More Open Space Saved In Town

By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER

Photos courtesy Manchester Schools

Members of the Manchester Township High School Football team recently visited an assisted living community to form new friendships between generations.

By Bob Vosseller

MANCHESTER – It may not be football season but members of the Manchester Township High School football team scored some touchdowns when it comes to community service recently.

Under the direction of Head Coach Tommy Farrell, team members spent some time this summer volunteering at senior communities around the area. These students are spending some of their summer days visiting with residents at The Haven Assisted Living Community in Manchester. They are hosting a meet and greet, talking about Manchester football, sharing their stories, equipment and more while visiting with the residents.

The reactions have been more than favorable as residents of these senior communities get a chance to talk to the young players, hold a football and connect

Senior wide receiver Joe Horowitz said “it was a great experience. Seeing a smile on everyone is what it’s all about. The highlight of my day was when we passed around our equipment, and some of them even put our helmet on. I’m grateful for the opportunity that we were given to go visit the nursing home.”

Coach Farrell explained

There seems to be a whole lot of land preservation going on in the township.

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Mayor Robert Arace recently announced that 24.83 acres on Pasadena Road in the Whiting section of the township was made possible for preservation through the efforts of the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund program. The County agreed to the program’s recommendation to purchase it for $250,000.

Mayor Arace remarked that “preserving this land represents the administration’s commitment to environmental conservation and protecting natural resources, which have been significant concerns for Manchester residents.”

The mayor acknowledged the significance of preserving the beauty and ecological balance of the Pinelands, and that this acquisition demonstrates a further commitment to that goal.

“I’m thrilled to share that the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund Program has acquired another valuable piece of land. Our commitment to preserving Manchester Township’s unique open space and forests has led to this successful acquisition. We’re thrilled to ensure that this land remains untouched and protected,” he said.

Mayor Arace stressed that his administration is proud of this acquisition and looks forward to “continuing healthy growth in Manchester.”

The Ocean County Board of Commissioners approved the preservation purchase at its June 21 meeting. The 24.83-acre parcel located on Pasadena Road is in the area known as Roosevelt City. The property is a part of outreach efforts to acquire land near other protected land, a part of a 1,760-acre Structural Management acquisition.

According to Ocean County the application to the program was originally submitted in December 2021 and went through several attempts at negotiation until the latest offer was accepted in late May 2023.

Preservation of this parcel enables the County to expand its Roosevelt City fuel break initiative which was a wildfire mitigation project fully funded by the Department of Defense, Readiness and Environmental

(Open Space - See Page 4)