The Hazlet Township Committee unanimously agreed to spend $787,500 for road and park improvements at its meeting June 19. 

To pay for the work, $562,500 will be taken from the Capital Improvement Fund, and $225,000 from a grant expected to be received from the NJ Dept. of Transportation grant in connection to improvements to Laurel Ave in the West Keansburg section of town. 

The township also has plans to fix drainage problems, install curbing and lay sidewalk on New York Avenue, accesible from Holmdel Road, and along the length of Maple Drive, which runs past the Hazlet First Aid station and connects to Route 35. The extent of the work down Maple, which lacks curbs and sidewalks in sections, will depend on how much funding is available, said Township Administrator Brian Valentino. 

The work is being done to coincide with the township's improvements to the HYAL Football Fields. Down To Earth Landscaping was recently awarded a contract to do fix drainage problems, lay down sod and add plantings. Their bid of $217,227 beat that of six other firms. Work should begin shortly and continue through the summer, said Valentino. 

The township will also address problems Winthrop Place, off Middle Road. Grants are being sought for repairs to Franciscan Way, off Poole Avenue. 

"Let's hope in the future we can get more grants, so that more can be done," said Committeeman Joe Belasco.