Sees Heavenly Farms as boon to residents

The recent letter to the editor from Frank J. Coury ("On Economic Effect of Open Space Program," Sentinel, March 19) shows how one-sided his thinking is.

Drive by the new Heavenly Farms facility day or night, and it is being used and enjoyed by local East Brunswick residents as well as others who are visiting.

There are hundreds, if not a thousand, youngsters in the East Brunswick soccer program, who on average will spend $75 a year on cleats and other items to play with and enjoy. This may add up to $75,000 a year, let's say for the next 10 years — not too shabby, and most is purchased at some of the local stores in East Brunswick.

How about the pay for the referees who run the games? Many refs are local teens, and this is their first job. There is also football and lacrosse. The cost to outfit my growing son for lacrosse was more than $300, and more than half was spent in East Brunswick.

The fields bring many outside visitors when we have games and tournaments, and I am sure a lot of local establishments enjoy the extra volume when these visitors come into town.

I have been in town almost 12 years. I have spent eight years on the Zoning Board. I am raising two boys here, and we utilize the fields weekly. I am really proud of what we have, and I prefer the fields to another housing complex.

Perhaps more effort should be made to bring business back on Route 18 and help the tax base that way instead of further burdening our schools with more sprawl.

Mr. Coury, the money spent should be amortized over the next 25 years and over thousands of athletes… just another way to look at the economic effect of open space.
Jeff Goldwasser
East Brunswick