BERKELEY – The iconic Blackbeard’s Cave – where tons of kids spent so much of their youth – will now be preserved as open space.
The amusement park’s current condition, dilapidated and overgrown, is heart-wrenching to those who grew up visiting the place. But perhaps a future with it returned to a natural state will be a hole in one.
The Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund is fueled by an open space tax on every piece of property in the county that pays property taxes. Often, a town will want to preserve land but is unable to afford it. They petition the county and, if the seller is willing and a price can be reached, they come to a deal.
This purchase amounts to almost 27 acres. It includes the buildings that can be seen from the road, and also a lot of space heading back, through the tot rides and the go-karts.
The miniature golf course at Blackbeard’s Cave will be cleared for open space. (Photo by Chris Lundy)
One thing that the Ocean County Natural Lands Advisory Committee looks for in making a purchase is whether the land is next to other open space. Expanding green areas has a great environmental impact.
This purchase is adjacent to the Barnegat Branch Trail and more than 800 acres previously purchased, which had been operated by the New Jersey Pulverizing company.
“This property along with an anticipated donation of 50 acres from the township expands our preserved open space in Berkeley Township substantially,” said Ocean County Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, liaison to the county’s open space program. “I am pleased we could work with the township in preserving this land for future generations.”
Four of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners voted in favor of the purchase while Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari abstained. He asked for additional time to review.
“I am not against this purchase,” Vicari said. “I have some concerns as to the price that we are paying. I have been contacted by some residents and business owners that also raised concerns.”
The negotiated purchase price for the property, with 195 feet of frontage on Route 9 and known as the Florence T. Allen Ext. II was $5.9 million.
Usually, busy streets like Route 9 are where you want to have development, but everyone knows that Route 9 is overburdened by traffic and that the New Jersey Department of Transportation has only made small fixes to this state-controlled road.
“The Township would not be able to handle the traffic flow if this property was to be developed,” Berkeley Mayor Carmen Amato said. “This acquisition buffers the area while expanding on an existing preserve.”
Councilman John Bacchione, who will serve as mayor starting next year, is on the Natural Lands Advisory Committee.
The former restaurant on the Blackbeard’s site will be demolished. (Photo by Chris Lundy)
“Based on the location to other parcels of open space in the Township, including its proximity to the county’s Barnegat Branch Trail we are not only preserving open space but we ultimately will provide additional recreational opportunities for our residents, protect the environment and maintain our quality of life,” Bacchione said.
“We anticipate starting work in the near future on extending our Barnegat Branch Trail into an area of the 800 acres (of the NJ Pulverizing site),” Haines said. “When completed, residents and visitors will have access to some of the most beautiful areas of the Township and it will forever remain open space.”
The demolition and removal of structures on the Blackbeard’s site will be taken care of by the property owner at no cost to the county, officials said.
The remainder of the Blackbeard’s Cave site will soon be open space. (Photo by Chris Lundy)
“The property owners are actively working on demolishing the existing structures,” Haines said. “We hope to close on the property before the New Year.”
The area had previously been subdivided, with a northern section of the property (8.71 acres) being currently built into a self storage facility.
This purchase might pave the way to creating an extension to Western Boulevard, which would allow drivers going from Route 9 to the Garden State Parkway to skip much of Route 9 and some of the more residential areas.
The property is listed on the tax maps as Block 837, Lots 1, 3, 8, 13, 14, 15, and 16. It’s also been referred to as Florence T. Allen – Blackbeard’s Cave.
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