parking spaces, was presented at the Keyport Borough Council meeting on Tuesday night. Borough Engineer Donald Norbut made the presentation to the council, stressing that the latest designs are not final, and that in fact the plans are behind schedule. The newest plans call for the elimination of 19 parking spaces, bringing the total number of spaces for the new park to roughly 140. The area that would have parking spaces for the handicapped would be located near the Bulkhead Bar and Grille. "Our objective was to maintain as much continuous green area as we could get," Norbut said. A major concern of residents was the allocation of parking spaces. The estimate of 140 spaces for the park falls short of parking provided in previous plans. Several residents who reside and work near the park said they are concerned that the new design takes away valuable parking spaces in the downtown area. During festivals and events, parking spaces are at such a premium that people might not come to them, said some of those in attendance. Councilwoman Christian Bolte said a reduction in the number of parking spaces would not affect the public's participation in borough-sponsored events. She also said events should not be a factor in determining parking. "I don't know any town that plans its parking around events," Bolte said. Bolte used the city of Hoboken as an example. She said parking is at much more of a premium in Hoboken than in Keyport and yet that city still manages to conduct events. "People will crawl to an event if they want to attend," Bolte said. An octagon-shaped gazebo measuring 35 feet across would be a central landmark in the new park and would be raised level to the promenade overlooking Keyport Bay. On the east end of the park near Broad Street, a cul-de-sac would be created and surrounded by a 30-inchhigh wall that could serve as a bench for seating. The plans also make room for a building on the west end of the park to serve as a welcome center, complete with restrooms and possibly a bait and tackle shop. While the plans set the gazebo and the promenade to be level with a walkway between the two, the rest of the park will be set lower and the water will not be viewable from every location in the park. Keyport resident Peggy Hayes said the new design falls short of being satisfactory for her and other citizens. "It's a shame to have a park where you can't see that water from everywhere," Hayes said. "I think they should make [the park] as level as they can." The promenade overlooking the bay is currently open to the public. Norbut said final design plans for the estimated $1.5 million park would be completed in 60 days.