Brick Volunteers Remove (Literally) A Ton of Waste From Breton Woods

The “Pick Up Brick” event in Breton Woods, Sept. 28, 2024. (Photo: Brick Township)

The tallies are in. A group of volunteers from across town came out in a big way to clean up a large piece of open woodlands in Brick that was saved from development after a community outcry.

The township’s Environmental Commission hosted one of its largest “Pick-Up Brick” events yet, aimed at cleaning up debris from the recently acquired open space property, Breton Woods. Despite challenging weather conditions, Mayor Lisa Crate joined dedicated volunteers, donning gloves and bags to collect anything and everything to make woods pristine.

When the numbers were crunched, 2,380 pounds of waste from the wooded parcel – equivalent to 1.19 tons.

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The “Pick Up Brick” event in Breton Woods, Sept. 28, 2024. (Photo: Brick Township)

The “Pick Up Brick” event in Breton Woods, Sept. 28, 2024. (Photo: Brick Township)

Breton Woods is a 31-acre property north of Drum Point Road and south of Mantoloking Road, bordered by Laurel Avenue. Previously owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, it was under contract to be sold to national homebuilder D.R. Horton with plans calling for 59 homes to be constructed. After a major outcry from local residents and environmental groups, the township and the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust negotiated to purchase the property for $8,550,000.

After receiving an additional $1.2 million from the state, the township’s obligation toward the purchase price was just $510,000.

The location, near Osbonrville School, where a playground will be built on preserved land. (Photo: Shorebeat)

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The Breton Woods property where 59 homes have been proposed as part of a new development, Dec. 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

The township credited several groups that sent extra support to the effort, including Ocean Medical Center, Trust for Public Land, Kiwanis Club of Brick, Brick Public Schools, NJ Natural Gas, and Ocean First Bank.