Brick township acquires 4. 2-acre site to expand recreation, preserve open space

Brick Township has finalized the purchase of a 4.22-acre property at 2416 Hooper Avenue for $930,000, Mayor Lisa Crate announced Wednesday. The land, located adjacent to the Drum Point Sports Complex, will be used in part to expand recreational amenities while the remainder will be restored to natural forest.

The site had previously received subdivision approval for six single-family homes, but Township officials opted to preserve the property instead. Existing structures on the land—including a two-story home, two sheds, and a workshop—will be demolished, and the area will be converted to open space.

“This is a win for our entire community,” Mayor Crate said. “Instead of six new houses, we’re preserving this land and enhancing our recreational offerings for residents.”

The Township expects to receive a 75% reimbursement of the purchase price through the New Jersey Green Acres Program. The acquisition was recommended by the Brick Open Space Savers (BOSS) Committee, a citizen advisory group that evaluates land for conservation and recreation use.

Key points

Brick Township purchased a 4.22-acre property near Drum Point Sports Complex for $930,000
The site will be partially used for recreation and partially restored to forest
The purchase was recommended by the BOSS Committee and may receive state reimbursement

Preservation efforts continue with support from community advisory committee

The BOSS Committee has played a central role in Brick’s land preservation strategy since its formation in 2021. Previous acquisitions based on its recommendations include the 4.60-acre 20 Brower Lane site, a 0.60-acre lot on 2nd Avenue, and the 31.40-acre Breton Woods property, which was spared from a 59-home development project through a partnership with the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust.

Mayor Crate emphasized the importance of engaging with landowners to explore preservation opportunities before development occurs. “We are always looking for opportunities to preserve land and prevent overdevelopment,” she said.

The Township’s ongoing land conservation program aims to protect natural resources, support recreational infrastructure, and maintain the environmental character of the community.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.