Business View Civil Municipal - Sept 2023

87 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 9 OLD BRIDGE , N. J . parks and rec department has developed more than 300 acres of this land into playgrounds, sports fields, and recreation space. Old Bridge currently has one of the biggest inventories of municipal open space in the entire Garden State. Henry especially emphasizes Mannino Park, which is home to the Old Bridge YMCA; a two- stage dog park set up for large dogs and with a separate area for smaller dogs; and a large playground and baseball and softball fields. The Township boasts the Laurence Harbor Beachfront which is blessed with a three- mile running/biking path that runs parallel to Raritan Bay. Sports enthusiasts will also enjoy Veterans Park’s two softball fields, one little league-sized baseball field, two basketball courts, and two tennis courts, all equipped with lighting, as well as a soccer field. Geick Park has a picnic pavilion, a turf baseball field, two turf soccer fields, one softball field, one sand volleyball court, and two sports court basketball courts, all equipped with lighting. In addition, it has a large handicapped-accessible playground and a smaller playground at the lower entrance. The John Piccolo Ice Arena has ice skating sessions, October-April, and it is home to the Junior Knights Youth Hockey League. Pension Road has the Old Bridge Cricket Association’s cricket fields. Henry also cites a project a quarter-century in the making: the Rose Lambertson Golf Course. According to Old Bridge Business Administrator and Director of Finance Himanshu Shah, the course is slated to open later this autumn. Old Bridge will own the land and the 18-hole course. “We’re very lucky to have that,” says Henry. Further, Old Bridge has new leaves to turn over. “It’s going green, with electric vehicle charging stations located in town, all thanks to State grants”, says Henry. “We’re presently getting some hybrid vehicles,” he adds. “We’re always looking to lower operating costs.” A bright future “I think we’ve come a long way in the last 12 years since I’ve been the mayor,” Henry offers. “I will not be the mayor here next year, but I am completely confident that the people who are taking over for me are going to maintain stability here in Old Bridge. One of my goals is