Joiun Saturday Morning Dog Walks at Lord Stirling Stable

 

The Friends of Lord Stirling Stable and the Somerset County Park Commission are pleased to announce that weekly Saturday morning Dog Walks on the trails at the Stable have resumed and will continue on the fall and winter time schedule. The Stable is located at 256 South Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge, NJ.

 

Due to current health protocols, two walks are scheduled each week. Registration for the “Regular” dog walk begins at 9:45AM. with the walk commencing at 10:00 A.M. sharp. The “Fast” walk begins promptly at 10:30A.M.; walkers may register beginning at 10:00A.M. Each walk lasts for approximately one hour.

 

All pets must be leashed and kept under control at all times. These sanctioned Dog Walks offer participants the opportunity to explore the beautiful equestrian trails of Lord Stirling Stable on foot.  

 

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Murphy’s Executive Orders, masks must be worn prior to the start of the walk but are optional on the trails once the walk begins. Social distancing must be maintained at all times.

 

The traditional fee of $3 per dog will be waived at this time and donations are welcome.

For more information, contact Barbara at 908-448-8348 or online at kb2krx@yahoo.com.  For directions, call Lord Stirling Stable at 908-722-1200, ext. 5010.

Nature Throughg a Child's Eye Virtual Art Exhibit

 

The Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education (EEC) will virtually present the 2021 Children’s Art Show, Nature Through a Child’s Eye.  The EEC has been featuring artwork from Somerset County students for twenty-nine years and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue the exhibit this year in a virtual format through the months of January and February.

 

The creative art display is available at www.somersetcountyparks.org; on Facebook at /EECscparks; and on Instagram at @eec_scparks.

 

The works communicate their views of nature and the environment though application of textures, shapes and colors. Adults and children alike will enjoy the works of the creative minds of Somerset County school children.

 

Past projects have included fall leaves printed with tempera, nature landscapes in pastels, and impressions of trees, all of which demonstrate the children's relationship with nature.

 

For information on Nature Through a Child's Eye or other Environmental Education Center activities, call 908-722-1200, ext. 5335 or NJ Relay 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment.

 

Information on this event and other Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org

EEC Offers Virtual Birding Programs

 

The Naturalists at the Somerset County Park Commission (SCPC) Environmental Education Center (EEC) have scheduled a series of Virtual Birding Workshops & Seminars for adult birders. Each session will be offered on various dates during the months of January, 2021 through April, 2021.

 

Virtual Birding Seminar: Backyard Birds and Building Your Birding Skills This four week course is designed for birders of all skill levels. The sessions will focus on learning some of the most common backyard bird species and tips and techniques to assist in taking the next step to improve birding ability. The program runs Tuesdays, February 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2021 from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Fee is $20 per household for the four-date session.

 

Virtual Birding Seminar: Birding by Ear

Bird songs and calls are some of most beautiful but challenging aspects of birding.  This class is designed to learn the basics of bird sounds, discussing how birds make sound, providing examples of sensational songs in our area, and helping identify the bird you keep hearing in the backyard. The program runs Fridays, March 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2021 from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Fee is $20 per household for the four date session.

 

Virtual Birding Identification Workshop: Spring Warblers

This program will take a look at warblers, the northeastern United States’ most iconic group of birds. Around 30 different warbler species pass through New Jersey in the Spring.  Participants will learn field markings, behavior, and other identification tips for each species. The program runs Thursdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2021 from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Fee is $25 per household for the five date session.

 

Enrollment is online only at www.somersetcountyparks.org.  Registration for January, February, March, and April opens at 9:00 A.M. on Wednesday, December 16, 2020.

 

Information of Park Commission programs and activities may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-722-1200.

EEC to Offer Virtual Group Outreach Programs

 

NJ – The Somerset County Park Commission (SCPC) Environmental Education Center (EEC) Naturalists are offering Virtual Group Outreach Programs, consisting of lectures and discussion-based presentations appropriate to a variety of audiences.

 

The virtual programs are offered through the SCPC platform or a platform preferred by the group leadership. Options are either a pre-recorded video link or a PowerPoint lecture offered virtually with a ‘live’ presenter.

