Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that two national achievement recognitions for history projects have been presented to the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, a division of the Department of Parks and Recreation.
“Union County is rich in history, and this Freeholder Board is committed to engaging the public with programs and activities that provide new insights into the people, places and events that have shaped our community,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, who has been a member of the Parks Advisory Board for several years. “I would like to thank our Parks and Recreation staff for developing these new award-winning programs, which are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.”
The awards were announced by the National Association of Counties (NACo) in the category of Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation for new interpretive signage at the Deserted Village of Feltville, and in the Civic Education and Public Information category for a group of projects including history trading cards, the County’s inclusion in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, and its sponsorship of the National Parks passport program, which has brought visitors from out of state to visit local historic sites.
“I am always inspired and impressed by the dedication of our employees to make a national mark, and have our collective work supported by our Freeholder Board recognized. Our county delegation was truly in good company and we benefited from the NACo experience,” said Freeholder Angela Garretson.
“Union County’s place in the Revolutionary War is well known, and these new programs help inform the public about the many other sites and personalities who have made an impact on our history and, in some cases, on the world,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams. “I know that historic preservation is very important to my hometown of Plainfield, and we want all Union County residents to have the enriching experience of history right in their own backyards.”
The national recognition is especially significant because New Jersey has not been represented in the NACo awards program in the Arts, Culture & Historic Preservation category since 2007. In addition, 2010 was the last year that a New Jersey county won the
The awards were announced in May and were officially presented to Union County Freeholders Angela Garretson and Rebecca Williams in an awards ceremony earlier this week in Nashville, Tennessee.
These award-winning history projects support the goals of Chairman Granados’s Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” goals for empowering adults and children through education.
Nationally, NACo provides awards in 18 different categories that reflect the comprehensive array of services provided by county government.
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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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Photo caption: Union County Freeholders Rebecca Williams (left) and Angela Garretson (right) accept two National Association of Counties achievement awards with Union County Director of Parks and Recreation Ron Zuber (far right) and Gabriel Gluck (far right).