Host Your Event in Somerset County Parks

The Somerset County Park Commission offers interesting and entertaining opportunities for individuals, families, civic, social organizations, and companies to host special events at park facilities.

Somerset County Park Commission regularly host family and corporate picnics, dog shows, scout events, athletic events, including league play and tournaments, corporate tennis leagues, wedding photos, guided tours of Colonial Park Gardens, and a myriad of special events.

Over the years, the popularity of the parks and the variety of the facilities has resulted in a tremendous increase in usage. To assure that events fulfill all expectations, the Park Commission has implemented an application process that assures access. Reservations should be submitted a minimum of two to four weeks prior to an event to confirm that dates remain open for the desired facility. A reasonable fee schedule for facilities ranging from ball fields to the Somerset County Showmobile stage and sound system is available.

Picnics are permitted at North Branch Park and Duke Island Park in Bridgewater Township, East County Park in Warren Township, and Colonial Park in Franklin Township, with all facilities equipped with tables and grills. Three pavilion picnic areas are available at Duke Island Park, one at East County Park, and two at Colonial Park. Somerset County residents, corporations, and organizations may make reservations beginning March 1. Non-residents may make reservations beginning April 1. A request may be submitted by visiting www.somersetcountyparks.org and clicking on the green tab that reads “online registration.”

Torpey Athletic Complex, in Bridgewater Township features a baseball field, softball field, and a multi-purpose synthetic turf field that is lined for three sports. The Howe Athletic Complex at Colonial Park features soccer fields and a cricket pitch. The Mountain View Park, in Hillsborough Township features seven ball fields. Tennis courts are found at Colonial Park, in Franklin and the Green Knoll Tennis Center, in Bridgewater. Skillman Park, in Montgomery accepts applications for special events including organized runs and special events.

The Flying Field at North Branch Park is available for anyone holding a valid AMA License, is registered with the FAA, and has a Park Commission Flying Field Permit.

The Colonial Park Gardens in Somerset, namely the Arboretum and the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden offer opportunities for wedding ceremonies and

pictures (Arboretum); wedding pictures (Rose Garden), and guided tours.  Leonard J. Buck Garden in Far Hills and Natirar Park in Peapack offer opportunities for spectacular wedding photos throughout the spring, summer, and fall.

Applications for any of these facilities may be obtained by calling 908-722-1200, ext. 5225 or emailing kbehr@scparks.org.

Applications for the Arboretum and Rose Garden at Colonial Park may be obtained by calling 908-722-1200, ext. 5721. For Leonard J. Buck Garden, call 908-722-1200, ext. 5621.

Information on all Somerset County Park Commission programs and activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org. Complete descriptions and photos of all facilities are also available on the web site.

Golf Registration to Include Tee Time Service

The Somerset County Park Commission Golf Division has announced that all registration fees for 2020 will include 7-day advanced access to the tee time reservation system.

Registration will allow golfers to reserve tee times 7 days in advance at all five Championship courses: Neshanic Valley on South Branch Road in Neshanic Station; Green Knoll on Garretson Road in Bridgewater; Quail Brook on New Brunswick Road in Somerset; Spooky Brook at Colonial Park; and Warrenbrook on Warrenville Road in Warren.

Park Commission Golf Identification Cards are good for one calendar year and will be available for sale beginning Thursday, January 2, 2020 at the Pro Shops at Spooky Brook and Neshanic Valley. Green Knoll, Quail Brook, and Warrenbrook will open in the spring.

Registration fees including tee time reservation for 2020 are:$65 for resident adults; $60 for resident junior adult; $50 for resident senior (62 & over); $50 for resident junior (18 years & under); $210 for non-resident adult; and $185 for non-resident junior or senior.

Information of all golf facilities may be obtained by calling the Somerset County Park Commission at 908-722-1200, ext. 5421. Information on all Park Commission programs and activities may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org.

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.

Thank You to Volunteers

The Somerset County Park Commission is all about the people of Somerset County who visit the parks by the millions annually. The enjoyment of the parks is due to the efforts of employees and volunteers who assure that every visit to the parks exceeds expectations. While active and passive parks and programs and activities rely on both of these groups, it is the volunteers who are a most cherished resource.

Volunteer opportunities are available in every facet of the Park Commission. Individuals interested in wildlife and resource conservation may participate in park cleanup projects and trail construction and maintenance projects. The Volunteer Park Patrol plays an important role in maintaining trails at Washington Valley Park and the Sourland Mountain Preserve by patrolling for safety hazards and trail erosion. There are also opportunities for individuals in garden docent programs, planting, general maintenance, horse grooming, and stable cleaning.