 

Among programs currently offered are:

Amazing Adaptations will explore how wildlife survives in its environment.

Armchair Birding featuring first-hand birding stories.

Backyard Bears will educate participants in bear ‘etiquette’ and create a better

understanding of bears.

Backyard Birds will help get acquainted with many of New Jersey’s common

backyard birds and when and where to place feeders in the yard.

Basically Bats will explore the life of the only true flying mammal.

Birds of the World will explore some of the more than 10,000 species of birds

            including those that are poisonous, those that fly when asleep, and those

            that migrate 50,000 miles each year.

Butterfly Basics will explore the interesting physical and behavioral adaptations

of these complex insects.

Coyote Cries will help sort out the myths from facts on the coyotes living in New

            Jersey.

Fantastic Plant Stories will examine how plants are used in celebrations locally

and around the world.

New Jersey Owls will explore the nocturnal world of these fascinating local birds

            of prey.

Off the Coast will examine the life of the sea turtle and why they need help from

            humans.

Oh Deer! Will explore the world of deer biology, the interactions deer have with

            predators, habitat, and humans.

Passports to Penguins will review the lives of the many types of penguins, where

they live, what they eat, and more.

Planning a Native Butterfly Garden will illustrate which native plants attract

which native butterflies and moths

Sharks 101 will explore the facts and myths about sharks and the important role

they play in our ecosystem.

Virtual Rainforest will take a trip to the tropics of the Costa Rican rainforest to

find out what makes a two-toed sloth different from a three-toed sloth,

what a three-wattled bell bird mustache looks like and many other

fascinating facts.

Virtual Safari will travel to Tanzania to go on a virtual safari deep into the wilds

of the African ‘bush’.

Vital Vernals will explore the vernal pools are unique habitats that only exist when water is prevalent.

 

Groups are invited to choose one of the existing topics or suggest one. Each program can be tailored to the group’s specific needs, interests, and time frame.

 

For more information, program pricing, or to schedule a program, contact Kurt Bender at 908 722-1200 Ext. 5332 or kbender@scparks.org

 

Information of Park Commission programs and activities may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-722-1200.

Now Accepting Wedding Ceremony & Photo Reservations

 

The Horticulture Department of the Somerset County Park Commission is accepting reservations for wedding ceremonies and photography at the following locations: Colonial Park Gardens, namely the Arboretum (for ceremonies and photos) and the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden (for photography only). The Leonard J. Buck Garden is accepting reservations for wedding photography only. The fee for each garden is $150.00 per hour.

Colonial Park Gardens is located in Colonial Park, Somerset, (Franklin Township), New Jersey.

The one-acre Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden is a display garden, comprising one acre of plantings with more than 3,000 roses in more than 325 varieties. The garden is at its peak bloom in late May and June. 

 

The new Perennial Garden’s planting is inspired by the history of the park’s landscape and the existing garden. Additionally, the design is based on three over-arching ideas – a Fibonacci spiral, a meditative labyrinth, and traditional garden mazes. The plantings have been chosen to give a long period of interest as well as a sequence of bloom from early spring to late fall. Evergreen hedges and tan foliage of grasses left for the winter will deliver the final season of interest.

 

The 144-acre Arboretum provides displays of flowering trees, evergreens, shade trees, dwarf conifers, and flowering shrubs. This includes the three-acre Shrub Collection which showcases plants that grow well in central NJ and are designed to give year-round interest by using flowering shrubs; trees; perennials; and ornamental grasses; and the areas surrounding the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden and the Perennial Garden. 

 

The Leonard J. Buck Garden, located at 11 Layton Road in Far Hills, is a unique naturalistic garden of great beauty. Well-known for its numerous wildflowers, shrubs, and beautiful shade trees, this woodland rock garden is the perfect setting for spectacular wedding photos. This 13-acre rock garden is set within a 29-acre natural woodland area and features a rustic gazebo and bridges, sparkling pond, flowing stream, and winding paths leading to your memorable wedding photo site. 

