Author: Web Site Administrator

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.

Delays Anticipated on NEC and NJCL; Substitute Busing required on RVL

NJ TRANSIT is advising customers of upcoming Amtrak signal work which will impact rail travel Friday night November 10^th through Saturday and Sunday November 11^th-12^th.  Amtrak’s work, between Newark Penn Station and Secaucus, continues their effort to maintain its Northeast Corridor in a state of good repair.

NJ TRANSIT is relying on assurances by Amtrak the work will be complete prior to the start of the Monday morning rush hour on November 13^th.

Beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday, November 10^th and continuing through the end of service on Sunday, November 12^th, customers traveling on the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line may experience delays of up to 60 minutes in both directions.  The Amtrak work will require signals near Newark Penn Station to be taken out of service, requiring trains to operate at restricted speeds.

To accommodate this signal work and manage train traffic through the area, NJ TRANSIT will not operate the Northeast Corridor 7600 series trains between Rahway and Penn Station New York.  Customers will be accommodated by the following train which is scheduled 5-10 minutes behind the 7600 series.  Those trains will add a station stop at North Elizabeth.

During that same time, Amtrak will maximize this work period to also perform track work where the Raritan Valley Line connects with the Northeast Corridor.  Customers on the Raritan Valley Line will have substitute busing in place to/from Newark Penn Station as follows:

• Friday night 11/10 9 p.m. through the end of the service day busing will be in place in both directions between Cranford and Newark Penn Station.
• Saturday 11/11 and Sunday 11/12 busing will be in place all day in both directions between Union and Newark Penn Station.       

Customers on these three rail lines (NEC, NJCL, RVL) are advised to allow for extra time to and from their destinations.  Customers also should pay close attention to station and crew announcements.

This work will impact customers on the NEC, NJCL and RVL planning to attend the following sports events and concerts.  Customers are strongly encouraged to allow plenty of extra travel time:

• 11/11 NY Rangers at MSG 1 p.m.
• 11/11 NY Knicks at MSG at 8 p.m.
• 11/11 NJ Devils at Prudential Center at 7 p.m.
• 11/12 Dead & Company concert at MSG at 7 p.m.

Important Note: M&E and Midtown Direct service will NOT be impacted by this Amtrak signal work.

Travel Tips

• Check njtransit.com or news media before starting your trip for service advisories or alerts that may affect your trip.
• Stay connected during your commute through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Search for rail, bus or light rail-specific Twitter accounts for the best information. While we make every effort to respond to comments posted on our social media channels, we recommend that you contact our Customer Service team directly with critical or time-sensitive issues.
  • Twitter:  @NJTRANSIT
  • Facebook:  facebook.com/NJTRANSIT
  • YouTube Channel:  TheNewJerseyTransit
• If you will be altering your travel pattern during this time, you may want to update your travel alert preferences in your My Transit account. If you do not have a My Transit account, sign up to receive alerts at njtransit.com/mytransit. 

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Bette Jane Kowalski and Angel G. Estrada visited with Joyce Chiappetta of the Kenilworth Historical Society at The Nitschke House in Kenilworth during Union County’s Four Centuries in a Weekend. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Bette Jane Kowalski and Angel G. Estrada presented Prevention Links CEO Pamela Capaci with a resolution proclaiming October 23-27 as Red Ribbon Week in Union County at the 19th Annual Red Ribbon Drug Prevention day in Union County’s Nomahegan Park in Cranford. They were joined by Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan, Acting Union County Prosecutor Tim Isenhour and other officials. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders celebrated the ninth annual Union County—UNICO District X Columbus Day Flag raising event at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

The program, which was emceed by Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, featured speakers from UNICO and County government along with Catiana Celentano, founder and owner of the Let’s Play in Italian Language and Cultural Center in Scotch Plains, and Nick Netta, of Netta Architects in Mountainside.

Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen, Freeholders Alexander Mirabella, Bette Jane Kowalski, Vernell Wright, Angel Estrada and County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi were in attendance.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders today broke ground on the Watchung Reservation Sensory Trail, the first of its kind in the county, that will be accessible to all and allow residents to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings at the Trailside Nature and Science Center.

“Access to the outdoors and nature is important to the health, well-being and education of all individuals regardless of age, location or physical capabilities,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support this project and others that provide equal access.”

Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, who is the Freeholder liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, said: “The sensory trail is specially designed for all park visitors and provides a way to safely experience the outdoors and provide opportunities to interact with nature. The Freeholder Board is committed to providing children and adults of all abilities access to recreational opportunities.”

The Watchung Reservation Sensory Trail is a 0.3 mile loop with a central gazebo.  The interpretive signage includes two talking kiosks highlighting the natural and human history of the Watchung Reservation.  

In addition, the 0.2 mile braille trail loop with guide ropes features multiple stops to learn about the local flora and fauna.  The central gazebo offers a sensory play area to attract children and encourage exploration and discovery. 

Sensory stimulation is provided through sensory gardens, musical components and nature-themed play structures designed to meet the physical, social and cognitive needs of different age groups. These areas provide tactile experiences and create opportunities to enjoy the touch, sound and smells of the outdoors.  

Trailside Nature & Science Center will utilize the new Sensory Trail and offer educational programs to allow students and families an opportunity to explore nature and gain a better understanding of the natural world around them.

The trail stretches from the Trailside Center and into fields surrounding the center and will be two outdoor classrooms along the trail (log and acorn searing) where naturalists can gather groups and/or make presentations.

The project was designed by CME Associates Consulting and Municipal Engineers, which is based out of six offices in New Jersey. The project contractor is Pavelec Brothers from Nutley, NJ. The cost of the project is $652,000 and construction is expected to begin shortly with completion by the end of February.

Over the past few years, the Freeholder Board has supported both sensory friendly productions at the Union County Performing Arts Center and the creation of the County’s first inclusive playground at Mattano Park in Elizabeth. The Freeholder Board is currently planning to support the creation of more inclusive playgrounds through the Open Space Trust Fund later this year. Additionally, the County continues to provide recreational programs that promote inclusion and social events for people with special needs through the Office of the County Parks Director.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite you to explore the fascinating world of rocks, minerals, fossils, gems and jewelry at Trailside Nature and Science Center on Saturday, November 4 and Sunday, November 5 from noon to 5 p.m. on both days.

“This two-day event, open to the public, brings the world of rocks and gems to life with many exhibits and displays,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Sponsored jointly with the New Jersey Mineralogical Society and the New Jersey Lapidary Society, the Mineral, Gem and Jewelry Show will host more than 20 vendors selling minerals, rocks, gemstones, jewelry, sea shells and fossils from around the world.  Geologists young and old will be mesmerized by the variety of specimens on display and for sale.  Children can purchase geodes, arrowheads and fluorescent minerals, while adults may enjoy the jewelry, fine gems and collector-grade pieces.  Free children’s activities are available.  Admission to the event on both days is free.

For more information about the Mineral, Gem and Jewelry Show call Trailside at 908-789-3670.  Visit www.ucnj.org/trailside for additional information on programs offered this fall at Trailside.  Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.