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Explore the World of Minerals, Gems & Jewelry At Trailside Nature and Science Center, November 4 & 5

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.

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Freeholders, Plainfield City and State Officials Break Ground on Athletic Fields at Cedar Brook Park

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Linda Carter, Angel G. Estrada and Alexander Mirabella joined Union County Manager Alfred Faella, Deputy County Manger Amy Wagner, Union County Director of Parks Ron Zuber, Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp and members of Plainfield City Council in breaking ground on two new turf fields at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield. Work is expected to begin on the fields in November, and the project will include lighting, sidewalks, small bleachers, team benches and 18 additional parking spots. One field will be multi-use for soccer, football and lacrosse; the other will be a “junior” field for soccer usage.
(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders joined with Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp and members of City Council and the Board of Education in breaking ground on two new turf fields at Cedar Brook Park.  The fields, which replace existing grass sports fields,  are expected to be completed by next summer.

“Cedar Brook park is one of the most popular parks in the County system, and it was designed as much for recreational use as it was for aesthetic beauty,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “We look forward to providing improved recreational amenities in the park for our youth.”

Freeholder Linda Carter, a resident of Plainfield and a member of the Freeholder Board’s Parks Standing Committee added: “Our recreational facilities continue to be in great demand, and the new turf will help ensure that these fields recover more quickly from usage and inclement weather and provide more opportunities for use. Over the past decade, we have continued to make upgrades to Cedar Brook which has elevated its standing as top-notch park and recreational destination.”

Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp added: “Cedar Brook Park is one of Plainfield’s great attractions, and we are looking forward to the upgrades and improvements to the fields that will increase recreational opportunities for our youth and older active adults.”

Others in attendance included: Plainfield City Council President Rebeccca Williams, City Council Vice President Barry Goode, and Councilmembers Joylette Mills-Ransome, Bridget Rivers, Charles McCrae, and Board of Education member Carmencita Pile.

New Jersey State Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-22), whose district includes Plainfield, Clark, Fanwood, Linden, Rahway, Scotch Plains, and Winfield, and was involved in the planning process, added:

“Cedar Brook draws visitors from Plainfield and beyond, and these significant new upgrades will ensure that more people can come and enjoy this valuable public asset,” said Green.

Work is expected to begin on the fields in November, and the project will include lighting, sidewalks, small bleachers, team benches and 18 additional parking spots. One field will be multi-use for soccer, football and lacrosse; the other will be a “junior” field for soccer usage.

The project, which is funded by the County, will cost $1.7 million and was designed by the Maser Consulting engineering firm of Red Bank, NJ. The contractor is the Abraham Construction Company of West Orange, NJ.

Over recent years, the County has made a series of improvements to Cedar Brook Park, which contains popular attractions such as its tennis courts and the Shakespeare Gardens, which have received recent upgrades.  The County has also installed a new spray park, playground, restrooms, and a new shed for the cricket field.

Over the next year, the County is also planning to install a handicapped-accessible fishing dock at the pond and make passive improvements (walking path and benches) to the Stelle Avenue branch of the park.

Cedar Brook Park 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—Wheeler Park, Warinanco Park, Echo Lake Park, Green Brook Park and the Watchung Reservation.

Cedar Brook Park is on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.  Improvements have been designed with consideration of the original Olmsted Brothers design for the park.

The park is a popular

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Union County College and Kean University Sign Joint Admission Agreement

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Christopher Hudak joined Union County College President Dr. Margaret McMenamin, Union County College Board of Trustees Chairman Victor Richel, Kean University President Dawood Farahi, faculty and students at the official signing of the Kean University and Union County College Joint Admission Agreement at the Union County College campus in Cranford. Students now have a seamless path to a bachelor’s degree at Kean University with the Joint Admissions Program agreement. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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New Things are Happening in the Old Deserted Village During ‘Four Centuries in a Weekend,’ Oct. 21-22

In spite of its name, the Deserted Village of Feltville receives thousands of visitors every month.  More than 2,500 visitors are expected on this coming weekend alone for the Village’s annual open house during Union County’s “Four Centuries in a Weekend” program.  Even those who have been to the Deserted Village before will find lots of new things to see at the historic site in Union County’s largest park, the Watchung Reservation.

