Category: Public Info

Residents can recycle their pumpkins for green energy.

Union County residents can put their Jack o’ Lanterns to good use after Halloween by participating in Union County’s Pumpkin Recycling Program, which returns this November after being a smash hit last year.

The program is coordinated by Union County and municipal partners. The pumpkins will be sent to an organic waste recycling facility and transformed into green energy.

“The pumpkin recycling program is an easy, convenient way for Union County residents to support the renewable energy industry in our community,” said County Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “The program also raises awareness about new opportunities to recycle food waste, instead of disposing it in landfills or incinerators.”

Three locations will be available for residents to drop off their pumpkins. Residents from any municipality in Union County can use any of these locations, regardless of their home town.

Residents can bring their program to any of three designated recycling locations between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., beginning on Tuesday, November 1.

The program will run every weekday, Monday through Friday except for holidays, until the end of November. The last day to drop off pumpkins will be Monday, November 28.

 The drop-off locations are:

• 101 Berkeley Avenue in Berkeley Heights (the Berkeley Heights Department of Public Works, next to the new Municipal Complex)
• 523 Trenton Avenue in Elizabeth (the Elizabeth Municipal Recycling Yard)
• 1300 Lamberts Mill Road in Westfield (the Westfield Conservation Center)

Only pumpkins will be accepted at these locations. Other food waste is not accepted. Candles and decorations must be removed.

The Pumpkin Recycling Program will send pumpkins to a processing facility in Elizabeth operated by the firm Waste Management. The company’s proprietary recycling system converts food waste into organic slurry, which is used to increase the output of biogas and other renewable products at municipal wastewater treatment plants.

Food waste is a global problem that contributes to excess greenhouse gas emissions while burdening local governments with waste disposal costs. In the U.S. alone, more than 52 million tons of food is displaced in the U.S. each year according to some estimates.

Traditionally, food waste is sent to landfills or burned in waste-to-energy facilities. New organic recycling systems provide a more sustainable way to manage food waste.

Union County residents can also help reduce food waste by using up leftovers, donating unused shelf items to food banks before their sell-by date expires, and starting a compost pile for vegetable scraps.

For more information about all Union County recycling programs and locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning website at ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

To receive schedule alerts, and to stay up to date with both countywide and Union local recycling programs in Union County, download the free Recycle Coach mobile app.

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

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds voters that her offices in Elizabeth and Westfield will be open for extended hours on Saturday, November 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for anyone seeking to obtain a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the 2022 General Election..

“The Saturday hours help ensure that everyone who applies for a Vote-by-Mail ballot can do so, without having to take time off from work or other weekday responsibilities,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

Voters who use the County Clerk’s One-Stop service can come to the Elizabeth or Westfield office, apply for their ballot, receive it, fill it out, and deposit it in a secure drop-box on site, all in the same visit. Privacy booths are located at the offices for voters to fill out their ballot.

The office locations and hours are:

Union County Courthouse

2 Broad Street, Room 113

Elizabeth

Regular hours: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm

Open Saturday, November 5, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm for Vote-by-Mail

Colleen Fraser Building

300 North Avenue East (Union County services complex)

Westfield

Regular hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:00am – 4:00pm; also open

Tuesday, Thursday: 8:00am – 7:30pm

Saturday: 9:00am – 1:00pm

For more information about Vote-by-Mail ballots and all other elections information visit the Union County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com or contact the office at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

For more information about all County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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Connect with Union County on social media.

Voters have four ways to return Vote by Mail ballots

The Union County Board of Elections reminds Vote-by-Mail Ballot voters to return their ballots on time.

“There are several ways to return your Vote-by-Mail ballots,” said Board of Elections Administrator, Nicole DiRado. “We encourage all VBM voters to return their ballots as soon as possible.”

