PARK COMMISSION PUBLISHES BOOK TO CHRONICLE
SIX DECADES OF GROWTH
BRIDGEWATER, NJ – The Somerset County Park Foundation has just released its recently published chronicle of the history of the Somerset County Park Commission, Natural Beauty: Somerset County Parks by Clifford W. Zink.
With 425 illustrations and photos from the 57-year history of the Commission, the book details the remarkable inception and growth of the nationally recognized park system.
In 1956, as development began to consume the County’s open space, concerned businessmen and political leaders spent close to a year working tirelessly to help pass a public referendum to establish the Somerset County Park Commission, adopting a visionary plan to preserve open space and provide recreational opportunities for the public. Since that time, public officials and professional staff have implemented and expanded the plan into a countywide network of 26 parks encompassing more than 13,500 acres.
The Somerset County Park System includes multiple award-winning facilities including the Environmental Education and Equestrian Centers at Lord Stirling Park, the horticultural centers at Colonial Park and Leonard J. Buck Garden, the Torpey Athletic Complex, Natirar Park, the Sourland Mountain Preserve, and Neshanic Valley Golf Course, the flagship facility in the five championship golf course system.
Natural Beauty traces the development of Somerset County’s park system from its roots in the County’s agricultural past through its evolution over nearly six decades into an organization utilizing creative public-private partnerships to preserve open space and serve more than 2,000,000 visitors and program participants annually. The book highlights information and excerpts from historic documents and interviews with former and present elected officials, commissioners, directors, planners, naturalists, rangers and recreation staff.
Clifford W. Zink, a resident of Princeton, NJ, is an award-winning historian, preservation consultant, and author of five books on New Jersey’s historic landscapes and industries.
The Somerset County Park Foundation is a 501c3 whose mission is to preserve, support, and promote Somerset County Park Commission programs, facilities, and open space through advocacy and fundraising.
Natural Beauty is available free with a $40 donation to the Somerset County Park Foundation by visiting the Somerset County Park Commission Headquarters 355 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, NJ, 08807; 908 722-1200.
Information on all Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org. Like us on Facebook and Twitter.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Park Commission Receives Tourism Award
PARK COMMISSION RECEIVES
SALUTE TO TOURISM AWARD
BRIDGEWATER, NJ – The Somerset County Park Commission is the recipient of the first annual Somerset County Salute to Tourism Award in the Collaborative Achievement category. The award was presented at the Somerset County Tourism Awards Breakfast Gala at Raritan Valley Country Club earlier today.
The tourism awards “recognize the economic contributions of organizations and individuals made through tourism” and further recognize efforts beyond the norm “that provide superior experiences for visitors to Somerset County or strengthen the community through tourism-related efforts.”
The Collaborative Achievement Award was presented to the Somerset County Park Commission’s Neshanic Valley Golf Course in recognition of the partnership with the United State Golf Association (USGA) that resulted in hosting the 2013 USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links Golf Championship at the Somerset County facility.
The Park Commission and Neshanic Valley Golf Course staffs worked diligently to bring 156 of the world’s best female amateur golfers to Neshanic Valley for the weeklong Championship. The organizations also joined with the USGA Museum in Far Hills to host the Annual Players dinner, featuring keynote speaker Annika Sorenstam.
The Championship brought competitors, their families, coaches, and support staff from all over the world to Somerset County with hotels providing lodging for the more than 1200 guests and restaurants, retail establishments, and attractions also benefitting.
“It was an honor to have been selected to host one of only 13 USGA Championships held nationwide,” commented Ray Brown, Director of the Park Commission. “To be further recognized for our efforts supporting the Somerset County community and economy enhances the pride that we have in the efforts of our staff.”
Information on all Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org. Like us on Facebook and Twitter.
SALUTE TO TOURISM AWARD
BRIDGEWATER, NJ – The Somerset County Park Commission is the recipient of the first annual Somerset County Salute to Tourism Award in the Collaborative Achievement category. The award was presented at the Somerset County Tourism Awards Breakfast Gala at Raritan Valley Country Club earlier today.
The tourism awards “recognize the economic contributions of organizations and individuals made through tourism” and further recognize efforts beyond the norm “that provide superior experiences for visitors to Somerset County or strengthen the community through tourism-related efforts.”
The Collaborative Achievement Award was presented to the Somerset County Park Commission’s Neshanic Valley Golf Course in recognition of the partnership with the United State Golf Association (USGA) that resulted in hosting the 2013 USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links Golf Championship at the Somerset County facility.
The Park Commission and Neshanic Valley Golf Course staffs worked diligently to bring 156 of the world’s best female amateur golfers to Neshanic Valley for the weeklong Championship. The organizations also joined with the USGA Museum in Far Hills to host the Annual Players dinner, featuring keynote speaker Annika Sorenstam.
The Championship brought competitors, their families, coaches, and support staff from all over the world to Somerset County with hotels providing lodging for the more than 1200 guests and restaurants, retail establishments, and attractions also benefitting.
“It was an honor to have been selected to host one of only 13 USGA Championships held nationwide,” commented Ray Brown, Director of the Park Commission. “To be further recognized for our efforts supporting the Somerset County community and economy enhances the pride that we have in the efforts of our staff.”
Information on all Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org. Like us on Facebook and Twitter.
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