Springsteen Declined Rest Stop To Be Named After Him

Freehold NJ

28 July, 2021

5:51 PM

Description

FREEHOLD, NJ - From Whitney Houston to Frank Sinatra, there's no shortage of legendary music icons that have called the Garden State home. But after Gov. Phil Murphy announced that nine rest stops across the state would be named after New Jersey Hall of Fame members, many noticed the absence of one Monmouth County rocker: Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen, 71, has centered numerous songs about growing up in his hometown of Freehold (he now resides in Colts Neck) and most recently collaborated with fellow New Jerseyan Jack Antonoff of musical project Bleachers for a parkway-inspired duet. The Monmouth County service area that was renamed for the project is located in Wall, just minutes from the Jersey Shore music venues that the singer-songwriter made a name for himself in. The rest stop will instead be rebranded as the Judy Blume Service Area, after the author who has ties to Scotch Plains. "Bruce Springsteen respectfully declined to have a service area named after him," a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Hall of Fame told North Jersey. "It should be noted, though, that Bruce has been very supportive of the New Jersey Hall of Fame over the years, and is very much a part of the fabric of the Hall." Related: Springsteen, Obama To Release Co-Authored Book Later This Year The nine service areas in New Jersey will be renamed as follows: Montvale: James Gandolfini Service Area Brookdale North: Larry Doby Service Area Brookdale South: Connie Chung Service Area Vauxhall: Whitney Houston Service Area Cheesequake: Jon Bon Jovi Service Area Monmouth: Judy Blume Service Area Forked River: Celia Cruz Service Area Atlantic: Frank Sinatra Service Area Ocean View: Toni Morrison Service Area "This is about putting New Jersey greatness on full display," Murphy said of the initiative. "This is the first part of an extended statewide exhibition of New Jersey heroes throughout our state. From military heroes on the Battleship New Jersey to historical figures on the New Jersey Turnpike to science and technology trailblazers at Newark Penn Station, New Jerseyans will find pride in our contributions to society and the world." The New Jersey Turnpike Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday for the name changes. Garden State Parkway service area parking lots will now welcome visitors with banners of New Jersey Hall of Fame inductees. Each rest stop is slated to feature exhibits, including inspirational posters designed by renowned New Jersey architect Michael Graves, compelling artifacts and an interactive Wall of Fame featuring a life-sized video monitor showcasing over 200 biographical vignettes of all inductees and their acceptance speeches. "Millions of New Jersey drivers travel on the Garden State Parkway every day," said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Scaccetti-Gutierrez. "The service areas they visit during those travels are a fitting place to call attention to the accomplishments of their fellow New Jerseyans in the arts, entertainment, and sports. And there is no organization better suited to identify the New Jerseyans worthy of this recognition than the New Jersey Hall of Fame." With reporting by Josh Bakan.