Eliminating position of director of parks is shortsighted

Iam dismayed to learn that Mayor Serena DiMaso, Deputy Mayor Patrick Impreveduto and Committeeman Rocco Pascucci rubber-stamped the township administrator’s decision to eliminate the Parks and Recreation director position. I was on the Recreation Committee as the Board of Education representative when the holder of that position, Debbra Voorhees, was hired. I was not sure we needed someone at that time; I couldn’t imagine what else needed to be done. Now that I have watched the development of the Parks and Recreation Department, I see how wrong I was. Eliminating the director of parks position is shortsighted and will put the town on a path to losing all that we have gained under Ms. Voorhees’ direction.

I remember what bad shape the fields at Cross Farms were in. The holes in the fields were a lawsuit waiting to happen. Now the fields are maintained beautifully. I remember the constant fighting between teams for use of the town fields and high school fields. Ms. Voorhees has implemented a fair and judicious system for allocating playing time. Rarely do I hear complaints about privileged people getting access while others don’t. I remember the poorly maintained playgrounds around town. Playgrounds at town parks get routine attention now and are inviting places for children to meet and play.

Our facilities and interests in recreation have reached a level that the town needs someone to pay attention to them.

Nothing comes for free in this world, and the money spent on maintaining quality in our parks and recreation is money well spent.

Committeewoman Janet Berk and Committeeman Larry Fink understand that the elimination of director of Parks and Recreation will have an impact on the town and its residents. They were not willing to approve the township administrator’s decision to cut this position without input from the public and full discussion regarding how residents will be affected. Theirs was the right decision.

Karen Strickland

Holmdel