Bayonet Farm Committee Reorganizes

Newly appointed members of the Bayonet Farm Committee met at Town Hall on March 15 to discuss the current status of the 135-acre property and consider their next steps. 

Anna Marina Mautone led the meeting, joined by Brian Smith, Denise Mautone, and Mark Zelina, all of Holmdel. A fifth board member, Rocky Sconda, was absent.  Jeanette Tompkins, representing the Parks and Recreation office also sat in.

The new five-member board was appointed by the Township Committee in February, and replaces eight members who stepped down in 2010. 

The meeting began with a brief inventory of the property and its buildings. Mautone noted that neither the Harding House, Swanson House, Red or Gray Barn buildings are up to code. There are no fire surpression systems and there is no water on the property. The exception is the rental unit located on Middletown Road, whose tenants farm a portion of the land. Holmdel receives $2000 a year from the farm lease.

Mautone also noted that seven weddings were held in 2010, earning an additional $13,000.  Engineering reports indicate that Bayonet Farm buildings are costly to maintain, and bringing them up to code would be exhorbitant. All agreed that a thorough needs/costs assessment should be made although they acknowledged that the prospects of undertaking an expensive study look grim.

“Our main purpose is to figure out what the township has been spending on the property and how much it makes for the town,” said Mautone, “we want to know how many people actually benefit from Bayonet Farm."

“Many people don't know that Bayonet Farm is a public park,” she said, “and we have a lot of access to other parks like Holmdel Park and Cross Farm, so it's finding the best use for the property that's fiscally sustainable, as well.”

Ideas floated around the table regarding possible uses, such as green energy, organic farming, and events hosting, all with the goal of creating a self-sustaining positive cash flow for Holmdel.

Mark Zelina is an engineer by profession who sits on the Board of Directors of Friends of the Monmouth County Parks System.  

Denise and Anna Marina Mautone own a construction company. Denise Mautone will act as the group's liason to the Monmouth County Agricultural Board. 

Brian Smith hopes to put his Master's degree in Community Development and experience in non-profit development to good use on the committee.

According to Mautone, Rocky Sconda owns Edison-based company, Main Attraction, Inc., which supplies tents for major events throughout the country.

“If there's anybody for events purposes, it's Rocky,” she said. “He lives in town and is able to contribute in that way.”

Asked if there were plans to include additional members with land use or environmental expertise, Mautone said no, citing her construction experience as an asset in evaluating land use needs in a cost-effective way.

Having sat on the previous Bayonet Farm committee board, Mautone said she was satisfied with the new board's current size.

“I think when it gets too big, it gets harder to get things done,” she said.

Apart from the occasional dog walk, the new members admitted to never having spent time or attended any community events at Bayonet Farm.

“I live down the street from it and have never been there,” said Denise. “I've admired it from a driving distance.”

Smith said he thought Bayonet Farm seemed underutilized, which is what drove him to get involved.

Bayonet Farm is Holmdel's largest park that sits entirely within its borders. Its acres of woodlands and open fields offer residents a place to hike, cross-country ski, or just the chance to unplug and enjoy Holmdel's natural beauty.

Several well-marked trails allow access to the Ramanessin Brook Nature Area. Tours are sometimes given to the Harding House, former estate of Laura Harding. 

Newly renovated art and event spaces, Red Barn and Gray Barn host events throughout the year such as Holmdel's annual Earth Day celebration and the Arts and Music Festival in the fall.

Bayonet Farm is a venue for Boy & Girl Scout camping, Venture Club activities, a June music concert, Barn Dance, summer art classes for children and adults, family reunions, and weddings. On hot summer nights there are guided star gazing events.

“Our second meeting should be at Bayonet Farm,” said Zelina, “as soon as it warms up.”