 

Reservations, at least two weeks prior to the wedding date, may be made by calling 908-722-1200 ext. 5721 for the Colonial Park Gardens and ext. 5621 for the Leonard J. Buck Garden. Individuals with hearing/speech impairment may use the NJ Relay Service at 711. The reservation line for Colonial Park Gardens is available from Monday through Friday from 8:00  A.M. to 3:00 P.M. and the Leonard J. Buck Garden from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. (except for holidays). 

 

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

Quail Brook to Open January 8 to 10

 

The Somerset County Park Commission has announced that Quail Brook Golf Course on New Brunswick Road in Somerset, New Jersey will be open for play Friday, January 8 through Sunday, January 10, 2021.

 

The course will be open from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. each day. Tee time reservation will be available to golfers registered for 2021.

 

Spooky Brook Golf Course at Colonial Park in Somerset, the Neshanic Valley Championship and Academy courses will be open during the winter as weather permits.

 

Information on all golf facilities may be obtained by calling the Somerset County Park Commission at 908-722-1200, ext. 5428 or on line at    www.somersetcountyparks.org.

Recycle Christmas Trees at Colonial & North Branch Parks

 

The Somerset County Park Commission will be accepting natural Christmas trees for recycling through Sunday, January 31, 2020.

 

Somerset County residents may bring their tree to Colonial Park Gardens, Parking Lot F, 156 Mettlers Road in Somerset, Franklin Township or to North Branch Park at the lighted baseball field, 355 Milltown Road in Bridgewater. Both facilities will accept trees from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., seven days a week.

 

Each family is limited to only one tree that must be free of all ornaments, wires, netting, and tinsel. Only natural trees will be accepted. Wreaths and garland will not be accepted as these items cannot be recycled. Deliveries from groups or dealers will be rejected. Following these guidelines is necessary to maintain a manageable recycling program.

 

Trees will be chipped into wood chip mulch which will be used throughout the park system to mulch plantings. Some chips/mulch will be made available to the public at each of the drop-off sites at no cost.

 

For information, please call the Somerset County Park Commission Horticulture Department at 908-722-1200, ext. 5721 or the Relay Service at 711 for individuals with a hearing and/or speech impairment, Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

 

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

Seasonal Golf Course Closings

 

Somerset County Park Commission Division of Golf Management has announced the winter schedule of golf course closures.

 

Quail Brook Golf Course on New Brunswick Road in Somerset, NJ, Green Knoll Golf Course on Garretson Road in Bridgewater, NJ, and Warrenbrook Golf Course on Warrenville Road in Warren are currently closed for the winter season. Courses will reopen in 2021 as weather permits.

 

Spooky Brook Golf Course at Colonial Park in Somerset, the Neshanic Valley Championship and Academy courses will remain open during the winter as weather permits.

 

Courses will be open from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. daily though Christmas. A variety of golf gifts and gift certificates, including gift certificates for the Callaway Performance Center, are available for holiday giving.

 

Information on all golf facilities may be obtained by calling the Somerset County Park Commission at 908-722-1200, ext. 5428 or on line at    www.somersetcountyparks.org.

EEC to Offer Virtual Home School Classes in 2021

 

The Naturalists at the Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center are offering virtual Homeschool classes for children age 5 to 9 and 10 to 14 years.

 

Registration is open online at www.somersetcountyparks.org. Log in information is available with registration.

 

Crayfish Kids for age 5 to 9 is geared toward homeschoolers in grades K-4.  Each Wednesday morning, January 6, 13, 20, and 27; and February 3, 10, and 24; and March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 10:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.,

 

Environmental Education Center Naturalists will lead an hour-long program about the natural world.  Naturalists suggest that following the classes families walk to a nearby natural area to experience the  various topics and themes related to each session.  Program content is guided by the Next Generation Science Standards.  Fee is $60 per household.

 

Wise Old Owls for age 10 to 14 is geared toward homeschoolers in grades 5-8.  Each Wednesday afternoon, January 6, 13, 20, and 27; and February 3, 10, and 24; and March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M.

 

Environmental Education Center Naturalists will lead an hour-long program about the natural world.  Naturalists suggest that following the classes families walk to a nearby natural area to experience the various topics and themes related to each session.  Program content is guided by the Next Generation Science Standards. 

 

Fee is $60 per household. Both programs run in a series format, building on concepts from week to week. The $60 covers all 12 dates in the sequence.

