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Freeholder Board Announces Children’s Recreation and Greening Union County Grants totaling $1.1 Million

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella present the 2018 Kids Recreation Grant and 2018 Greening Union County Grant to Summit Mayor Nora Radest, Councilwoman Marjorie Fox, Councilman Matthew Gould, Summit Community Programs Director Judith Leblein Josephs and Assistant Director Mark Ozoroski during the Freeholders’ mobile meeting in Summit. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Municipalities across Union County can look forward to improving recreation opportunities for youth and expanding their tree canopies, with the help of two countywide grant programs, the Kids Recreation Trust Fund and Greening Union County grant programs.

Both grant programs are awarded by the Freeholder Board through the Union County Open Space, Kids Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. They provide matching funds to assist communities with projects that meet local needs.

“The Open Space, Kids Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund plays a crucial role in helping our local governments continue to improve resources for our citizens,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The funds awarded help to improve the lives of others by modernizing park spaces, both by upgrading their equipment and by making parks and municipalities greener. Great things happen when we all pull together with a common cause”

“Since their inception, the response to these two funding opportunities has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic,” said Freeholder Al Mirabella, who chairs the Trust Fund. “Each year it is inspiring to see how these Trust Fund dollars assist with important contributions to community health and well-being.”

The Union County Open Space, Kids Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund was established by popular referendum in 2000 with an initial focus on expanding and improving County parks. In 2004 the mission was broadened to include Kids Recreation annual matching grants to municipalities for improving local children’s recreation resources, and annual Greening Union County “tree for tree” matching grants for municipal properties.

Freeholder Angel Estrada, who initiated Greening Union County as Chairman in 2004, noted that the program has provided funding for 12,214 trees for municipalities since then.

“In addition to their aesthetic appeal, the bottom line benefits of trees are far-ranging. Preventing erosion, absorbing storm water and cooling down city streets in the summer are just a few examples,” said Estrada. “Studies also show that trees help improve air quality, lower noise levels, raise property values, and even have an impact on crime rates.”

The 2018 Kids Recreation Trust Fund totaled $1 million in matching grants. The awardees are:

  • Berkeley Heights: $48,367.32 for upgrading several parks, lower Columbia Park and Veteran Memorial Park.
  • Clark: $30,000.00 for update to playground for children’s disabilities, benches, tables and swings.
  • Cranford: $60,000.00 for Memorial Complex, Centennial Pool upgrades, 3 basketball court resurfacing and new play structures.        
  • Elizabeth: $90,000.00 for synthetic turf at Sisselman Field.                              
  • Fanwood: $40,000.00 for playground equipment, rope climbing structure, swings, rubber surface and benches.
  • Garwood: $20,000.00 for a water fountain, shading, basketball hoops and backboards at Hartman Park.
  • Hillside: $9,666.58 for multi fitness stations and borders.
  • Kenilworth:  $50,000.00 for rehabilitation of recreation building.   
  • Linden: $70,000.00 for rehabilitation of city parks.
  • Mountainside:  $38,500.00 for resurfacing, fencing backboard posts at Echo Brook basketball court, lightening detection system.
  • New Providence:  $54,000.00 for walking paths and landscaping to enhance Harmony Park (Try CAN).
  • Plainfield: $60,000.00 for handicap accessible playground at Milt Campbell Park.
  • Rahway: $70,000.00 for Madden field baseball and football field upgrades and turf section on school property.
  • Roselle: $54,000.00 for Renovation to Grove Street Park.
  • Roselle Park: $35,000.00 for volleyball equipment, baseball field cover, field tarp storage rollers, bicycle racks and a mobile bandstand.
  • Scotch Plains: $60,000.00 for poured rubber safety surface to Brookside Park playground.
  • Springfield:  $30,000.00 for ADA accessible playground structures, benches, new surfacing and walkways.
  • Summit: $55,000.00 for Bocce Court relocation at Community Center.
  • Union:    $70,000.00 for Friberger Park basketball court upgrades, picnic area, benches, tables and surfacing.
  • Westfield: $55,000.00 for handicapped unisex restrooms at Memorial Field Complex.

The 2018 Greening Union County funding totaled $100,475.00 in “tree for tree” matching grants. The number of trees planned by each awardee is (Trust Fund matching grants are in parentheses):

  • Berkeley Heights: 10 ($3,000.00)

 

  • Cranford: 46 ($4,500.00)

 

  • Elizabeth: 150 ($15,000.00)

 

  • Fanwood: 10 ($1,375.00)

 

  • Hillside: 14 ($2,100.00)

 

  • Kenilworth: 10 ($3,000.00)

 

  • Linden: 50 ($11,250.00)

 

  • New Providence:  20 ($2,500.00)

 

  • Plainfield: 30 ($5,000.00)

 

  • Rahway: 30 ($3,000.00)

 

  • Roselle: 70 ($5,000.00)

 

  • Roselle Park: 50 ($5,000.00)

 

  • Scotch Plains: 60 ($3,750.00)

 

  • Springfield: 50 ($8,000.00)

 

  • Summit: 70 ($10,800.00)

 

  • Union: 80 ($4,700.00)

 

  • Westfield: 50 ($12,500.00)                     

 

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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