Hurricane Sandy to Shut Down State Parks

Parks to be shut down by noon on Sunday, officials say.

All state parks and historic sites are scheduled to be shut down at noon on Sunday in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced today. According to Martin, safety concerns are forcing the closure and those who are camping now at state facilities across the state are being advised to prepare to leave those sites by mid-day Sunday. Martin also said those with reservations for next week are advised that parks may be closed through the entire week. Persons with reservations will be called by DEP personnel to reschedule their visits to state parks. After the storm passes through the state, the parks and historic sites will be assessed and re-opened on a case-by-case …

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Springfield Officials Keep Laurel at Half Court

Residents clash over basketball hoops at public parks.

The hoop stays down. Following a spirited public comments session at the Springfield Township Committee meeting, officials announced that the basketball court at Laurel Park would remain half courts.  One of the court’s hoops was taken down earlier this summer after residents of the neighborhood near the park complained about loutish, unruly and disruptive behavior by players at the park. Similar complaints had led to the town taking down hoops at Smithfield and other parks in 2011 and 2012. The removal of the hoop has confused and irked a number of Springfield residents. Several residents have insinuated the move was driven by racism, alleging that the neighbors are complaining because black youths—presumed to be from out of town—use the …

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Angry Parent

8:48 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Part 2,..... The Laurel Park was used so often this Spring and summer that you have to creep by in your car to pass the park since parking is full on both sides of the street by Parents of young kids. Perhaps this bothers the neighbors. Like I said, if you move by a small park expect some noise and parking issues etc. The park does not belong to the adjacent neighbors....it's for the entire town.   more ›

New Playground Installed at Springfield Community Pool

Township announces new equipment and features for Springfield parks.

You might have noticed that Springfield's playgrounds look different.  This summer, the township completed  a comprehensive overhaul of playground equipment in all town parks. Springfield Township Administrator Anthony Cancro told Patch that with the changes, the playground equipment is handicapped accessible, meeting all state and national requirements. In addition to the revamping of existing parks, two new playgrounds—one for children ages 2-5 and one for ages 5-12—were recently completed at the Community Pool at 44 Morrison Ave. The pool's grounds also sports a new mini-basketball court and a new street hockey court. All the play activities were funded by a $75,000 Union County Recreation Trust Fund grant. For more information on the …

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The Weekend – Parades, Pool Openings and Star Gazing

Events you will not want to miss this holiday weekend

Welcome to the kick-off weekend to the summer of 2012 – Memorial Day.   You can start your weekend by gazing up in the sky, take a dip in the pool and of course honor our hero’s with a parade.  Below you will find just some of the great goings-on this holiday weekend. A Tribute to Fallen Heroes Concert Is there any better way to honor those who have sacrificed so much for us than a patriotic concert? Come and enjoy The Westfield Community Band who will be performing today. This 60-chair orchestra, now it it’s 100th year promises to provide a beautiful evening of music. Local Veterans will also be reading letters written from the battlefront and other touch tributes to fallen comrades. Sunday, 7 p.m., Free, Fanwood Memorial Day Celebrations…

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Pictures: New Equipment for Springfield Parks

Improvements funded by County's Kids Recreation Trust Fund

Children and parents using may have noticed a new look to Springfield's playgrounds. Over the summer, three of the Township's playgrounds received major renovations. The playgrounds at Denham, Laurel and Smithfield parks have all gotten a facelift, with newer, safer equipment, at no cost to Springfield. "We used grant money from the county," Department of Parks and Recreation Director Mike Tennaro said. "It's taken from the Kids Recreation Trust Fund, and the county is matching it with money from a capital improvement fund." Founded in 2004, the Kids Recreation Trust Fund provides Union County municipality with money for need-based recreation scholarships, athletic equipment, and facility improvements. The previous playground equipment, …

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Noon Eats

Six Spots for Outdoor Lunches

Eat outside and enjoy the temperate weather while you can

With the hottest summer on record now behind us, it's time to enjoy the outdoors before we dust off our jackets. Unlike some of our neighbors (think Westfield and Millburn), Springfield doesn't have the widest or most beautiful selection of outdoor options, but we do have some. The following are six outdoor lunch spots in ascending order (i.e., starting with "ehhh" and working our way to my favorite spot): No. 6, Panera Bread. Sitting under an umbrella looking out on the Sports Authority parking lot isn't too appealing. And nor is the food here. But Health magazine recently named this Missouri-based chain America's healthiest fast-food restaurant. Some like the comfort of chain food. I'm not a fan. Many of the healthy options have that …

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Photos: Beautiful Springfield

Scenic shots from our beloved town!

I recently constructed a project for the town, taking pictures and video of our beloved neighborhood for a tourist video that will be featured on the municipal site. I think these photos really show the natural beauty of this paradise, 30 miles west of New York City.  

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Union County Approves Smoking Ban for Parks, Recreational Facilities

The new policy will apply to Briant Park and Hidden Valley Park.

Smokers accustomed to puffing at county-owned pools, ball fields or playground are going to have to find new places to leave their ashes. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has amended a no smoking policy in county-owned buildings to include all county-owned recreational areas and facilities. The facilities include ice-skating rinks, playgrounds, running tracks, swimming pools, snack bars, ball fields, tennis courts, boating areas (docks structures) and rest rooms which are located in any county-owned recreational areas. "Recreational areas are used by families with children and our priority is to protect children from the effects of second-hand smoke," said Vice Chairman Deborah Scanlon. The new policy will apply to Briant Park…

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Agreement Paves Way for Union County Connecting Parkland

Watching Reservation would be connected with Echo Lake Park

An agreement with Mountainside helps pave the way for a connecting path between Echo Lake Park and the Watchung Reservation. The link would create a path through the Mountainside Community Pool complex, from Mountain Avenue, through to the Route 22 pedestrian overpass that links to an off-road path parallel to New Providence Road. The connecting path is in Mountainside, and would link Echo Lake Park, which straddles the Westfield/Mountainside border, to the Watchung Reservation, part of which is within Springfield. The new bicycle path would utilize the access road to the pool complex and then pass around the far side of the pool's picnic grove, connecting to an existing path that leads to the municipal building. Under the plan, half of …

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County Honors Parks Volunteers

Union County residents volunteer in county parks.

Some people take off a day from work. Some come the first Saturday of the month. Some are teens earning community service hours while others, like Boy Scouts, need projects to advance in rank. And then there are the retired, who have the flexibility to turn out whenever the whim strikes. But what they all share in common is a love for the outdoors and a deep concern for Union County's parks, whether it is ripping invasive plants out of Lenape Park in Cranford or repairing the trails that weave for miles through the 2,060-acre Watchung Reservation.  "As a kid, I was up in the Reservation all the time," said Lawrence Russo, who grew up in Plainfield and now lives in Cranford.  "Now that I'm semi-retired, I can give back.  It's a beautiful  …

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