Independent testing found no asbestos contamination at the future Clifton Avenue park site, allowing Toms River to move forward with plans for a new downtown green space despite months of scrutiny and regulatory reviews.
Plans to transform a long-neglected downtown property into a public park are moving forward after environmental testing found no asbestos contamination at the site located at the corner of Clifton Avenue and Bachelor Street in Toms River.
The property was purchased for approximately $1.9 million during the administration of former Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill. Several aging homes on the parcel sat vacant and deteriorating for years before the current administration took office.
Mayor Daniel Rodrick said the township viewed the property as an opportunity to create a long-awaited downtown park that would provide recreational space for residents and visitors.
“We wanted to take a property that had become an eyesore and turn it into something families can enjoy for generations,” Rodrick said. “This administration is focused on improving quality of life and creating more public spaces for residents.”
Before any demolition work began, the township commissioned a comprehensive environmental study of the property. According to township officials, the report totaled roughly 700 pages and did not identify asbestos contamination anywhere on the site.
Complaints Triggered State Investigations
After the structures were demolished, complaints were reportedly made to multiple state agencies alleging that shingles from the older homes may have contained asbestos.
The complaints prompted visits and reviews from several state and federal agencies.
Councilman Craig Coleman said public perception quickly became disconnected from the facts.
“A lot of headlines were written before any facts were established,” Coleman said. “People were reading stories claiming the property was contaminated, but nobody seemed interested in waiting for actual test results.”
Officials noted that siding shingles similar to those found on the demolished homes remain common on houses built throughout Toms River before the 1980s.
Independent Testing Found No Contamination
In response to the complaints and regulatory inquiries, the township retained Pennoni Engineering, an independent environmental firm approved by the state to conduct monitoring and testing.
According to township officials, Pennoni performed soil sampling throughout the property and found no asbestos contamination.
Councilwoman Lynn O’Toole said the results validated what township officials had maintained throughout the process.
“The testing was comprehensive and independent,” O’Toole said. “Residents should feel reassured knowing the soil samples came back clear and showed there was no asbestos present at the site.”
Where the Asbestos rumors started
Officials said the testing was conducted before cleanup activities were completed and still found no evidence of asbestos contamination in the soil, despite an onlione political push headed by Toms River MUA commissioner Phillip Brilliant. Brilliant has been battling Rodrick online since the mayor targeted the MUA to cease providing Brilliant and other commmissioners from receiving free healthcare plans worth up to $45,000, for working just one hour per month at the utility. The claims were first made on Facebook pages run by Brilliant which criticize the mayor’s every action.
EPA Required Dirt Removal
Despite the findings, township officials said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and various state agencies required a layer of soil to be removed from portions of the property because shingles that may have contained asbestos had been present on the ground during demolition operations.
All shingles were removed by an independent contractor, and the site underwent a full cleanup process in accordance with regulatory directives.
Councilman Harry Aber said the township complied with every request made by regulators, even though testing showed no contamination.
“We cooperated with every agency involved and went above and beyond what was required,” Aber said. “The important takeaway for residents is that testing showed no asbestos contamination, and on top of that, the township still removed the dirt to provide an extra layer of assurance.”
Officials emphasized that residents can feel confident in the site’s safety because not only did testing find no asbestos contamination, but the township also completed the additional soil removal requested by regulators.
Park Project Moving Forward
Township officials said the required soil removal is not expected to significantly increase the overall cost of the future park project.
The administration intends to continue moving forward with plans to bring a new public green space to the downtown section of Toms River.
Officials also criticized what they described as sensationalized reporting surrounding the issue. According to township leaders, numerous stories characterized the property as contaminated with asbestos despite the absence of confirmed test results. Officials further noted that those reports did not include comments from the township or quotations from any state or federal agencies overseeing the reviews.
Rodrick said the focus now remains on delivering a new park for residents.
“At the end of the day, the site is safe, the testing proved that, and residents are going to get a beautiful new downtown park,” Rodrick said. “That’s what this project has always been about.”
The future park is expected to become a centerpiece of downtown Toms River as officials continue efforts to expand public recreational space and improve quality of life throughout the township.
Key Points
• Independent testing by Pennoni Engineering found no asbestos contamination at the future Clifton Avenue and Bachelor Street park site.
• The property was purchased for approximately $9 million during the administration of former Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill and contained several abandoned homes.
• State and federal regulators still required removal of a layer of soil after demolition, even though testing found no asbestos present.
• Township officials said the additional cleanup will not significantly impact project costs and construction plans continue to move forward.
