MARLBORO – Work to demolish the township's historic state psychiatric hospital is beginning anew, converting the sprawling rural campus into open space,.

Senator Joe Kyrillos, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, Assemblywoman Amy Handlin and Marlboro Mayor John Hornik announced that demolition would begin on the former Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital in a press release Thursday.

“I’m glad that the state, county, and town are working together to take on the tough task of demolishing the 100 existing buildings and returning much of the hospital grounds to open space along with some new up to date facilities,” Kyrillos said. “It is a strong partnership for the future and is long overdue.”

The 100 buildings to be demolished are located on 411 acres off of Newman Springs Road in Marlboro Township. The facility was closed in 1998 after nearly 57 years of use.

Hornik said most ofthe property will be used as open space.

“The future of the Hospital property has been important to Marlboro residents and we are very excited about the next step in the creation of a county park,” Hornik said. “The former Hospital site is a jewel in the middle of our Town that had long been neglected and underutilized. With the agreement, the state recognized its responsibility and made the financial commitment necessary to move this project forward. In partnership with the State and County, Marlboro will add 411 new acres of open space, preserving this parcel for generations of families to enjoy.”

O’Scanlon said the open space use is preferable to development in the mostly rural and suburban township.

“The fate of this site was in serious jeopardy before the Christie administration came up with a way to clean it up and preserve it permanently,” O’Scanlon said. “If it had been developed it may have drastically altered the character of all the surrounding areas of Marlboro.”

The initial demolition and environmental work will take approximately 15 months, work began last week with removal of brush and debris. Following the demolition project, The Department of Treasury’s Division of Property Management and Construction will oversee the construction of two group homes for DHS in the southwest portion of the Marlboro campus. The group homes will be built to accommodate persons with developmental disabilities. Each home will be capable of housing and providing the services necessary for up to six persons and staff. The group homes will be operated either by DHS/DDD or by an outside service provider under contract with the State.

During the past 16 years the fate of the property has been uncertain as the benefits of demolition or preservation were debated and the presence of chemical contaminants on the site ballooned the total cost of demolition. In the interim, the buildings and infrastructure on the campus have deteriorated.

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“We finally realize the open space possibility that this large tract of no longer used land possesses,” Handlin said. “Everyone will be able to enjoy what used to be used solely for those who were less fortunate.”

The property will be conveyed to Monmouth County upon fulfillment of the property’s 20-year debt service, and the county will be responsible for the care of the property.

“This is great news for Marlboro Township and all of Monmouth County,” O’Scanlon said. “This property has languished for many years, but will now serve as a significant piece of open space in the county. With the state’s help the long dilapidated buildings will be demolished and the property returned to its natural state.”

Construction on the facility began in 1929, the hospital's first patient was admitted in 1931. At the time of its closure in 1998, its staff of more than 1,400 served over 700 patients per day.