Vacant School Board Property in Woodbridge Township to Remain as Open Space
By Mayor John McCormac
I am please to report that the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders have approved the purchase of two tracts of undeveloped land in Woodbridge Township as part of Middlesex County’s and Woodbridge Township’s open space land preservation program. The county-sponsored open space land purchase will add more than ten acres to Woodbridge Township’s open space and environmental resource inventory – currently in excess of 286 preserved open space acres – will expand the county-owned Merrill Park with additional recreational open space, and will curtail any future development next to Indiana Avenue School #18 in Iselin and near the Woodbridge High School.
I was honored to make the announcement at Indiana Avenue School #18 along with Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders Director David B. Crabiel, Freeholder Stephen J. “Pete” Dalina, County Parks Director Ralph Albanir, Woodbridge Township Municipal Councilmen Jim Major and Charles Kenny, Vincent Smith, Woodbridge Township Superintendent of Schools, Brian Molnar, President, Woodbridge Township Board of Education, and neighborhood parents and students.
The county has agreed to purchase 7.5 acres of undeveloped land along Elizabeth Avenue and Winding Road, near Indiana Avenue School #18 in Iselin and a second parcel totaling just over three acres along Harrell Avenue in Woodbridge for $2,389, 800. The open space funding will allow the County to purchase land owned by the Woodbridge Board of Education off Elizabeth Avenue and next to Indiana Avenue School #18 in Iselin for $775,000 – the purchase will become part of the county-owned Merrill Park. The open space purchase will curtail the development of at least five residential properties and will keep traffic congestion in the area more manageable.
Additionally, the Open Space purchase includes a similar undeveloped area totaling three acres along Harrell Avenue in Woodbridge, behind Woodbridge High School at a price of $1,614,800. The property is also owned by the Board of Education. The undeveloped lots on Harrell Avenue are located on a residential street on either side of several homes and will remain as open space. Over the years, developers have sought these building lots, but Woodbridge neighbors and residents have consistently voiced their opinion in opposition to any future development
