Mayor's Message

What's Great About Middletown

by Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger, Ph.D.

Middletown Township is a demographically diverse municipality, comprised of everyone from those who can trace their families back over 350 years to new residents who have just recently moved here.  One thing they all have in common is that they all lead very active, hectic lives, making it difficult to sometimes keep up with, and appreciate the many wonderful aspects of the township in which they reside.  It is for that reason, that I am devoting this column to talking about some of the great things about Middletown – things that many people may not even be aware of. 

In 2006, Middletown was voted the 50th out of the Top 100 Places to Live in the United States by MONEY Magazine.  This was based on multiple criteria including housing, education, quality of life, leisure activities, weather, health and more.  Middletown can also lay claim to having the lowest crime rate for towns our size in Ocean and Monmouth counties.  These rankings, as all encompassing as they may be, do not happen by accident. 

It is through the efforts of so many in the township that keep Middletown the wonderful place it is to live and raise a family.  Middletown has had a long tradition of honest, efficient township management.  From the township administrator to the department heads to the spectacular workforce, all have a hand in running the day to day operations that keeps our vast township running smoothly.  The fruits of their labor are embodied in the dozens of awards and citations given to individual personnel and entire departments each year. (Click here to visit the “About Middletown” section of our website for full list of recent awards and accomplishments.)

Another example of these efforts is the enormous amount of work put into the township budget each year.  Our budgeting process itself is a model for the State to follow, according to The New Jersey League of Municipalities, which included it as must reading in its “Elected Officials Handbook.”  Middletown’s sound fiscal policies have been recognized by both Moody’s Investor Services with an Aa3 rating and the Standard and Poor Corporation with an AA bond rating. The latter credited the stellar bond rating, to the township’s “strong economy and employment base, high wealth and income indicators, combined with a steadily increasing tax base, sound financial operations, and rapid debt amortization.”

Then there are the superb township facilities.  Middletown can boast of a state-of-the-art library, a world-class arts center, a swim and tennis club, two township beaches, various recreation centers and roller hockey rinks, a miniature golf course, a gymnasium, senior center, and a skateboard park.  Middletown’s park system is also the envy of municipalities across the state.  Comprised of more than 48 parks spread out over 42 square miles, these facilities offer tennis and basketball courts, playground equipment, athletic fields, and/or picnic areas. (Click here to visit Parks and Recreation)

The Middletown school system, which is managed by the Board of Education, is among the best in the state.  It is comprised of twelve elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools.  Middletown’s students are always at or near the top of the state rankings in academics, and the athletic programs and extracurricular activities offered by the district are unparalleled.  Among the more notable alumni of Middletown schools are NBC anchorman Brian Williams and actor/playwright Billy Van Zant. 

Middletown’s rich, extensive history comes alive in the wealth of historic buildings and sites present in every section of the township.  From the Seabrook-Whitlock House (circa 1725) in Port Monmouth, to Marlpit Hall (1750) and the Taylor-Butler House (1853) in the Village section, to the Lincroft Inn (1697), to the magnificent lighthouse (1764) that stands sentinel over the bay at Sandy Hook, Middletown’s storied past has been indelibly preserved in the fabric of our present-day landscape.  The bucolic 225-acre Poricy Park, located in the center of the township, contains Cretaceous fossil beds, a nature preserve and an 18th-century farmstead once owned by prominent Revolutionary War figure, Joseph Murray.

While Middletown is blessed with great physical beauty and a rich cultural heritage, what is undoubtedly its greatest strength are its people.  They are what make the township the unique place it is with a pride and spirit that is unmatched.  The spirit of volunteerism that is embodied in the world’s largest volunteer fire department, and our first-rate Emergency Medical Services, Office of Emergency Management, Community Emergency Response Team and Police Auxiliary, helps save the township millions of dollars, while helping to provide many essential services. 

Civic organizations such as the Elks, Lions Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Knights of Columbus are renowned for their charitable works.  The hundreds of volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to more a dozen youth sports leagues. The hundreds more who serve on any one of the dozens of boards and commissions that look to protect and enhance our high quality of life bring their talents and energies to serve the community.  When a worthy cause or charitable event occurs in Middletown, town hall is flooded with calls offering assistance in every possible way. 

Overall, Middletown is blessed in so many ways, which explains why it has been and continues to be one of the most desirable places to live in the country. 

-This article appeared in the August 2007 issue of Middletown Matters, the township's newsletter.