County of Union, New Jersey

  The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of photographs by Leo Osorio of Elizabeth in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of his work entitled “New Jersey & Beyond” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery until December 29. Gallery hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“We are pleased to have Mr. Osorio’s remarkable photographs on display,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “The exhibit showcases Mr. Osorio’s skills as a fine photographer of nature and architecture.”

Mr. Osorio says of his work, “I am self-taught in photography and have always enjoyed it. Every year that goes by I learn new techniques, sharpening & defining my style. I enjoy photographing the outdoors, nature in all aspects from Cherry Blooms to the way nature takes over an abandoned house to historic graveyards. I personally love historic homes and the architecture these homes have to offer.”

Leo Osorio has been a photographer since 2002 and has exhibited his work extensively. 2017 exhibits include: A Photographic View of Elizabeth and Beyond, Elizabeth Public Library; October 5^th, Elizabeth Public Library Historic Buildings of Elizabeth; the Snyder Academy, Elizabeth, October 15^th, Gone, But Not Forgotten: Cemetery Tomb Stone Photography. Leo Osorio’s Photography can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/LeoOsorioPhotography/.

Union County artists (whose works can be hung on a wall) interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl St., Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users can dial 711. E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

The  Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders presented matching grants to municipalities throughout Union County for upgrades to playgrounds and youth athletic facilities through the Kids Recreation Trust Fund. Several municipalities also received matching grants for street trees under the Greening Union County program. Funding for both programs is provided by the Union County Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Freeholder Board announced designs for the construction of a new state-of-the-art spray park with 33 attractions at John Russell Wheeler Park in Linden.

Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen said: “The spray park will provide yet another recreational component to Wheeler Park that our residents, especially the youngest ones, can enjoy. This is the latest in a series of investments in all our parks that are aimed at both modernizing our amenities while maximizing the recreational benefits in each facility.”

Freeholder Christopher Hudak, a resident of Linden, said:  “The spray park will be a regional attraction for our residents and their children who want to enjoy the warmer weather days outdoors. We have continued to make upgrades to Wheeler Park that is making it one of the finest recreational parks in the County.”

The spray park will replace the existing pool, which is slated for demolition in the next few weeks. The pool, which was built in 1931, had witnessed a decline in usage over the past 15 years, and had developed costly maintenance issues. Spray parks, which are in heavy demand throughout the County, are generally less costly to maintain and do not require life guards.

The spray park was designed by USA Architects of Somerville, NJ. The facility is anticipated to contain the following items, once a construction contract is finalized:

• Demolition of the existing pool, which will be filled in and built over;
• Demolition of the existing pool house and construction of a new field house, which will consist of locker rooms for the nearby turf fields, and changing rooms for the spray park as well as new rest rooms;
• The existing concession stand will be renovated;
• Construction of a spray park with 33 above-ground attractions including water cannons, slides, dump buckets, a dragon, spray bus, pirate ship and surf shack;
• The spray park will also feature 26 surface sprays including water tunnels, water jets and geysers;
• The parking lot will be redone with new lights added;
• The walking path (macadam) around the area will also be renovated.

As Freeholder Hudak noted, the spray park announcement is among the latest in a series of high-profile improvements at the park in recent years, including the opening of a new skate park, new softball and soccer turf fields with lights, and a new playground.  The park was also enabled for Wi-Fi in 2014.

Wheeler Park, which borders Routes 1 and 9 in Linden, was developed in 1925 by the Union County Park Commission, and was designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the noted engineering firm that designed a series of historic landmark parks in urban areas. Their list of projects includes Central Park in New York City and five others in the Union County parks system—Cedar Brook Park, Warinanco Park, Echo Lake Park, Green Brook Park and the Watchung Reservation.

Wheeler park contains a playground, three athletic fields, a skate park and walking paths. The park is named after John Russell Wheeler, the first Linden man killed in action during World War I.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders proudly announces the grand re-opening of the Warinanco Sports Center on November 4, 2017, and invites the community to see the facility’s newest remodel and updated amenities. The grand opening event will include appearances from the Cranford Hockey Club, general open skate sessions, Union County Department of Parks and Recreation exposition, and the county famous Union County Battle of the Badges hockey game.

The recent renovation project will cater to local residents in a whole new way by providing an 11,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in the heart of the county park, complete with meeting spaces for events, a café for visitors as well as catering services, and a brand-new ice rink floor. These are just a few of the notable updates, with all components truly capturing the original title of the rink as “The First Public Artificial Ice Staking Rink in Union County.”

“The new Warinanco Sports Center is a place where families will continue to make great memories,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, who is also the Freeholder Board’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board liaison. “We’ve completed an imaginative re-creation of the historic landmark for residents of Union County and surrounding areas.”

One of the great aspects of the two-phase project is the multipurpose use of the facility during the Spring and Summer months versus the Fall and Winter months. When the ice is removed from the rink floor in early Spring, field turf will be laid down to cater to the prominent baseball and softball community. This will allow the facility to be used as a year-round sports venue, in addition to the new amenities that will allow the facility to be used for far more than just sport.

The community grand opening event is open to the general public on November 4^th, with events beginning at 7:00am EST going into the evening. The Warinanco Sports Center staff encourages everyone to bring family and friends to visit the brand-new facility, meet the Parks and Recreation department, and watch the Union County Police force battle the hockey rink against the Union County fire department teams. The Warinanco Café will also be open all day serving dishes such as signature burgers, fresh salads, and specialty plates made fresh to order.

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Warinanco Sports Center has been a landmark for Union County skaters since 1961, and recently received an extensive $7 million modernization and renovation doubling the complex space and transforming it into a year-round venue for sports such as ice skating, hockey, baseball, and softball. In addition to a sports venue, the facility will also double as a meeting and events space for luncheons, cocktail parties, and corporate occasions.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Leon Grebla at (908) 298-7849 or email at warinancopark@gmail.com.

Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series brings a visually stunning sensory-friendly performance of Galumpha to the stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway this Sunday, October 29 at 2:00 p.m. Galumpha is imaginative acrobatic fun for the whole family.

“Union County’s series of sensory-friendly music, theater, and dance performances are specially adapted to help reduce disturbances and increase access for children and adults of all abilities,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is proud to partner with DCA Productions to bring the imaginative and exciting artistry of Galumpha as a sensory-friendly performance to the community.”

Galumpha combines stunning acrobatics, striking visual effects, physical comedy, and inventive choreography to bring to life a world of imagination and beauty; a sensory feast of images, consistently bringing audiences to their feet.

All tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the Box Office at 732-499-8226.

For information on additional Union County recreational programs for people with disabilities age five and up, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4781 or visit ucnj.org.