A rendering depicts the Cape May County Park East concept plan. (Courtesy of Cape May County)
The Cape May County Board of Commissioners reviewed and discussed a revised development plan for County Park East that will significantly reduce the project’s overall cost.
According to a county news release, the project will deliver “a modern, first-class recreation destination for residents and visitors.”
The revisions follow the board’s recent agreement to secure countywide access to the new indoor recreation facility planned at the Cape May County Airport.
With indoor capacity to best serve local youth now guaranteed through that partnership, the indoor facility proposed for the County Park East project has been removed from the plan, decreasing project costs by approximately $10 million, the release stated.
Commission Director Leonard Desiderio said the updated approach “reflects innovative and opportunistic government planning and fiscally responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”
“The board made a smart decision for Cape May County taxpayers,” Desiderio said. “By securing access to the airport’s indoor facility, we avoided duplicating construction efforts and costs at County Park East. Residents will still enjoy top-tier recreation opportunities, and taxpayers will benefit from major savings. It’s a win on every level.”
County Administrator Kevin Lare presented the revised project budget and updated schematic plan to the Board of Commissioners during a caucus meeting on Tuesday.
As now envisioned, the County Park East project will proceed in two phases, both submitted under a single CAFRA application. CAFRA review will clarify what future improvements are permissible on the currently undeveloped Lot 7, north of County Park East.
The county’s Technical School athletic director and some students were also present at the caucus meeting to support the new Park East redesign.
The project description is as follows:
Phase 1 – Lot 8 (Existing Park East Area).
Estimated cost: $12 million.
Bid target: Spring 2026.
Phase 1 improvements, pending final board approval, would include:
Regulation-size, multi-purpose synthetic turf field.
Two basketball courts.
Six pickleball courts.
Five tennis courts.
Concession facility with storage and restrooms.
Playground and spectator viewing area.
Half-mile walking path.
122 parking spaces.
LED lighting for the turf field and all 13 courts.
Site enhancements to the Public Safety Memorial.
Phase 2 – Lot 7 (Future Development Area):
Estimated cost: $4 million.
Bid target: Within five years of CAFRA approval.
Phase 2 elements would include:
Additional all-purpose natural grass field.
30 additional parking spaces.
Walking path connection between Lot 7 and Lot 8.
Board of Commissioners Vice Director Andrew Bulakowski, who oversees the County Parks and Zoo and also serves on the county’s recreation ad hoc committee, said that the revised vision “delivers strong value without sacrificing quality.”
“Our goal is to continually improve and expand recreational opportunities for Cape May County families in the most cost-effective way possible,” Bulakowski said. “With this revised redevelopment plan, we’re delivering diverse, inclusive, state-of-the-art recreational facilities while saving millions of taxpayer dollars. That’s exactly the kind of leadership our residents expect and deserve.”
Following Tuesday’s action, the county will move to submit the CAFRA application to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and advance Phase 1 into final design.
Project bid documents are targeted for completion in the second quarter of 2026.
The firm Melillo Bauer and Carman (MBC) will continue as the project’s lead design and planning firm and will work with the county’s administration to advance the project through the regulatory approval process.
