Union County, NJ – Lawn tennis, anyone?
That’s right, a real grass tennis court will make its debut Saturday at the Deserted Village of Feltville in the Watchung Reservation. The opening is all part of the Four Centuries in A Weekend celebration across Union County.
The grass tennis court was popular when the Village was a summer resort called Glenside Park, from 1882 to 1916. Not used for decades, it succumbed to the forces of nature and time.
But that has all changed as a result of a Garwood Boy Scout. Nathan Kramer chose to make the restoration of the court his Eagle Scout project and visitors will be impressed by the transformation.
“Nathan did an incredible job,” said Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski. “All the overgrown vegetation is gone. There is new fencing so that players won’t have to chase tennis balls into the woods, and there is a beautiful new gateway welcoming visitors to the court.”
“Parks even found some old wooden tennis rackets, so players will really get to experience what it was like playing on that court decades ago,” Kowalski said.
“Four Centuries in a Weekend: A Journey through Union County’s History,” will take place on Saturday, October 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 16 from noon to 5 p.m.
Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, with the cooperation of staff and volunteers at 35 house museums and historic sites, the two-day free event opens the doors to more than 370 years of history throughout the county.
Union County Parks celebrates the weekend at the Deserted Village with free hayrides, tours, colonial children’s games, and more.
Children can earn a Time Traveler’s Certificate and a Four Centuries Patch by visiting and obtaining a Time Traveler Passport at any of the 35 sites, having it stamped and returning the completed form to the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.
More details about Four Centuries in a Weekend are available online at ucnj.org.
For free copies of the Four Centuries in a Weekend tour booklet, map and further information, telephone 908-558-2550 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., NJ Relay Users dial 711, or e-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.
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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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