State, County Nix Using Shark River Park For Dredge Spoils

The Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners was notified last week that the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has determined that a preliminary engineering and cost analysis of dredging and drying the dredge material at Shark River Park is not economically feasible.

“The projected cost to process the estimated 100,000 cubic yards of dredge materials from the Shark River channel exceeds what the NJ DOT believes should be spent on this project with the current options,” said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Recreation Commissioners.

NJDOT was considering the County’s Shark River Park as a potential dewatering site for the materials removed from the Shark River channel.

“Both the Commissioners and the Freeholders have heard from many knowledgeable people about this project in the past several months,” said Burry. “Now, we need to keep the focus on moving toward a viable solution for this important waterway. Eliminating Shark River Park from consideration is a significant step.”  

“The County and the local municipal leaders understand the importance of navigable Shark River channel and inlet,” Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone said. “For environmental, recreational and economic reasons, the Shark River needs to be improved.”

The Recreation Commission oversees the policy and regulations of the Monmouth County Park System.