By Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor@Blogfinger.net
This park is historic. It used to be Woodlawn Park. There were stables nearby, and folks could walk through while watching horse drawn carriages roll by.
And then it was Alday Park, dedicated to Dr. John Alday in 1915, an important CMA figure at the time of Stokes, who lived across the street, and there was a beautiful bronze fountain placed there in his honor. It was to be the first important site seen by visitors after coming through the “gates.”
The fountain was not locked in—-anyone could go up to the fountain and dunk their hands or feet into the cool water. The water was said to be “clear and pure.”
Whatever happened to that fountain and why was it never restored as has occurred this year in Founders’ Park? Wasn’t historic preservation important during that early phase of CMA history?
In 1959 it became Firemen’s Park. Why was a public park shut down in the center? Why has it become less public than before?
The result is a barricaded bell in honor of deceased firemen. But why is the center closed to the public? There are benches inside. Why can’t the public sit down there? Is it not “public property?” Why can’t the kids come in, run around, and touch the bell? Why are those dangerous shrubs and iron spikes allowed to remain? Is this the North End version of the private place that used to be at the end of the pier?
BF article about this subject June, 2018
This is not a criticism of firemen, whose heroism and sacrifice in this town has saved lives and property; it is about the unfair misuse of a public park.
The Township Committee should reevaluate the dedication to firemen. After all, the park is poorly kept. Go check out the miserable plantings, the uncared-for trees and the toxic “grass.” Give the park back to the people and appoint a citizen’s commission to take care of it and put it to better use. How about this park being dedicated to all of America’s heroes, including firemen, and have events there such as poetry readings, art shows, military bands, small concerts, picnics for kids, nighttime gatherings in the summer, Wiffle ball tournaments, and dog shows—for example.
This park is on the new Christian Walking Tour of Ocean Grove. What will those walkers think about the entombed bell in the middle?
Why are the Grovarian park names so confusing? Here is a link:
ELLA FITZGERALD: by Cole Porter:
*Story of Ocean Grove…1869-1919 by Morris D. Daniels
The original fountain is probably lost forever. But, imagine another vintage fountain there, ungated. It would be a spectacular welcome to Ocean Grove since the majority who enter our town pass this way.
There could still be the bell to the firemen in another part of this park. They can even fence in the bell if they want to.
And, of course, the park needs landscaping.
Shelley:
1. OG is no longer a Methodist town. It is an American town. It is not one “kind of town,” it is a kind of town that should treat all its citizens equally under the law.
2. There is nothing in my comment that would deprive anyone of religious freedom including the CMA. And as for your “heritage,” no one is suggesting that yours is unimportant, but would you suggest that only yours is important?
3. As for private memorials, let the families go to cemeteries for that. You may like those dreary memorials, but I am entitled to dislike them and wish them gone.
4. You seem to disagree that these parks should be treated as public spaces, but that is my main point.
Really, Doubting Thomas? Just maybe Ocean Grove isn’t your kind of town. It was founded as a Methodist Camp Meeting ground and religion continues to be an important part of our heritage. Last time I looked at the Constitution it talked about religious freedom. If you don’t like an event, don’t go. No pressure. As far as ” private beachfront memorials (benches and urns)” that are dreary and depressing in a public space” being removed, talk to the loved ones of those remembered in this special place. See how they feel.
Paul, the house on the left Was mine, the upper porch became our nice big bed room at some point in time. The middle house is M & G, the 3rd is J & A’s. Within a yr or 2 after we bought our house, late 1983, a kid climbed the fence & dropped a cherry bomb or some such thing under the bell, & blew the existing Eagle to smithereens! The fence & barbed bushes were there at the time, no great deterrent at all. Only thing those bushes do is hurt little kids who fall from their bikes near them!
After Sandy, the CMA asserted that the Boardwalk was a public space even though the CMA owned it. This was a central part of the CMA request for public funds to rebuild. The Feds agreed.
And there are other such CMA owned “public spaces” in OG such as the parks. In return for allowing public access, the CMA may get some tax benefits from Neptune.
The parks should be used as any other public spaces might be used—-for and about the public. The CMA can’t have it both ways.
Public spaces should not have private religious memorials and events. In this town, historic religious figures are another story, such as all the founding pastors named on the streets, the Stokes statue, and the “FitzGerald” name continued for the Fountain.
The CMA should voluntarily stop placing private memorials on the Boardwalk. The Grove used to be called “Ocean Grave,” and those private beachfront memorials (benches and urns) reinforce that stereotype, and they are dreary and depressing in a public space and should be removed.
The fireman’s bell in Fireman’s Park should be open to the public.
During the recent fountain tribute in Founders Park, a public space, a religious service was held. But this is a public historic event, and no religion should have been part of it.
Of course all CMA buildings and properties that are reserved for religious use are exceptions. For example Thornley Chapel is not a public place, and no public group like the Boy Scouts can expect to have meetings there.
The Auditorium is a private building, so the CMA can do whatever it wants to inside it. But if it has a secular event open to the public such as the Summer Stars, then maybe the ground rules should be different. Remember when the Neptune High School graduation debate resulted in taking down or covering all visible religious symbols in the GA?
Check out Greenleaf Park. Scalped to the dirt.
Unlike the Wesley Lake bridges, this gate should be open 24/7.
All of the above but how can you beat Ella Fitzgerald singing Cole Porter?
The trees here are in serious need of inspection, pruning or even removal. Someone may get hurt. The”grass” is just an ugly mat of weeds. Does the Memorial Park at Shark River have such unkempt grass? Even if it is owned by the CMA, Neptune should assure the public that it is properly cared for and safe.
I can see having the bell roped off, but what they created is an unattractive, locked open mausoleum. It is a small park, and having such a large-scale private area makes no sense and doesn’t properly honor the firefighters.