Residents wishing to use Vote-by-Mail ballots can

• Secure Ballot Drop Box: There are 24 secure ballot drop boxes available to Union County Voters, with at least one in each town.  Ballots are picked up every day and returned to the Board of Elections for processing.  Ballots must be deposited into the drop by 8:00pm on Election Day.  For a complete list of drop boxes, check the Board’s website at www.ucnj.org/ucboe.
• United States Post Office (or third party delivery service): Voters can drop their ballot in the mail.  So long as the ballot is postmarked on or before Election Day and received within 6 days of election, the voter’s ballot will be canvassed. 
• In Person Delivery:  Ballots can be delivered in-person to the Union County Board of Elections.  The Board of Elections is open 8am – 4pm Monday through Friday.  The Board of Elections will have special openings on November 5 (9:00am – 2:00pm) and November 6 (10am – 2pm).  The Board will be open on Election Day from 6:00am to 8:00pm. The last time to deliver a ballot in-person is 8:00pm on Election Day.  Voters wishing to deliver their ballot in person must present a NJ Driver’s License or NJ-Issued ID.
• Bearer Delivery:  Voters can ask a trusted person to serve as a bearer of their ballot.  If a person other than the voter is returning a ballot, the bearer portion of the outer envelope must be completed by the bearer in the presence of the voter.  Bearers can deliver a maximum of 3 ballots.  However, a bearer may deliver up to 5 ballots for family members living in the same household.  In-person delivery of a bearer ballot requires the bearer to present a NJ Driver’s License or NJ-Issued ID.

For more information about returning your vote by mail ballot, early voting, your election day voting location or other important election matters, please contact the Union County Board of Elections:  908-527-4123 / ucboe@ucnj.org / www.ucnj.org/ucboe.

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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.

With the approach of the holiday travel season, the Union County Board of County Commissioners invites parents and caregivers with infants and young children to visit the free Child Safety Seat Inspection Program on Thursday, October 27 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Union County Fire and EMS Training Academy campus in Linden.

“The free Child Safety Seat Inspection Program is one of our most popular County services. We encourage all parents and care givers to visit the program and have their seats checked, especially before holiday travel begins,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams.

“Hundreds of drivers in Union County bring their car seats to the Safety Seat program every year. It’s free of charge, and it can make a real difference in the event of a collision,” said Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded.

The Fire and EMS Training Academy is located at 1075 Edward Street, Linden. To access the Seat Inspection Program and parking lot, use the driveway entrance on Avenue C (heading south on Avenue C from Edgar Road, the driveway is just past the Extra Space Storage building on the right).

The inspection program is open to all parents and care givers, including non-residents as well as Union County residents. It is free of charge, and no appointment is needed.

At the inspection program, certified technicians who are trained through the organization SAFEKIDS Worldwide will be on hand to check child safety seats for proper installation. In the event adjustments are needed, they will explain how to install the seat correctly.

In addition to the special afternoon session on October 27, Union County’s Child Safety Seat Inspection Program is available throughout the year, free of charge, every Wednesday and Thursday morning from 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the Garwood Rescue Squad, located at 401 2^nd Avenue in Garwood. No appointment is necessary.

The Child Safety Seat Inspection Program is a service of the Union County Commissioner Board, Union County Police Department and Garwood First Aid Squad, and is supported with funding from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

Union County also offers additional safety resources including the AAA CarFit program for seniors and bicycle helmet safety education.

For more information about the Safety Seat Inspection Program and other services visit online at ucnj.org/childseats or contact Christine Marcantonio, Traffic Safety Program Coordinator, by email at cmarcantonio@ucnj.org or by phone at 908-789-6830.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

Note: A video of on-location acceptance remarks by the awardees is available at this link: https://ucnj.org/press-releases/public-info/2022/10/06/video-presentation-2022-kids-recreation-trust-grant-and-2022-greening-union-county-grant/

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that grants have been awarded to 19 municipalities for improvements to recreation resources for children, through the Kid’s Recreation Trust Fund. In addition, 18 municipalities were awarded matching grants for planting new trees through the Greening Union County program.

Both grant programs are funded through the Union County Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, with funds awarded to municipalities on a matching grant basis.

“The Open Space Trust Fund was established by popular referendum in 2000, and it reflects the importance that Union County residents place on nature conservation and recreation as well as local history. The Commissioner Board is very proud to continue administering the Trust Fund for the benefit of communities throughout Union County,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams.

“These two grant programs help to improve the quality of life in our urban and suburban communities, by providing assistance to local recreation programs for children and by helping municipalities create beneficial treescapes that help clean the air and reduce erosion,” said Commissioner Alexander Mirabella, who is the Chair of the Commissioner Board’s Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund Board.

Since its inception in 2000 the Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund has enabled the Commissioner Board to add more than 315 acres of land to the Union County parks system, in addition to providing grants for local recreation programs, tree plantings, and historic site restoration.