Staffed activities will occur at the Deserted Village from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22.  Visitors may pick up a map and narrative at Feltville’s parking lot for a self-guided tour.  Or take a leisurely ride and see most of the Village’s buildings and grounds from a narrated hayride, which will run continuously both days.

If you are interested in a more detailed excursion, join the ghost of David Felt at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday for a 1-mile/2 hour tour of the factory town that he built in 1845 to house a printing mill and the 175 people who worked in his mill, on his farm, in his store or school, or in other occupations.  On Sunday at 2:00 p.m., Mr. Felt will provide a 30-minute long armchair tour on the porch of his general store for those who don’t have the time or stamina to make the walking tour.  At other times, the ghost of David Felt will be available at the general store to converse with visitors.

Would you rather read more about it?   Fifteen professionally prepared interpretive signs will be formally “unveiled” during the Four Centuries celebration.  They use text and photographs to provide both a general history and very specific stories about the Deserted Village.

In one of his movies, Indiana Jones said that in archaeology, X never marks the spot.  But take a tour of the Deserted Village at 3:00 pm on Sunday, and learn how an X on the ground yielded not only a great assemblage of artifacts, but also revealed an interesting social history.  The tours will be led by Matthew Tomaso, Dr. Richard Veit, and Carissa Scarpa, all of whom are professional archaeologists who have conducted archaeological investigations at the Deserted Village.  And children can get their hands dirty digging for artifacts throughout the weekend.

At 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Revolutionary War historian and author Robert Mayers will speak in Masker’s Barn about General George Washington’s troop movements in the Watchung Mountains.  His talk will be followed by a question and answer session and book signing.

“We are fortunate to have an author of Mayers’ caliber come to talk with Union County residents about the Revolutionary War history in their own backyard,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski.  “When the County created the Battle of the Short Hills Historic Trail several years ago, we recognized the route Washington’s retreating forces took up what is now New Providence Road – just to the west of where everyone will be listening to Mayers’ presentation.”

The original settler of the area that is now the Watchung Reservation, Peter Willcocks, built a sawmill in the Blue Brook Valley in 1736 and supplied lumber to farmers as they built farms in what was then the frontier of America.  Four Centuries visitors will find Peter’s son, John, in the Deserted Village cemetery, visiting the graves of his mother, Phebe Badgely Willcocks and other relatives.  John was a New Jersey militia soldier who was killed early in the Revolutionary War, during the retreat of Washington’s army from Fort Lee. 

Because of those Revolutionary War connections, Union County is now one of 14 counties formally designated for inclusion in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area.  Since the Crossroads program is administered by the National Park Service, visitors are now able to get their Passport to Your National Parks stamped in the Deserted Village’s general store.  If you have not started to collect National Park Passports stamps yet, you can make the Deserted Village your first stop and buy a Passport right in the store.

Some visitors are expected to travel to Feltville from other states to take part in the Four Centuries program, and to get their NPS Passports stamped.  Whether coming from near or far, up to eight families will, for the first time, be able to stay in the Deserted Village for the weekend in their own recreational vehicles.  Permit applications are available at www.ucnj.org/dv.

The Church/Store Building was built by David Felt in 1845 to serve the needs of his mill town inhabitants.  The general store downstairs and the church upstairs met the Feltville residents’ needs, both materially and spiritually.  Today the general store serves as the Village Visitor Center and is open to the public most Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from noon to 5 p.m.  Exhibits of artifacts, photographs and maps depict the Village’s history across four centuries.  Starting this weekend, the Visitor Center will be a general store again, with nostalgic candy, snacks, toys and games on sale.  A food vendor will be grilling nearby for those who want something more substantial to eat or drink.  Picnic tables are available for families wanting to pack a lunch.