 

Information of Park Commission programs and activities may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-722-1200.

TR Administrator Earns State Award for Excellence

 

The Somerset County Park Commission Therapeutic Recreation Department (TR) Administrator Dina Trunzo, CTRS, has been recognized by the New Jersey/Eastern Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Association (NJ/EPA) for “Excellence in Therapeutic Recreation” for her co-leadership with the Recreational Therapy Licensure Committee.

 

The award was earned in recognition of work done over the past four years for the successful advocacy for legislation passed makes it mandatory for recreational therapists to be licensed to practice in NJ.  Trunzo stated that “the main purpose for pushing this legislation these past years has been for consumer protection.  We want to ensure that non-qualified and unregulated practitioners are not providing recreational therapy. This will set a mandate that services be provided by professionals who demonstrate a standardized clinical competency.”   

 

A committee advocating for the legislation was led by Trunzo and Caitlyn Foelsch, Pam Griffin. Committee members Griffin and Trunzo have extensive experience with public policy on state and national levels and were a part of the group 20 years ago that attempted to get licensure with little success. Trunzo is also an active member of the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association Public Affairs Committee for over 20 years. 

 

The current initiative began four years ago with the NJ/EPA spearheading the effort by organizing and supporting a committee to advocate in front of state legislators. The committee initiative included writing the actual legislation that was submitted and introduced by Assemblyman Herb Conaway and Senator Troy Singleton. 

 

Somerset County Therapeutic Recreation is run in partnership with 16 municipalities. Programs provide opportunities for any child or adult needing specially designed programs and residing in Bedminster, Bernardsville, Bernards Township, Bound Brook, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Green Brook, Hillsborough, Manville, Montgomery, North Plainfield, Raritan, Somerville, South Bound Brook, Warren, or Watchung to avail themselves of program offerings.

 

Information of Park Commission programs and activities may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-722-1200.

Give a Lasting Tribute in a Somerset County Park

The Somerset County Park Foundation is providing an opportunity to create a lasting memory in one of the Somerset County parks through the purchase of a Commemorative Brick, Legacy Tree, or Tribute Bench. Purchases support the valuable programs funded by the Park Foundation and offered by the Somerset County Park Commission. The bricks, benches, and trees provide individuals and organizations with the opportunity to honor people and groups or commemorate special events.

 

Commemorative Bricks are placed at the entrance to TD Bank Ballpark and Tribute Benches and Legacy Trees are placed in a selected county park to provide an enduring tribute. Commemorative 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 donation of $2,500.00 will earn the placement of a bench or tree in a designated county park of choice with a plaque memorializing the contribution. Tribute Benches are available in three styles conforming to the park in which the bench is to be placed. Living Legacy Trees can either be a new planting or an already established tree, either one noted with an engraved plaque.

 

All fees are tax deductible.

 

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 and Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough Township. Other potential locations include Colonial Park and Gardens, Duke Island Park, Natirar Park, Leonard J. Buck Garden, the trails at the Environmental Education Center, any of the five county golf courses, Lord Stirling Stable, North Branch Park, Torpey Athletic Complex, and Colonial Park and Green Knoll Tennis Centers.

 

The timing and specific location of placement of benches, trees, and bricks will be at the discretion of park staff. A certificate will be provided to the donor for 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.

Holiday Shopping at Amazon Will Support Somerset County Parks

 

The Somerset County Park Foundation would like to remind park patrons and supporters that all purchases through www.smile.amazon.com will result in a contribution of 0.5% of the purchase price to the Somerset County Park Foundation.

 

The Foundation has registered with AmazonSmile, a simple and automatic way for financial support with every Amazon purchase. AmazonSmile offers tens of millions of products eligible for the donation, virtually everything available on the standard amazon.com website.

 

Anyone with an Amazon account can register on AmazonSmile and select the Somerset County Park Foundation as the charitable organization. The Amazon Smile Foundation will then donate 0.5% of every purchase price to the Foundation. As everyone continues to practice social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic, Amazon purchases will provide a much needed contribution to the Therapeutic Recreation department and other Foundation activities.

