Politics & Government
The Crawford Hill Acquisition: Full Statement from the Holmdel Mayor
With the help of Monmouth County, Holmdel acquires 35 acres of Crawford Hill and the historic Holmdel Horn Antenna
Yesterday, we officially acquired the Holmdel Horn Antenna along with the surrounding 35 acres. This effort could not have been possible without the support of the Monmouth County Commissioners and Director Tom Arnone who have committed to helping us purchase the property so that there will be no impact to the Holmdel taxpayers. This was a total team effort between the Township Committe, Crawford Hill Holdings, and Monmouth County and we are incredibly thankful for everyone's partnership.
Here is the full statement from last night's meeting...
"Today is a day of mixed emotions. On the one hand, I am excited to announce that the Township filed a declaration of taking in Superior Court earlier today, which means that Holmdel has officially acquired the upper 35 acres of the Crawford Hill property, and with it, Holmdel Township now officially owns the historic Horn Antenna.
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At the same time, as we gather to celebrate Holmdel’s ownership of the historic Horn Antenna, we also must acknowledge the passing of Dr. Arno Penzias – one of the men who (in the words of the New York Times) along with Dr. Robert Wilson 'discovered cosmic microwave background radiation … remnants of an explosion that gave birth to the universe nearly 14 billion years ago. That explosion, known as the Big Bang, is now the widely accepted explanation for the origin and evolution of the universe.' And that discovery – as we all know – happened right here in Holmdel.
Holmdel – and the scientific community – owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Penzias. Our condolences go out to his family and all those touched by his brilliance.
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Our town has always struck a delicate balance between two sometimes conflicting ideologies: innovation - the persistent pursuit of knowledge, advancement, and new frontiers … tempered by the unyielding desire to maintain open space, preserve land, and stay rooted in our rich agricultural history.
Today is a day, I’m proud to say, in which we’ve honored both of those traditions in a way that generations of Holmdel residents can celebrate for centuries.
In that spirit, tonight, I am excited to announce that Holmdel will be preserving Crawford Hill as a park that will be named after Holmdel’s own Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Robert Wilson.
To memorialize this well-deserved naming, we will be introducing an ordinance tonight.
When I spoke to Dr. Wilson this morning, he said he was honored by our offer to name the park after him and gladly accepted. We expect to have a ribbon-cutting – likely some time in March – where we can all gather and celebrate the majesty of what’s to come.
I would be remiss if I did not thank Rakesh Antala of Crawford Hill Holdings for his partnership on this effort; as well as, former Mayor and current Committeeman DJ Luccarelli – who helped put the wheels of this initiative in motion last year.
And with the support of Deputy Mayor Foster, Committeewoman LaMountain, and Committeeman Romano we have managed to simultaneously honor our past, present, and future.
The Holmdel Horn Antenna serves as a reminder of the collaborative efforts that drive scientific progress. It stands as a testament to the power of teamwork and the collective pursuit of truth. As we strive to preserve this beacon of scientific history, let us also commit ourselves to fostering environments that encourage collaboration and the free exchange of ideas.
In the face of technological advancements and evolving landscapes, it is our responsibility to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to marvel at the Holmdel Horn Antenna and appreciate the breakthroughs it facilitated. This preservation effort is an investment in the educational enrichment of our communities and a celebration of the human spirit's quest for understanding
Now, and forever, people of all ages will be able to stand atop the highest point in Monmouth County, dream of the never-ending cosmos, and reach for the stars."
To formally establish Dr. Robert Wilson Park, we passed a motion to introduce “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 13, TITLED "PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES," TO ESTABLISH DR. ROBERT WILSON PARK, COMPRISED OF BLOCK 27, LOTS 6 AND 6.01 IN THE TOWNSHIP OF HOLMDEL.”