David Felt’s store provided the residents of Feltville with food from his 600-acre farm, which included livestock and apple and peach orchards.  A small apple orchard was recreated along Cataract Hollow Road earlier this year.  A hands-on demonstration of apples being pressed into cider will be ongoing throughout the Four Centuries weekend.

Children will be excited to play old-fashioned children’s games on the Deserted Village’s grass tennis court.  They can also buy a small pumpkin and draw a face on it.  And at the general store, they can learn from a schoolmarm how to write with a goose quill pen and ink.

All are welcome to tour the beautifully restored circa-1882 Masker’s Barn carriage house.  Outside the Barn, sit for a while and roast marshmallows at the new campfire ring.

All activities for the Four Centuries weekend are rain or shine, and most are free of charge. Enter the Deserted Village via Cataract Hollow Road, off of Glenside Avenue (GPS address – 1 Cataract Hollow Road, Berkeley Heights). Wear warm clothes and sturdy walking shoes.

For additional information about the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park, visit the County website at www.ucnj.org/DV.   Tickets are already sold out for Haunted Hayrides that will run at the Deserted Village on Oct. 27-29.  Information about over 30 other Four Centuries in a Weekend sites is available from the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, (908) 558-2550, or on the Union County website at https://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs/.

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Union County Clerk Offers Extra Opening for Vote-By-Mail on Saturday, November 4

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds Union County residents that the County Clerks’ Elections Office in Elizabeth and Westfield will be open for special hours on Saturday, November 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for anyone wishing to obtain an application for a Vote-By-Mail ballot in person.

“If desired, voters can apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot, fill out their ballot and cast it in a secure collection box at the Elizabeth or Westfield office, all in one visit,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “I encourage voters to use Vote-by-Mail, and my office provides this ‘One-Stop’ service to help ensure that the process is user-friendly and convenient.”

Voters not using the County Clerk’s One-Stop service must return their Vote-by-Mail ballots to the Union County Board of Elections by mail or in person by Election Day.

To use the One-Stop service at the Elizabeth and Westfield offices, a 2015 state law requires voters to provide a New Jersey driver’s license or New Jersey identification card with their photo, name, address and signature.

Voters may apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot in person at both locations until Monday, November 6 at 3:00 p.m.

Voters can also download a Vote-by-Mail application through the County Clerk’s unioncountyvotes.com elections website and Union County Votes app, or request an application by mail by contacting the Elections Office at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

 

The Election Office is located at the County Clerk’s Main Office in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in midtown Elizabeth. To access the Election Office during special Saturday Vote-by-Mail hours, voters must use the rear entrance of the Courthouse on Elizabethtown Plaza. The Election Office is located in Room 113.

 

The Annex Office in Westfield is located in the Colleen Fraser Building at the Union County complex, at 300 North Avenue East. Street and lot parking are available, and mass transit is nearby.

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Visit the County Clerk’s new elections website, unioncountyvotes.com.

Connect with Union County on social media.

 

 

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Rape Crisis Advocates Needed

Union County, NJThe Union County Rape Crisis Center (RCC) needs volunteer advocates to assist victims of sexual violence. The Rape Crisis Center will train volunteers during daytime sessions at the Colleen Fraser Building at the Union County complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.  Prior to training, each volunteer must come to the Rape Crisis Center for an informal interview.

“These volunteers serve Union County residents during a physical and emotional crisis in their lives,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergens. “Volunteer advocates guide victims through legal and medical systems while providing emotional support, and respecting the strict confidentiality of each case.”

Volunteers must be Union County residents at least 18 years of age.  They must hold a valid driver’s license and have their own vehicle.

For further information about volunteering, and to schedule an interview, call the Union County Rape Crisis Center at 908-233-7273. Additional information about volunteering is available at the Rape Crisis Center’s blog, www.unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.

The Rape Crisis Center is part of the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Planning, and has been serving Union County residents since 1984.

 

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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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Join the Union County Environmental Stewards and Make a Positive Impact in Your Community

Union County, NJ – Are you concerned about the environment and want to learn how to make a difference? For the first time, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension will offer its Environmental Steward Program in Union County.