 

The Somerset County Park Foundation is a 501c(3) created to preserve, support, and promote Somerset County Park Commission programs, facilities, and open space, through advocacy and fund raising. The Foundation is managed by a 15-member Board of Trustees including one member from the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Funds are used to sponsor, underwrite, support, and promote park activities, expansion of programs, improvement of facilities, and capital expenditures to enhance access to active and passive recreation opportunities.

 

For information on the Park Foundation, visit www.somersetcountyparks.org or call 908-722-1200.

Park Foundation Receives US Dept. of Agriculture Grant

 

The Somerset County Park Foundation (SCPF) has been awarded contracts for a $4,000 Forest Stewardship grant and an $8,000 Wildlife grant from the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The funds will be supplemented by a $9,000 matching grant from the Somerset County Park Foundation and applied to projects at the Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center (EEC), 190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge, New Jersey. 

 

The funding total of $21,000 is estimated to save the Somerset County Park Commission approximately $500,000 in capital expenses, based upon previous engineering costs in planning and dredging of other ponds.

 

The NRCS Forest Stewardship grant will provide funds to hire a state-licensed forester to create a 10-year stewardship plan for the 550-acres of forest and swamp habitat at the EEC that will help manage and maintain a diverse range of native plants and trees which will create rich, dense, forest layers and biodiverse habitats for native wildlife.   

 

The NRCS Wildlife and SCPF grants will allow the EEC to pursue a long overdue wetland enhancement project at Lily Pad Pond. The pond is used as an educational resource by Naturalists to teach students about aquatic ecosystems by testing dissolved oxygen and pH, measuring the water temperature and temporarily collecting and identifying a variety of aquatic insects, arthropods, fish, mollusks, amphibians, and reptiles.

 

The NRCS grant will also provide experienced engineers and biologists to work closely with EEC staff to develop an environmentally friendly plan to enhance Lily Pad Pond and maintain the pond as an educational resource for Naturalists, students, and general park visitors.

 

“We are beyond excited to have the support of the Park Foundation and the expertise from NRCS to help guide us through this delicate project” said Carrie Springer, Manager of Environmental Science for the Somerset County Park Commission.  “We have successfully managed the meadows at the EEC for several years with assistance from the NJ Forest Fire Service through annual prescribed burns.  In the last 15 years we have seen native wildflowers, butterflies, bees, and birds increase in our meadows.  It’s time to focus on our forests and ponds.  With assistance from NRCS, I am confident we can design and implement a plan that will ensure the EEC stays rich in native biodiversity.  We want the park to remain an educational resource and haven for wildlife for generations to come.”

 

The SCPF, 501(c)(3) created to preserve, support, and promote Somerset County Park Commission programs, facilities, and open space through advocacy and fundraising, will provide an additional $9,000 to complete the wetland enhancement project. 

 

For more information on the Somerset County Park Foundation or the Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center, please visit somersetcountyparks.org.

Holiday Shopping at Amazon Will Support County Parks

The Somerset County Park Foundation would like to remind park patrons and supporters that all purchases through www.smile.amazon.com will result in a contribution of 0.5% of the purchase price to the Somerset County Park Foundation.

 

The Foundation has registered with AmazonSmile, a simple and automatic way for financial support with every Amazon purchase. AmazonSmile offers tens of millions of products eligible for the donation, virtually everything available on the standard amazon.com website.

 

Anyone with an Amazon account can register on AmazonSmile and select the Somerset County Park Foundation as the charitable organization. The Amazon Smile Foundation will then donate 0.5% of every purchase price to the Foundation. As everyone continues to practice social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic, Amazon purchases will provide a much needed contribution to the Therapeutic Recreation department and other Foundation activities.

 

The Somerset County Park Foundation is a 501c(3) created to preserve, support, and promote Somerset County Park Commission programs, facilities, and open space, through advocacy and fund raising. The Foundation is managed by a 15-member Board of Trustees including one member from the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Funds are used to sponsor, underwrite, support, and promote park activities, expansion of programs, improvement of facilities, and capital expenditures to enhance access to active and passive recreation opportunities.

 

For information on the Park Foundation, visit www.somersetcountyparks.org or call 908-722-1200.

