RUMSON LOOKING FOR FAIR HAVEN-TYPE LOVE
A view of Rumson’s business district, which is being eyed for streetscape improvements. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
Rumson officials were scratching their heads last year when they heard that their neighbor, Fair Haven, had received a load of grant money to make improvements to its business district on River Road.
After all, they had applied for near-identical upgrades, too. Fair Haven, though, got double what it asked for. Rumson, which also applied for federal stimulus funds, through the state Department of Transportation, didn’t get anything.
“We couldn’t quite figure it out, really. And Fair Haven got almost twice as much as they asked for,” Mayor John Ekdahl said. “We were flabbergasted.”
They’re not going to feel jilted over it, Ekdahl said. Instead, Rumson is again looking for some outside help to spruce up its bustling artery, River Road.