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Shrink Wrap Recycling Will Protect Barnegat Bay
Freeholders Defend Mill Creek Park Boat Storage
By Bill McLaughlin
OCEAN COUNTY - What do you do with 65 tons of shrink wrap? You try to collect it all and reuse it. That's what the county did last year. Now, there are four drop-off points, Point Pleasant, Toms River, Brick and Barnegat recycling centers, specifically for the wrap.
Freeholder James Lacey said he was amazed at the amount of shrink wrap, which helps preserve small crafts during winter, used every year just in one stretch along the coast line.
It's a big number and potentially a nagging problem if boaters or marinas just toss the heavy plastic-like wrappers in the municipal garbage.
In related business, in response to a public question, Freeholder John Bartlett said he believes putting a small boat storage hut on the edge of Mill Creek Park in Berkeley won't harm the existing tranquility.
"Mill Creek Park will not significantly change," Bartlett told a Berkeley woman. "It's a magnificent piece of property I just adore."
The longest-tenured current freeholder recalled that when the township ceded the park to the county to maintain, he thought the park was underutilized.
The small spit of land sits at the mouth of the Mill Creek and the Toms River, not far from the Pine Beach border, and is a quiet, tree-lined low-impact park. Bartlett said that won't change, but a heretofore vista onto the creek and river will be revealed.
"A small building for boats will be to the right of the circle (in the park)," he said. "It will be a very tasteful building."
The building will be used to store competitive shells for the Ocean County College rowing teams. But all competitions will be held near the Toms River Yacht Club at the other side of the river.
"This will involve fewer than 20 students," he said. "It won't change the character of the park. It was the most under-utilized county park, so this is a great place for it."
It's unclear when work will begin on putting in the building.
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