The $6.75 million center. which opens for its first season Wednesday evening. is the proudest accomplishment of D. Louis Tonti. executive director of the New Jersey Highway Authority. which operates the Garden State Parkway. It will bring some of the biggest names in classical and popular music to the Shore and it will bring them to a spot once planned for 24 tennis courts and two swimming poolsa spot which for awhile was called by some "Tontis Folly" when the son of Italian immigrants changed those plans. "You have to understand my parents to understand how the Arts Center came to be." says Mr. Tonti. a man who could be New Jerseys next governor if all the pieces fall into place. "In Northern Italy. people love good music. My parents. who lived in Riclone. were poor but they managed to go to the opera in nearby Rimini. "When they came to this countymy mother was 17 and my father 25and settled in Hoboken. they were still poor. but they made pilgrimages twice a year to the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
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