Union County Announces 2021 Children's Recreation Grants

Westfield NJ

22 October, 2021

10:42 AM

Description

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that grants have been awarded to 20 municipalities for improvements to recreation resources for children, through the Kid's Recreation Trust Fund. In addition, 19 municipalities were awarded matching grants for planting new trees through the Greening Union County program. Both grant programs are funded through the Union County Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. "Since 2000, the Open Space Trust Fund has helped maintain, improve, and expand our public recreation and open space resources," said Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella, "The pandemic has awakened a new spirit to reconnect with the outdoors, making these grant programs all the more important throughout the Union County community." "These two grant programs enhance the quality of life in our urban and suburban communities, by providing assistance to local recreation programs for children and by helping municipalities create beneficial treescapes," said Commissioner Kimberly Palmierei-Mouded, who is the Chair of the Commissioner Board's Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. The Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund was established by popular referendum in 2000. It has provided the Commissioner Board with the ability to preserve over 315 acres of land throughout the County of Union. In addition to acquisition of land, creation of parkland, and updating of recreational facilities throughout the county, the grant programs of the Trust Fund provide an avenue for municipalities to focus on their hometown recreational priorities, increase tree plantings, and stabilize and restore historic sites. The following municipalities received grants from the 2021 round of the Kids Recreation Trust Fund: Berkeley Heights: $40,000 for replacement of wooden picnic tables, installation of security cameras, tennis court improvements at Columbia Park, and turf field drainage assessment and DEP permit analysis for Lower Columbia Park Soccer Field.Clark: $100,000 for the replacement of the exiting baseball and soccer fields that are being converted to turfCranford: $60,000 for Indoor Tennis Court Renovation, Johnson Park beautification, and Adams Avenue Field Concession StandElizabeth: $150,000 for improvement to the Sixth Street Playground, installing drainage improvements, lighting, landscaping, trash and recycling receptacles, and installing bike racksFanwood: $30,000 for installation of a Gazebo-playground at Forest Road ParkGarwood: $30,000 for removing curbing and constructing an ADA accessible ramp at Hartman Park and a pavilion at Garwood Sports ComplexHillside: $43,055 for installation of new, upgraded basketball court surfacing at the Maple Avenue ParkKenilworth: $30,000 for new and improved park equipment at the Borough's three pars with specific concentration to Urquhart and Louis Wood ParksLinden: $50,000 for reconstruction of the existing basketball courts at St. Marks PlaceMountainside: $30,000 for improvements to the Deerfield School Baseball & Softball Field and Echo Brook Field at Borough HallNew Providence: $30,000 for removal and replacement of the pavilion in the center of Veterans Memorial Park to provide a more user-friendly park spacePlainfield: $33,500 for resurfacing of basketball courts at Maple Crest ParkRahway: $60,000 for replacing the playground structure and safety surface at Grover Cleveland FieldRoselle: $60,000 for improvements to Poplar Street Park, including replacing equipment per ADA and OSHA and addressing drainage and landscaping issuesRoselle Park: $40,000 for playground safety and featured equipment improvements to Acker Park and Aldene ParkScotch Plains: $65,000 for playground improvements and upgrades to the walkways and landscaping at Greenside ParkSpringfield: $40,000 for installation of of a variety of modern and interactive playground elements at Irwin ParkSummit: $50,000 for improvements to the Paddle Tennis Court at Wilson Park, replacing wooden boards, and updating the park's entrance to make it ADA-compliant with a wheelchair-accessible rampUnion: $70,000 for the first phase of a large-scale upgrade to Weber Park, including the installation of a Bankshot Basketball Court, relocating the hitting wall, curb cut, making accessible parking spaces, the conversion of one tennis court to include pickle ball lines, and a new walkwayWestfield: $43,320.40 for the installation of an ADA-compliant playground structure and equipment at Windsor Park The following municipalities received grants through the 2021 round of the Greening Union County Grant Program: Berkeley Heights: $4,000 Clark: $3,500Cranford: $2,500Elizabeth: $16,000Fanwood: $1,375Garwood: $2,500Hillside: $2,500Kenilworth: $3,000Linden: $6,000New Providence: $2,500Plainfield: $10,000Rahway: $5,000Roselle: $2,500 Roselle Park: $5,000Scotch Plains: $3,750Springfield: $4,000Summit: $8,000 Union: $7,000 Westfield: $10,000 For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health. For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email [email protected] or use the online Contact Form. Connect with Union County on social media.