The Environmental Steward program is designed to help non-scientists to learn more about the science behind the environmental issues impacting their communities.

“The Freeholder Board strongly supports the Rutgers Cooperative Extension in its mission of connecting the public with scientific research,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “As a sister program to the Extension’s popular Master Gardener and Tree Steward programs, the new Environmental Steward course will enable residents to learn valuable skills and insights from the experts, and apply their knowledge to help create more healthful, sustainable communities.”

Participants in the Environmental Stewards program will attend classroom training sessions taught by experts from Rutgers University and non-profit organizations.

The series of classes begins on Friday, January 26. All sessions will be held on Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County offices, located in the Colleen Fraser Building at the county services complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East.

Class topics include climate change, soil health, energy conservation, water resource protection, invasive species and open space management, habitat conservation, protecting pollinators, and environmental policy. Optional fieldtrips to environmentally significant sites around the state are included as part of the program.

To become a certified Rutgers Environmental Steward, graduates of the class portion of the program complete a 60-hour volunteer internship of their choosing. Internships are unique and intended to align with the passion of the individual, the needs of the program, and the community.

Applications are now being accepted to join the program. The application deadline is Wednesday, January 24.

Applications and more details are available online at envirostewards.rutgers.edu. For additional assistance contact Michele Bakacs at Rutgers, bakacs@njaes.rutgers.edu or 732-398-5274.

Environmental Stewards of Union County is an all-volunteer program run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Freeholder Board. The Extension joins Union County in a nationwide system designed to deliver science-based information to local communities, under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For more information about Union County Extension programs, including 4-H, visit ucnj.org/RCE.

Quick links to all environmental programs and activities in Union County are available at The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

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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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Union County Same-Sex Married Residents Seek Second-Parent Adoption to Gain Parental Rights

Union County, NJ — In September, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders presented the first Union County LGBTQ Pride event in recent history. Dozens of families shared their stories with event organizers and elected officials at Union County’s Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic, an event organized to celebrate diversity and marriage equality. On Friday, October 13, Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Rahway Mayor Samson D. Steinman and over a dozen LGBTQ allies stood in support of equality with Union County (Rahway) residents to raise awareness and support equality for same-sex families in Union County.

“Following conversations with parents at the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic last month, it has become clear that many same-sex couples with children have important questions regarding legal guardianship,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board proudly supports all families in Union County. We stand as allies and advocates for our families that deserve full equality. We support changes in State laws that alleviate the extensive financial and emotional burden to gain legal parental rights.”

Misunderstanding of the laws could have adverse effects on married same-sex families in the event of a crisis. The concern at the center of many conversations during the September family Pride event is the issues of “second-parent adoptions” and legal guardianship of children in same-sex families.

Overwhelmingly, LGBTQ allies and parents assume that the 2015 US Supreme Court ruling in support of same-sex marriage resolved equality issues for the married LGBTQ community — the benefits of which are being challenged daily by states nationwide.

While states are redefining the legal benefits and securities of marriage across the country – challenging the extent of the marriage equality ruling – same-sex married couples cannot rely on “marital presumption” (a rule generally applied to children born of a man and a woman) or a child’s birth certificate (New Jersey allows both parents regardless of sexual orientation to be listed on a child’s birth certificate), and thus these families are seeking second-parent adoptions to secure legal parental rights of their children.

While the process of second-parent adoptions is different from state to state, the financial and emotional burden of the process is felt by all same-sex couples who seek the security of legal parentage of their child.

Union County residents and same-sex married couple, Christy Wilson and Danni Newbury, familiar with the second-parent adoption process from their first daughter in 2013 – prior to the 2015 US Supreme Court ruling – like many same-sex couples, were surprised to learn that they would need to endure the second-parent adoption experience again for their second-child in 2017.

“When we were ready to have a second child, we assumed my rights as the second parent were secured with the Federal marriage equality ruling,” noted Ms. Newbury the non-biological parent of the same-sex couple’s children. “It wasn’t until after our daughter was born that we checked in with a lawyer. We were surprised, but relieved that we looked into it.”

