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BERKELEY, NJ — The once-popular family amusement park Blackbeard’s Cave has come and gone. After sitting in disrepair for years, work has begun transforming the park into storage units. But it will one day serve families again – the county has purchased the rest of the property to preserve as open space.
The property is adjacent to more than 800 acres of open space known as the New Jersey Pulverizing site and will extend county-owned open space leading to the “Northeast Mall Donation” property and onto the Barnegat Branch Trail, according to a county news release.
According to the Board of Commissioners, the county purchased the 26.67 acreage for $5.9 million.
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“This property along with an anticipated donation of 50 acres from the township expands our preserved open space in Berkeley Township substantially,” said Ocean County Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, liaison to the county’s open space program. “I am pleased we could work with the township in preserving this land for future generations.”
Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen Amato, during the Oct. 4 Commissioner meeting, extended his appreciation to the Board of Commissioners for purchasing this property as did Council President John Bacchione, who serves as a member of the county’s Natural Lands Advisory Committee.
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“The Township would not be able to handle the traffic flow if this property was to be developed,” Amato said. “This acquisition buffers the area while expanding on an existing preserve.”Bacchione noted the Mayor and Council supported the acquisition.
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“Based on the location to other parcels of open space in the Township, including its proximity to the county’s Barnegat Branch Trail we are not only preserving open space but we ultimately will provide additional recreational opportunities for our residents, protect the environment and maintain our quality of life,” Bacchione said.
“We anticipate starting work in the near future on extending our Barnegat Branch Trail into an area of the 800 acres,” Haines said. “When completed, residents and visitors will have access to some of the most beautiful areas of the Township and it will forever remain open space.”
The acquisition also will provide access to the New Jersey Pulverizing site directly from Route 9, which would grant Pine Beach and Berkeley Township residents along Route 9 quicker, more convenient access to the property as well as emergency services when needed.
Four Commissioners voted in favor of the acquisition, but Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari abstained.
Vicari said he was not against the purchase, however, “I have some concerns as to the price that we are paying. I have been contacted by some residents and business owners that also raised concerns,” he said. Vicari asked for additional time to review the matter further.
The demolition and removal of structures on the 27 acres site will be taken care of by the property owner at no cost to the County.
“The property owners are actively working on demolishing the existing structures,” Haines said. “We hope to close on the property before the New Year.”
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