If you’ve lived in Middletown for more than a week, you know we aren’t just one "town." We’re a sprawling collection of zip codes, from the windy docks of Belford to the quiet hills of Lincroft. Keeping up with middletown new jersey news usually feels like trying to read a map while driving down Route 35 at rush hour—busy, a little chaotic, and always changing.
Honestly, January 2026 has been a whirlwind already. Between the re-organization of our local government and some massive shifts in how our parks are going to look, there is a lot to unpack. Most people think small-town news is just about pothole complaints and bake sales. They’re wrong. Right now, we’re looking at major infrastructure overhauls and tax law shifts that actually hit your wallet.
The Croydon Hall Makeover and the Turf War
The biggest chatter around the coffee shops lately? The Croydon Hall Multi-Use Turf Field Improvement Project. The Township is currently pushing for a Green Acres Grant to turn that heavily used (and often muddy) baseball field into a high-tech synthetic turf facility.
We aren't just talking about fresh grass. The plan includes specific 46/60 and 50/70 youth configurations with portable mounds. Basically, they want this to be a year-round hub. They’re even adding a "Buddy Baseball" program in partnership with Rally Cap Sports to make sure kids of all abilities can play.
Here is the kicker: The public survey for this project closes on January 18, 2026. If you have feelings about LED lighting upgrades or the new pedestrian paths being added to connect the park, you’ve got about twenty-four hours to speak up. A formal public hearing is set for February 2, but the survey is where the early influence happens.
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Local Governance: New Faces at 1 Kings Highway
January is always the month of the "re-org." On January 4, we saw the swearing-in of Committeemen Ryan Clarke and Kevin Settembrino. These guys are stepping into three-year terms, and they’ve already got a full plate.
The Committee also picked the 2026 Mayor and Deputy Mayor during that session. In our form of government, these aren't directly elected by the public; the five committee members pick from among themselves. It’s a system that some find confusing, but it’s how things have run here for decades.
Key Dates for Your Calendar
- January 19: Municipal offices are closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No, your recycling won't be picked up if you’re in the Monday zone.
- January 20: The Township Committee holds its first regular meeting of the year at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall courtroom.
- January 26: The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets to discuss variances. If your neighbor is trying to build a giant fence or a weird shed, this is where you go.
The School Board’s New Transparency Push
If you have kids in the district, you probably saw the "Sunshine Notice" that just went out. The Middletown Board of Education officially set its 2026 schedule during their January 6 meeting at High School North.
There is a new vibe this year. They are pushing for department heads to give more frequent oral reports at meetings. We’re talking Police, Parks, and Engineering heads standing up and actually explaining where the money is going.
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The next big one? The January Workshop Meeting on Thursday, January 22, followed by the Voting Meeting on Tuesday, January 27. If you’re worried about the 2026-2027 budget, the "Tentative Budget" discussion usually starts heating up by the March 17 meeting.
Taxes, Farmland, and the "Murphy Factor"
On January 14, 2026, Governor Phil Murphy actually signed a major piece of legislation right here in Middletown. It’s called the "Farmland and Woodland Tax Assessment Integrity and Investment Act."
For a town like ours that still has pockets of beautiful open space and horse farms, this is a big deal. The law is meant to stop people from "fake farming" just to get a tax break. It raises penalties for misrepresentation and sets up a new online portal for applications.
Speaking of taxes: Your quarterly property tax payment is due February 1, 2026.
You have a 10-day grace period. If you haven't paid by 3:45 PM on February 10, they start tacking on interest. Honestly, just use the online portal at middletownnj.org/taxpayment. It’s easier than driving to Town Hall and hunting for a parking spot.
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What’s Happening This Weekend?
If you’re looking to get out of the house, there’s actually a lot of local flavor happening right now.
- Christmas Tree Collection: Saturday, January 17, is the date for the North Zone. If you still have a dried-out husk of a tree in your driveway, get it to the curb today.
- Pokémon Market: Over at Bell Works (just a quick jump over the Holmdel border), there’s a massive Pokémon Market today, January 17.
- Maple Tapping: Down at Poricy Park, they’re starting the maple tree tapping. It’s cold, it’s muddy, but the kids love it.
Actionable Steps for Middletown Residents
Don't just read the news; use it. Here is how you can stay ahead of the curve this month:
- Check your zone: Ensure you know if you are North or South Zone for the final tree and leaf pickups. The South Zone already happened on the 10th, so if you missed it, you’re hauling it to the Middletown Recycling Center on Kanes Lane yourself.
- Register for RecDesk: Most of the winter events—like the Youth Dodgeball drop-ins at Croydon Gym or the "Winter Bluey" event on February 13—require registration through the
mtownrec.recdesk.comportal. - Update your parking permit: The online system for 2026 permits opened early on January 2. If you commute from the Middletown or Belford stations, don't wait until February to renew.
- Submit the Croydon Survey: You have until tomorrow to influence the $1 million+ turf project.
Middletown is changing fast. Between the filming activity at the old Circus Liquors property and the massive redevelopment plans for the Route 36 corridor, the "sleepy suburb" label doesn't really fit anymore. Stay active in the committee meetings, pay your taxes by the 10th, and keep an eye on those school board agendas.