Nineteen municipalities received funding from the Kids Recreation Trust fund:

• Berkeley Heights — $40,000.00. Replace the tennis and pickleball court lights and poles with LED lights and create a walking/biking path to connect Robbins and Lawrence Avenues. 
• Clark — $45,000.00. Repurpose a basketball court into three pickleball fields and upgrade the jungle gym area.
• Cranford — $60,000.00. Renovate the Hillside Avenue Tennis Courts, Lincoln Park beautification, and resurface various playground areas with rubber surfaces.
• Elizabeth — $150,000.00. Upgrades to Lynch Memorial Playground with the incorporation of new ADA equipment and a new spray park.
• Fanwood — $50,000.00. New playground equipment for LaGrande Park.
• Garwood — $35,000.00. Improvements to the Recreation Sport Complex including a new video security system, a shuffleboard court, and a picnic pavilion.
• Kenilworth — $50,000.00.Various improvements to the Borough’s parks and facilities.
• Linden — $65,000.00. Upgrade and make Milkosky Park ADA compliant.
• Mountainside — $35,000.00. Develop a new park on Mountain Avenue and New Providence Road, and updates the baseball and softball Fields at Deerfield School.
• New Providence — $35,000.00. Create a more accessible playground structure, bathroom building and picnic patio at Lions Park.
• Plainfield — $36,850.00. Resurface the basketball courts at Bryant Park.
• Rahway — $65,000.00. Rehabilitate and resurface the five tennis courts at Berzinec Park.
• Roselle — $50,000.00. Repair and resurface Pine Street Park and Chandler Street Park.
• Roselle Park — $45,000.00. Renovate Acker Park including new playground structures and ADA accessible features.
• Scotch Plains — $60,000.00. Equipment and new signage for various park locations.
• Springfield — $45,000.00. Rehabilitate the tennis courts and overlay new pickleball fields.
• Summit — $45,000.00. Rehabilitate and make Mabie Playground ADA compliant and sensory friendly.
• Union — $55,000.00. Playground equipment and improvements for Jerome Petti Park.
• Westfield — $36,477.23. Replacement of fencing and new equipment for the basketball courts at Windsor Park.
• Total: $1,003,327.23

Eighteen municipalities were awarded grants for planting trees under the Greening Union County program:

• Berkeley Heights — $4,000.00 (22 trees)
• Clark — $5,000.00 (20 trees)
• Cranford — $5,000.00 (25 trees)
• Elizabeth — $18,000.00 (150 trees)
• Garwood — $5,000.00 (20 trees)
• Hillside — $2,800.00 (16 trees)
• Kenilworth — $3,000.00 (30 trees)
• Linden –$8,000.00 (60 trees)
• New Providence — $2,255.00 (12 trees)
• Plainfield — $5,725.00 (55 trees)
• Rahway — $5,000.00 (35 trees)
• Roselle — $5,000.00 (70 trees)
• Roselle Park — $5,000.00 (50 trees)
• Scotch Plains — $3,750.00 (25 trees)
• Springfield — $4,000.00 (45 trees)
• Summit — $5,500.00 (100 trees)
• Union — $2,970.00 (11 trees)
• Westfield — $10,000.00 (100 trees)
• Total: $100,000.00

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

“On behalf of the Union County Board of County Commissioners, I would like to thank the Senate President and the State of New Jersey for providing us the funding for this much-anticipated project,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “Right now, we have a great facility in use, but it can only be used seasonally; with the construction of a new state-of-the-art indoor skating rink, we will be able to offer year-round use of the building, attracting even more visitors and leagues. I am looking forward to watching this rink come to life.”

In a contract to be awarded to USA Architects, the concept design for the new facility will feature a second sheet of ice increasing the capacity of the facility. The project for the new rink is slated to begin by the end of 2023 with an estimated completion date of 2025.

“We are proud to support a new skating rink that will serve communities throughout Union County,” said Senate President Scutari. “A year-round rink will provide more young hockey players and recreational skaters the opportunity to use a state-of-art facility for healthy and enjoyable activities. The Warinanco Sports Center will continue to be a premiere attraction for Union County.”  

Since 1961, area families have enjoyed the seasonal skating in the park — and in 2019 the skating building was renovated and renamed to the Warinanco Sports Center, which sits adjacent to the skating rink. The seasonal rink, which generally opens at the end of November is home to 8 Union County high school hockey teams and hosts more than 50,000 skaters every year.

“This is a real boost for families and young people in Union County who will now have a modern rink available throughout the year,” said Senator Joe Cryan. “The sporting events and recreational skating will be more accessible and more affordable for working families. The new Warinanco Center will be an active and important part of the Union County community.”

“As youth sports become more and more expensive, a new county facility will allow non-profits like the Cranford Hockey Club and many Union County high school boys and girls ice hockey programs to keep this sport affordable in the rapidly changing landscape of for-profit youth sports,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados. “Once completed, the Warinanco Sports Center will be even more of an attraction to residents and visitors, who come from all over to use the facility.”

