The Monmouth County Park System has enhanced Swimming River Park with the addition of the Monmouth 250 Revolutionary War Memorial, celebrating the county’s rich Revolutionary War history while continuing to protect the site’s long-term environmental integrity. The new monument transforms a former marina—previously remediated by VHB—into an engaging public space that connects visitors to local heritage, education, and community pride.
County officials, community members, and project partners gathered on June 4 for the dedication ceremony, marking the completion of a memorial that honors Monmouth County’s legacy. The monument features three groupings of bronze statues recognizing Revolutionary War fighters from the county, creating a prominent and educational focal point within the park.
Because the park was constructed with an engineered capped and is underlain by contaminated dredge spoils and historic fill material, careful coordination was required to construct the memorial without compromising the existing environmental engineering controls. VHB provided Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) oversight and structural engineering services, supporting the County through design, regulatory coordination, construction documentation, development, and restoration. This work allowed the memorial to be installed while preserving prior cleanup efforts and maintaining long term site safety.
“Projects like this show how communities can honor their history while remaining committed to environmental stewardship,” said Luke Fetten, Project Manager at VHB. “By working closely with Monmouth County Park System, we were able to support a design that respects the area’s past, protects the remediation in place, and creates a meaningful space for public reflection.”
To meet site-specific constraints, VHB designed specialized monument footings, developed soil management and cap restoration requirements, and incorporated an ultra-lightweight foamed glass aggregate material to meet strict settlement criteria in challenging subsurface conditions.
The completed memorial builds on the continued evolution of Swimming River Park, which has earned recognition for its innovative transformation into a safe, accessible, and engaging public space.
Learn more about how VHB is delivering environmental solutions in New Jersey.