The Park Commission welcomes volunteers with skills and interest in athletics, crafts, dance, cooking, and theater and vocal arts. Volunteers help with the Junior Golf summer program, serve as Naturalists assistants, help out with the Therapeutic Recreation programs, and assist with equestrian classes. Volunteers also support special events, helping with facilities setup and breakdown, and parking.

Scout, school, and corporate groups contributed thousands of hours in 2019. The Environmental Education Center (EEC) was fortunate to have nine eleven different corporate groups working on a variety of outdoor projects.  Petra Cephas, Celgene, Kneipp, Alight Solutions, Allergen Pharmaceutical, AM Best, Ingredion, YPD Youth Group, GlaxoSmith Kline, and Ridge High School students removed invasive plants, weeded, mulched, conducted garden clean ups, and planted native plant species. Johnson & Johnson painted a newly installed fence along with animal tracks in the Discovery Garden and REI demolished and reconstructed the decking on the West Observation Tower. 

To date, six Eagle Scout candidates have completed Service Projects at the EEC in 2019. Aiden Auer, Troop 28, constructed and installed five bat boxes throughout EEC property.  Evan D’Aprile, Troop 90, resupplied nine existing pollinator boxes with nesting material, constructed and installed four new boxes, and built new frames for pollinator signs.  Andrew Noviello, Troop 46, constructed a brand new floating dock for Esox Pond.  Luka Batljan, Troop 28, built six new benches and constructed an outdoor classroom area for Lily Pad Pond.  Nick Casey, Troop 351, demolished and re-built a partially collapsed section of footbridge along the blue trail.  Brandon Mark, Troop 54, constructed a “Welcome to the Discovery Garden” sign, and is currently working on a matching one for the Boondocks Boardwalk.  Owen Mays, Joe Doherty, and Michael Barth of Troop 54, Janak Munshi of Troop 351, and Vivek Chakrapani of Troop 134 completed boy scout conservation service hours at the EEC by removing invasive plant species, removing old piping, and planting native trees.

Rutgers Environmental Steward, Raymond Croot, constructed 16 wood duck boxes and is actively monitoring them each nesting season.  Maureen Merrill, a second Rutgers Environmental Steward created recycling signage for the Park Commission and conducted a recycling audit at the 4H Fair.  Individual volunteers from the area high schools including Ridge High School, Oak Knoll, Rutgers Preparatory School, and Watchung Hills Regional High School assisted year round at the EEC with park maintenance and beautification, Naturalists Programs, and Special Events.

For information on volunteer opportunities at the EEC for individuals, groups, or companies, please contact Gretchen Rotondo, at 908-722-1200, ext. 5323 or NJ Relay at 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment. For volunteer opportunities outside of the EEC contact the Park Rangers at 908-722-1200 ext. 5122.

Open Space Update

 In 1989, Somerset County voters approved a dedicated Open Space Trust Fund that allowed the Somerset County Park Commission and the Freeholders to initiate an aggressive plan to keep the county green through the acquisition of open space and farmland. A second public referendum in 1997 extended the reach of the Trust fund to include farmland, greenways, and the acquisition and restoration of historic sites.

The 1994 Somerset County Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan served as the foundation for the preservation of 10,500 acres with a long-term goal of doubling that amount. The 2000 Master Plan Update set a new goal of 20,500 acres involving five initiatives: expansion of existing county parks; greenways along the County's major rivers and Second Watchung ridgeline; the Sourland Mountain; the Millstone River Valley; and new County parks in northern and southern Somerset County.

This open space acquisition challenge is the result of pressures exerted by developers’ continuing mission to acquire buildable land, a situation that has fostered a land race as the County attempts to preserve and developers attempt to build.

The Somerset County park system currently consists of 24 park areas totaling 14,757 acres. There are six General Use parks offering active and passive recreation facilities; five golf courses; three Special Use parks; one Developed Natural Area park which features an environmental education center; and ten Undeveloped Natural Areas. In 2019 the County acquired 57 acres and anticipates another 25 acres before the end of the year.

In progress is the Somerset County Preservation Plan that will provide land use, funding, and partnership strategies for preservation in Somerset County. This effort will advance the implementation of the Somerset County Investment Framework and the County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy that were adopted as part of the County Master Plan in April of 2014.

A map, titled Somerset County Parks Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan, available at www.somersetcountyparks.org, shows existing public parks and open space and private land currently in outdoor recreation use or permanently preserved for open space.

Individuals or companies interested in selling or donating property to the County for open space purposes may contact the Somerset County Park Commission at (908) 722-1200 or the Somerset County Park Planner at (908) 231-7509 for more information.

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