“Given the priorities of the administration in Washington, we must do all we can legally to protect the security of our family,” said Ms. Wilson, birth-mother of both children to Ms. Wilson and Ms. Newbury.

In New Jersey, the second-parent adoption process takes months, costs upwards of $3,500, includes fingerprinting, state and FBI background checks, and culminates with a hearing in front of a Judge — all to demonstrate that the second-parent of same-sex couples is fit to be granted legal parental rights to a child that they financially and emotionally helped to conceive.

“The unfortunate situation is that some same-sex families assume that because they are married or because the names of both parents are listed on the child’s birth certificate, both parents have legal parental rights,” noted Ms. Newbury, an employee of the County of Union in the Office of Public Information. “In the case of most same-sex married couples, that is not accurate.”

On Friday, October 13, backed by LGBTQ equality allies, Ms. Wilson and Ms. Newbury shared the second-parent adoption proceeding experience with friends, family and colleagues in an effort to raise awareness about the need for same-sex families to understand and explore their legal options to protect their families, and also to seek support for changing New Jersey State laws to represent a more just and equal process for same-sex couples to secure parental guardianship – an effort that has garnered support by elected officials from Rahway and Union County, as well as State Legislators in Trenton.

“Pride events matter because inequalities are not always obvious,” said Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen. “When a community comes together to voice their need for support, it’s important to acknowledge their concerns and work with them toward full equality.”

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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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Train through Time Rolls on Four Centuries In A Weekend

Union County, NJBring the kids, bring a friend, because once again it’s that time to ride the rails into history.

On October 21 and 22, Union County celebrates Four Centuries In A Weekend, when historic sites and museums across the County open their doors to the public, free of charge.

Many of the sites are within walking distance of the train stations across the County, with some sites offering free shuttle service.

Kean University will once again provide free trolley service from NJ Transit’s Union Station to Liberty Hall Museum. Meanwhile, Mountainside will provide a free shuttle that will make a loop from the Westfield train station to the Deserted Village, with stops at the Miller-Cory Museum, the Reeve House and Mountainside’s Deacon Hetfield House, before reaching the Deserted Village, where the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation sponsors a host of activities and tours for young and old alike.

“It’s a fun outing, with a train ride and a little history along the way,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski. “Many of the towns’ historic sites are within walking distance of the stations,” she said, noting that the County has put together a list of all the sites along the County’s three train lines.

The list is available online at the Four Centuries website, ucnj.org/4C (scroll down to see “Visit Union County’s Historic Sites via Mass Transit” or go to ucnj.org/trainthrutime).

 “Some sites, like Fanwood, are right at the train station,” Kowalski said.  “Others have further walks but if it is a beautiful fall day, it may be just the day to enjoy a leisurely stroll.”

“Four Centuries is such a great event,” Kowalski added. “A train ride is just the icing on the cake and adds to the fun of learning about our area’s incredibly rich history.”

NJ Transit allows children to ride free on weekends. Monthly commuter passes are also valid. For those wishing to cycle from a train station, be sure to check with NJ Transit’s guidelines for bringing bikes aboard the trains.

Long before the Raritan Valley Line, there was the Central Railroad of New Jersey. From stations across Union County, from Plainfield to Elizabeth, it was possible to board a train to Chicago, or from Jersey City, to board a ferry to New York City. The CNJ is long gone, however some of the historic sites along the route remain, and you can ride the train to visit some of them.

For quick links to all transportation options countywide visit Union County ConneXions at ucnj.org/connect.

For more information and complete details on all Four Centuries in a Weekend events visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs or contact the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 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. Visit online at ucnj.org/parks or call 908-527-4900.

Photo credit (light enhanced): Kean University Trolley by Kristen DeMatos.

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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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Limited RV Camping Coming to Watchung Reservation for Four Centuries in a Weekend History Event

The General Store is one of the 19th century buildings in the Deserted Village, located in Union County’s Watchung Reservation, where a limited number of RV camping spots are available for the Four Centuries in a Weekend history event.

Union County, NJA 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.