The Highlands Business Partnership's Visual Improvement Committee (VIC) has made many public area improvements.
Miller Street Hill Mural
Click here to see work in progress photos.
Huddy Park Fencing
Veterans Park Boardwalk
Veterans Park Fencing
In September of 2014 the HBP replaced the chain link fence at Veterans Park with the proceeds from 2014 Taste of Highlands. Perma Fence, a local business, installed a beautiful commercial grade black fence, just in time for Oktoberfest.
Memoria Project
HBP, a long standing partner with the Memoria Project non-profit organization worked with Borough Officials and many private partners to finally complete the Memoria Project in honor of the 10th Anniversary of 911. The Memoria Project was a decade in the making, by artist, Steve Shaheen. The Memoria Project consists of 13-foot marble sculptures, a man and woman, surrounded by granite blocks engraved with all 2,987 names of those who lost their lives in the 911 tragedy. The project was completely funded with donations from around the world. The Memoria Project secured at least $150,000 in donations and goods for the installation of the Memoria Project. HBP secured at least $125,000.00 of bartered goods services for the Veterans Park improvements. Combined, in excess of $250,000 of goods and services were implemented to complete this project. A special ceremony was organized by Steve Shaeen, HBP and members of the Memoria Project to dedicate the Memoria to the Borough of Highlands on October 23, 2011. There was a $5,000.00 sign donated by Sign-A-Lize that recognizes all of the public private partners that donated in some way. The site is meant to serve as a place of reflection for visitors and residents.
Click here to see work in progress photos.
Cornwall Square Park
Former HBP VIC Chairwoman and Past President of the Highlands Garden Club, Marcia Shaya designed the Cornwall Square Park in 2004. Members of the committee named the park and HBP purchased the signage and paid for the pavers ($5,000) The labor was performed utilizing a Sponsor Agreement formed with Frank Rahm Landscaping valued at $6,000 to renovate the park.
Flowers, plants and trees were donated by the Highlands Garden Club and the Shade Tree Commission. In 2008, the Garden Club added irrigation and in 2016 added the fence at the back of the park. This collaborative effort has made a very positive impact to this public area.
Click here to see before and after photos.
Click here to review supporting documents.
Highlands Bulkhead Welcome sign
The Highlands Bulkhead Welcome sign located at Linden Avenue and Highway 36, was originally built in 1994 with grant money ($14,000) from the NJ Department of Community Affairs Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) in conjunction with residents, town officials and sponsors such as JCP&L and D&J Dock Builders. Click here to see groundbreaking.
The original sign boards were wooden and were repainted annually to advertise generic information. This was paid for maintained by NPP through 1996, Highlands Chamber of Commerce in 1997 and 1998 and then by the Highlands Business Partnership since 1999.
In 2000, the welcome sign began to split and the lower sign boards began to deteriorate. HBP replaced and expanded the sign boards with new signs using vinyl lettering to advertise our annual events and sponsor information/logos. ($2,500).
In 2005, HBP replaced the paver walkway and added a knee-wall in front of the bulkhead sign. The original pavers were sunken and cracked causing a major safety hazard to pedestrians. This improvement was made utilizing the 2005 Sponsor Agreement with Frank Rahm Landscaping valued at $6,000. In addition, HBP paid for repairs on the split and footings of the sign in 2002, 2004 and 2006 valued at $3,000. The base of the lighthouse on the original sign completely rotted away and was no longer repairable.
In 2008, the HBP, VIC worked with local sign companies and artists to create, build and install the newly erected welcome sign ($19,500).
Miller Hill Terrace
The Miller Hill Terracing Project was also designed by HBP, VIC Chairwoman Marsha Shaya in 2006. The original proposal was modified by former Mayor Rick O;Neil increasing the project to include a substantial amount of
labor and materials. HBP formed a 3-year Sponsor Agreement (2006, 2007 & 2008) with Frank Rahm Landscaping to complete improvements valued at $18,000. In 2009, the Borough assisted in the clean up and fence replacement to improve the terracing. HBP erected the welcome sign to Miller Hill. Irrigation will be installed for 2010 to complete the beautification, A Highlands Garden Club member graciously mows the grass on Miller Terrace and Cornwall Square (Thanks Tony!),