Warrenbrook Golf Course to Close for Winter November 8

 

Somerset County Park Commission has announced that Warrenbrook Golf Course on Warrenville Road in Warren Township, NJ will close for the winter season at the conclusion of play on Sunday, November 8, 2020. Opening date in the spring will be determined based on weather and course conditions.

 

Winter closing dates for Quail Brook Golf Course on New Brunswick Road in Somerset and Green Knoll Golf Course on Garretson Road in Bridgewater will be based on weather and playing conditions and will be announced when confirmed.

 

Spooky Brook Golf Course at Colonial Park in Somerset and Neshanic Valley Golf Course on South Branch Road in Neshanic Station will remain open throughout the winter.

 

Information on all golf facilities may be obtained by calling the Somerset County Park Commission at 908-722-1200, ext. 5427.

Park Commission Planting for the Future

 

The Commissioners and staff at the Somerset County Park Commission take their responsibility as stewards of the environment very seriously. In addition to providing an extreme variety of active and passive recreation opportunities through Somerset County, the staff at the Park Commission is responsible for the oversight and protection of over 15,000 acres of open space.

 

Part of this responsibility is to plan for the future of the environmental throughout the county, assuring that both parks and open space continue to provide the beauty and natural protections that trees and plants offer.

 

More than one hundred new trees are planted, mulched, staked, and provided with cultural care each year at various parks and golf courses. These trees reduce the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen back into the air; filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark; absorb pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and ozone; and help to reduce soil erosion and prevent water pollution by slowing rain water run-off. Additionally, trees provide a canopy, food, and habitat for wildlife including birds, bees, opossums, raccoons, and squirrels.   

 

Normally accomplished as an annual fall project, the 2019 large scale tree and shrub planting project was delayed by weather and completed a last May.  The next fall tree and shrub planting is scheduled to take place in 2021. The Commission Forestry Coordinator is preparing a tree planting project for the summer with expected completion in the fall of 2021.

 

The Arboretum of Colonial Park collects, conserves and cares for trees and shrubs, displaying them in a conscientious manner that promotes education, inspiration, and enjoyment. This is accomplished with careful consideration for a beneficial impact on the plants, the environment, park patrons, and employees. Staff promotes an understanding of the relationship between plants, people, and place through display and through programs that integrate science and culture. The 5 1/2-acre Arboretum is located in the western section of Colonial Park in Colonial Park Gardens and is comprised of over 900 specimens of trees and shrubs.

 

Park Commission Horticulture staff is currently working on a massive bulb planting project at the recently redesigned Perennial Garden at Colonial Park with over 200,000 bulb plantings.   

 

Information of Park Commission programs and activities may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-722-1200.

Quail Brook Recognized for Environmental Excellence

 

Somerset County Park Commission Quail Brook Golf Course, located on New Brunswick Road in Somerset, New Jersey, has achieved designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.

 

Tom Marshall, Golf Course Superintendent, completed the effort to obtain sanctuary designation on the property. Quail Brook Golf Course is one of only 900 courses in the world to hold the title of Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

 

"Quail Brook Golf Course has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property," said Christine Kane, CEO at Audubon International.

 

"To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas," explained Kane. These categories include: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management. Quail Brook Golf Course’s accomplishments include:

Extensive native acreage on the property

Reducing irrigated areas to conserve water

Establishing buffers around water bodies

Providing Excellent Wildlife Habitat

Conducting Outreach & Education activities

 

“Environmental stewardship has always been a top priority at Park Commission golf courses and we strive to fulfill our responsibility to the environment and to our golfers,” commented Marshall. “We continually prove that we can maintain the highest quality golfing experience while still protecting the environment around us.”

Quail Brook joins Neshanic Valley Golf Course as an Audubon Sanctuary. Quail Brook has also been recognized as a Groundwater Guardian Green Site by The Groundwater Foundation and as a River-Friendly Golf Course by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA).

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia have achieved certification in the program.

 

Audubon International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Troy, NY,  providing programs for businesses, schools, communities, golf courses, and new developments with the purpose of delivering high-quality environmental education and facilitating the sustainable management of natural resources. For more information, call Audubon International at 1-844-767-9051 or visit www.auduboninternational.org.