The proposed expansion at Monmouth Park racetrack has the potential to be very beneficial to communities throughout Monmouth County.

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A meeting of the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council on Friday will feature a presentation about the park's future plans. The proposal calls for new restaurants, a hotel, mini golf course and other attractions, according to Dennis Drazin, adviser to the New Jersey Thoroughbred Breeders' Association which owns the lease for the track.

Though Monmouth Park is situated in Oceanport, Thomas Gilmore, tourism director of Asbury Park, believes it can have a positive impact for communities throughout the county.

"What you're doing is creating a destination that brings people in year-round, and that helps everybody," Gilmore said.

With many communities in Monmouth County reliant on the beach as their prime economic driver, Gilmore said having a year-round attraction will be a benefit.

"Cities like Asbury Park are still a seasonal destination," he said. "We are trying very hard to get people to come here in the offseason, but other places for people to come in Monmouth County just help our initiative."

He said having a major economic draw in the area can help other businesses to profit.

"Maybe you could be a vendor, maybe you could take your business to Monmouth Park and promote it there, maybe for some marketing campaigns you could do a joint promotion with them," Gilmore said.

The MODC's presentation is open to the public, but registration is required at its website.

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