“The creation of a new ice rink at Warinanco Park is a transformative moment for youth sports in Union County and North Jersey,” said Mike DuHaime, president of the non-profit Cranford Hockey Club. “The new rink will allow us to keep costs down for families, play more games here in Union County, and most importantly start a scholarship program, opening the doors for so many more children locally to play ice hockey, so cost will no longer be a barrier to access to the ice. The Cranford Hockey Club and the entire hockey community of Union County and beyond thank Senate President Scutari, Commissioner Williams, and the entire board of commissioners for their foresight and efforts in making this new rink a reality.”

Established in 1956, the Cranford Hockey Club is the oldest travel hockey club in the state of New Jersey. Nearly 300 children ages 5-18 are currently part of the club’s travel and learn-to-play programs.  Warinanco Park has been its home rink for decades, though due to increased demand, the teams hold some of its home games and practices elsewhere.  As a non-profit, the club is run solely by volunteers, including the board, coaches, and team managers. More information on the club’s scholarship program can be found at https://www.cranfordhockeyclub.com/scholarship

For more information about Warinanco Sports Center and Ice Skating Rink, please visit https://warinancopark.com/.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Union County residents and visitors are invited to explore the fascinating world of rocks, minerals, fossils, gems and jewelry at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both days.  Admission to the event is free.

Trailside is part of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. It is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside, in Union County’s Watchung Reservation. Ample free parking is available on the site.

“The show is a unique opportunity for Union County residents and visitors of all ages to learn about the world of rocks and gems,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “Whether you’re a geology enthusiast or simply have a casual interest, there is something for everyone.”

A wide variety of specimens will be on display along with many items for sale, from child-friendly geodes, arrowheads and fluorescent minerals to jewelry, fine gems and collector-grade pieces.

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 offering minerals, rocks, gemstones, jewelry, sea shells and fossils from around the world.

Trailside is open regularly on Tuesdays through Sundays except holidays, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free of charge. A modest fee applies to scheduled programs. For more information about all programs offered this fall at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit ucnj.org/trailside.

Quick links to all programs and activities in Union County parks are available at ucnj.org/parks.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

Seniors and their caregivers can come to Union County’s ASK events on November 3, 9, 14 and 16, and meet in person with professional staff for expert guidance on senior programs and resources. Bilingual staff will be available to assist residents in Spanish during the events on November 3 and 16.

The assistance includes help with filling out applications and forms

“The ASK program is a friendly, convenient way to find out about helpful programs and services, and our bilingual staff will help ensure that we can reach everyone who is seeking assistance,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. 

ASK stands for Aging Services Kiosk, a program of the Union County Department of Human Services through the Division on Aging and Disability Resources, serving seniors age 60-plus and their caregivers.

Staff at the ASK events can help seniors and care givers connect with a variety of services including home delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care and support services for caregivers.

Any Union County senior or care giver can visit any ASK event, regardless of their hometown.

No appointment or pre-registration is needed.

The upcoming events are as follows:

Thursday, November 3

Bilingual staff will be available at this event to assist residents in Spanish

Union Public Library

1060 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, 07083

10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

Wednesday, November 9

Garwood Public Library

411 Third Avenue, Garwood, 07027

10:00 – 12:00

Monday, November 14

Clark Public Library

303 Westfield Avenue, Clark, 07066

10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

Wednesday, November 16

Bilingual staff will be available at this event to assist residents in Spanish

Elizabeth Public Library

11 South Broad Street, Elizabeth, 07202

12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.

To check for other upcoming ASK events, call the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection 1-888-280-8226 toll free or visit the Division online at ucnj.org/dhs/aging.

ASK updates are also posted on Union County’s social media channels and are frequently carried by local media, both print and digital.

The goal of the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection is to promote wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families, in accordance with a statewide initiative adopted by Union County in 2012. It is one of 622 “Area Agencies on Aging” nationwide established under the federal Older Americans Act.   

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

Free drop-off sites available November 3 and November 19.

Union County residents can dispose of old metal gutters, fencing, appliances and much more to free scrap metal recycling drop-off sites in November. The scrap metal recycling program is sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners and takes place twice each month from April to November.

The last scrap metal events of the 2022 season will take place on Thursday, November 3 and Saturday, November 19. After the November events the scrap metal recycling program will be on hiatus until the spring of 2023.

