Union County, NJ – A limited number of camping slots for RV enthusiasts will be set aside in the Deserted Village during the Four Centuries In A Weekend history event under a Union County Parks trial program.
The eight slots will be created in a field in the Deserted Village located in the 2,200-acre Watchung Reservation, part of the Union County parks system. All RVs (recreational vehicles) must be self-sustaining as there are no utilities on site.
“Heritage tourism is still an untapped reservoir in Union County, where our roots go back to pre-Revolutionary War days,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen.
“In the short time since we announced our involvement with the Passport To Your National Parks stamp program, we’ve received inquiries from out of state residents about our annual history celebration,” Bergen said. “We know there is a significant number of people who travel with RVs around the country to see parks and historic sites and add new stamps to their collection.”
Union County is one of 14 counties in the National Park Service’s Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage. Because of that designation, Revolutionary War era sites across the County are eligible to participate in the Passport To Your National Parks program.
Under the coordination of the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, and additional funding from Union County Parks & Recreation, nearly 30 stamps were purchased and distributed to the sites, to be unveiled during Four Centuries In a Weekend, October 21 and 22. A complete list and description of all the sites open to the public that weekend is at ucnj.org/4C.
The eight available camping slots must be reserved through the Union County Parks Reservation Desk in Westfield and will be handled on a first come-first served basis. The registered owner of the RV is required to sign a Temporary RV Permit available for download at ucnj.org/DV, and a Special Event Application available at ucnj.org/parks-activities.
To contact the Reservation Desk, call 908-654-9805 or email parkrequest@ucnj.org.
All recreational vehicles need to arrive by 10 p.m. on Friday, October 20 and may stay through Monday noon, October 23.
Potential campers should also know that open fires are prohibited in this temporary camping area. The fee for weekend will be similar to the fee at the Scout Camping Area near Trailside Nature & Science Center, $30 for county residents and $60 for out-of-county residents.
While visitors will certainly want to visit historic sites across the county, the Deserted Village will be hosting two days full of free activities, from hayrides to tours to games and face-painting for kids.
More information about the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage in New Jersey is available at revolutionarynj.org.
For more information and complete details on all Four Centuries in a Weekend events, visit ucnj.org/4C or contact the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 908-558-2550 (NJ Relay Users dial 711) or culturalinfo@ucnj.org.
The Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs is a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, which offers enriching public programs and activities all year. For more information visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation or call 908-527-4900.
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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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