Park Commission Dedicates Duke Island Park Playground

The Somerset County Park Commission dedicated a new playground at Duke Island Park to Raymond Willis Brown, late son of recently retired Park Commission Director Ray Brown and Roseann Brown. Duke Island Park is located off Old York Road in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

Raymond Willis Brown’s life was cut short, at the age of 32, by a tragic incident that occurred while painting a mural on a high-rise building in Hollywood, Florida.  Raymond grew up in Bridgewater Township and attended school in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.  He had a distinct passion for the arts; was an exceptional artist, an art handler, and a self-taught musician.   Most notably, for purposes of the Park Commission’s dedication, Raymond spent a multitude of hours as a young boy with his mother and his father swinging, climbing, sliding, and generally having an enjoyable time at the Duke Island Park playground.

This past June, the Park Commissioners unanimously agreed that the dedication of the new playground at Duke Island Park was an exceptionally fitting honor to the entire Brown Family. Construction of the new playground commenced on November 6, 2019, and was completed late last week.

The new playground equipment is designed for all age groups.  The large central structure features a three story Mega Tower and the Aquarius Webscape climbing structure.  The playground includes a Ten Spin, Saddle Seat, Boulder Tunnel, Sensory Panels, and a variety of swings. The playground meets requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Information on Somerset County Park Commission programs and activities may be found by visiting www.somersetcountyparks.org or calling 908-722-1200.

Give a Commemorative Bench, Tree, or Brick

The Somerset County Park Foundation is providing an opportunity to create a lasting memory in one of the many properties that comprise the Somerset County park system through the purchase of a commemorative brick, tree or bench. Purchases support the valuable programs funded by the Somerset County Park Foundation and offered by the Somerset County Park Commission.

Holiday gifts of a Commemorative Brick at the entrance to TD Bank Ballpark or a Tribute Bench or Legacy Tree in a designated county park provide an enduring tribute to family or friends.

Commemorative bricks will be placed at the grand main entry plaza at TD Bank Ballpark, providing an opportunity to convey a personal message or remembrance to hundreds of thousands of event attendees throughout the year. Bricks are available at $100 each and will be engraved with a maximum of three (3) lines of twenty (20) characters including spaces and punctuation.

A tax-deductible donation of $2,500.00 will earn the placement of a bench or tree a designated county park of choice with a plaque memorializing the contribution. The Park Foundation will maintain a listing of all plantings and benches with information including the donor and the person being honored or memorialized. Tribute Benches are available in three styles conforming to the type of park in which the bench is to be placed.

Living Legacy Trees provide individuals and organizations with the opportunity to honor people and commemorate special events by planting trees in Somerset County parks. Park Commission Horticulture staff and the contributor will agree on an approved species based on the desired planting site. Alternatively, a donor may choose an already established tree to be designated as a Tribute Tree.  A commemorative plaque engraved according to the donor’s specifications will be placed at the base of the tree.

The popularity of the program has created new opportunities for locations to place benches including East County Park in Warren Township, Skillman Park in Montgomery Township, and Mountain View Park in Hillsborough Township. 

The timing and specific location of placement of benches, trees, and bricks in designated parks will be at the discretion of Parks staff. A certificate will be provided for holiday gift giving.

The Park Foundation is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization created for the purpose of preserving, supporting, and promoting Somerset County Park Commission programs, facilities, and open space through advocacy and fundraising.  The Park Commission is an entity which was established in 1956 by voter referendum and is funded, in part, by the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders utilizing taxpayer dollars. 

Information is available at www.somersetcountyparks.org.  For information call the Park Foundation at 908-722-1200, ext. 5237.

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Park Commission Dominates "Best of" Categories

Somerset County Park Commission facilities dominated the active and passive recreation categories in the mycentraljersey.com “2019 Best Of” ratings.

The Colonial Park Putting Course was honored in the category of “Outdoor Amusement;” Colonial Park and Duke Island Park were honored in the “Best Park” category; Quail Brook Golf Course in Somerset was selected in the “Best Golf” category; and Duke Island Park in Bridgewater was voted as the “Best Place to Listen to Live Music” based on the free Summer Concert series.

“The Somerset County Park Commissioners and park staff are committed to providing the best possible parks, facilities, and variety of both active and passive recreation opportunities,” commented Park Director Geoff Soriano. “Being recognized in a public vote by readers of mycentraljersey.com is an indication that we are continuing on the right track.”

“Being recognized by park visitors who are also readers of mycentraljersey.com demonstrates that our commitment to this service delivery is successful, with positive experiences affirmed by these voters,” concluded Soriano.

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Information on all Somerset County Park Commission programs and activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org.