Maple Place Students Connect the Dots Between the Classroom and Boro Hall [VIDEO]

From a wave pool to a mini golf course to a shooting range, seventh graders got to share their wish lists for Monmouth Park and Fort Monmouth development with borough officials last week.

The students got a crash course in small town civics on Friday when they spent time with the borough's mayor and council members as part of an annual forum connected to the district's Social Studies curriculum.

Mayor Michael Mahon was joined by council members William Johnson and Joseph Irace to explain basic borough government -- like how taxes are used -- and also to answer the tough questions, like when is that water park coming? (Answer: about two years.)

Aside from telling Oceanport officials what they'd like to see developed in town, the students asked about traffic, taxes and whether it's difficult to change anything about Fort Monmouth and the racetrack. ("The answer is 'yes,'" said the mayor. "It's extremely hard.")

Borough officials also told students that Oceanport just received a $200,000 grant to resurface Comanche Drive and create a more pedestrian friendly roadway. The mayor also shared that a buyer is interested in purchasing the marina.

Maple Place School Principal Cory Radisch reminded students that the visitors were volunteers that had jobs aside from their borough duties.

He told Patch he supported the 10-year-old program because it creates "a real world connection to what's going on in the classroom."