“Recycling scrap metal is an important way to conserve resources, and we encourage every household to make use of this free service,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “These drop-off sites make it easy and convenient to clear your home and yard of unwanted metal items while helping the environment, too.”

Many different kinds of scrap metal are accepted at the drop-off centers including air conditioners, aluminum siding, bicycles, brass, copper, dishwashers, electric fans, fencing, freezers, gutters, irons, lawn furniture, metal cabinets, metal sheds, microwaves, pots and pans, railings, refrigerators, stoves, tire rims, toasters, washers and dryers, window frames (no glass), and wire hangers among others.

Scrap metal drop-off will be accepted Thursday, November 3 and Saturday, November 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at two free drop-off centers:

• Cranford:  Emergency Services Building, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard
• Rahway: Rahway River Park (follow Park Drive, Rahway off St. Georges Avenue to service yard across from swimming pool)

Scrap metal from residents in any Union County municipality may be brought to either of these sites.

Please note that Union County’s scrap metal recycling events are drive-up only, and contact-free.

Participants must remain in their vehicles at all times.  Materials should be placed in trunk, cargo area or truck bed and be easily accessible for staff to remove.

For more information, upcoming dates and directions to all Union County recycling programs and locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning website at ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

To receive schedule alerts, and to stay up to date with Union County and local recycling programs, download the free Recycle Coach mobile app.

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

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

A family favorite holiday tradition is returning to Union County this year, as the Model Railroad Club opens the doors to the spectacular A. Paul Mallory Railroad Center for visitors of all ages, from Friday November 25 to Sunday, December 11. 

Visitors to the Holiday Train Show and Open House can get an up-close look at special trains traversing the club’s huge 11,000 square foot layout. Included are famous trains of the past such as the Santa Fe’s famous Super Chief and the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Broadway Limited, along with AMTRAK’s Acela Express and many, many more.

“The Model Railroad Club has provided a generation of Union County residents and visitors with a unique window into the art, craft, history and technology of model railroading, and the Commissioner Board is very proud to support their work. We are all looking forward to the Holiday Train Show,” said Commissioner Rebecca L. Williams.

“The club is very excited to put on our holiday train show for our fans again this year. We hope that our trains can put a smile on the face of the little kid in all of us this holiday season,” said Model Railroad Club President Tim McCollum.

Visitors of all ages can view the sprawling HO scale layout at the Railroad Center from several different levels, including an eye-level view, a birds-eye view from a gallery, and “peek-a-boo” access points within the layout itself.

Also on display is a massive new expansion of the layout, enabling visitors to see how track is being hand-laid, and how mountains and scenery are created. Railroad Club members will also explain the planning and engineering behind the unique bi-level corkscrew loop.

Rounding out the displays are detailed G-scale and N-scale layouts along with other railroad memorabilia.

There is also a small play area and a railroad-themed gift shop at the Railroad Center.

Dates:

Three Weekends: Nov 25-Nov 27, Dec 3-Dec 4, and Dec 10-11

Opening Day, Fri, Nov. 25 – 11 am – 6 pm       

Saturdays (Nov 26, Dec 3 & 10), 11 am – 6 pm

Sundays (Nov 27, Dec 4 & 11), 11am – 6pm

Location:

The A. Paul Mallory Railroad Center 

Jefferson Avenue, off Route 22 East, Union Township (behind The Home Depot)

Building is wheelchair-accessible.

Parking is free

Ticket sales and Railroad Club Information:

Purchase tickets online:www.themodelrailroadclub.org

Purchase tickets at the door: Saturdays 1-4 pm ONLY at The Model Railroad Club

In Advance: $9/adult, $4/child (3-11), $7/Seniors (60+)

At the Door: $10/adult, $5/child, $8/seniors

More information: (908) 964-9724

Children age 2 and under are admitted free.

Groups of 10 or more can call (908) 964-9724 for discount information.

All visitors must observe posted COVID-19 guidelines. 

The A. Paul Mallory Railroad Center is located in a mixed-use corner of Union County’s Lenape Park in Union Township, through an arrangement with the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. Members of The Model Railroad Club raised the funds to build the facility, and they continue to operate and maintain it.

The Model Railroad Club, Inc. is a tax-exempt public charity and is one of the largest railroad clubs in New Jersey. The Club has approximately 170 volunteer members who help to fulfill the mission of the club to educate the general public about the railroads and the industries they served in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas.

All proceeds from the Holiday Train Show support the operations of The Model Railroad Club, Inc.

For more information about all programs and activities of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation visit ucnj.org/parks.

All photos courtesy of The Model Railroad Club, Inc.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.