Recreation, Parks and Pathways Advisory Committee 'Springs' into Action

Budding trees, chirping birds and blooming flowers are all proof that spring has arrived in style; this warm season brings a whole new set of responsibilities to the Recreation, Parks and Pathways Advisory Committee. Monday evening the committee sat down to discuss spring's upcoming events and tasks. 

Charter Day

Julie Keating reported on the upcoming Charter Day which will be held on May 15. This year, the Charter Day Art Show has been expanded to allow students from Kindergarten through 12th grade to participate.  Students may use any medium, but the art should focus on Bernards Township special places, events, or history. A registration form can be found at the Bernards Township website under Charter Day Committee, which is listed under Boards and Committees. April 30 is the deadline for submission. 

Along with student art, Westminster Hall will also showcase a 9' x 12' quilt made by the Liberty Corner School in honor of the 250th anniversary, an oral history history project presented on laptops by the high school, and a photography exhibit done by the high school. 

In terms of space, the committee has had to turn away many people interested in booths on Charter Day this year. Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Gander stated that they  "have had so many people come out for the 250th anniversary. There have been so many new vendors, a lot more school groups that have joined, and a lot more local, in town businesses wanted to get involved so we're just about full on booth space."

Youth Sports 

Field opening has been postponed from this past Saturday, April 3rd, to this upcoming Wednesday, April 7, due to immense field saturation from last week's rain. While the high school has been able to play on some fields, full schedule for all schools will begin this Wednesday.  However, field No. 3 and No. 4 of Mountain Park are still out of service. Additionally, field No. 8 is now a full size baseball field with outdoor lights and will be used by Babe Ruth Little League and Ridge High School. 

Spring / Summer Program

Even though softball season is just beginning, it is clear that this year will be very different. Since Bernardsville and Bedminster townships have separated from this league, there has been a decline in the number of teams . The Junior Swatters, which is made up of second and third graders, and the minor league each have six teams from Bernards Township and one team from Peapack-Gladstone. The major league, which is made up of sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, will now only have four teams.

It is the majors that will feel the effects of the Bernardsville-Bedminster split the most, because they will only be playing the other three teams in their league throughout the season. "And from what I hear the Bernardsville-Bedminster league only has three teams as well, so I don't know why this was such a good idea to split it. But they were always a little more competitive and they didn't like our recreational, educational learning experience type style so I think that is part of the reason," Gander said. "It is going to be an interesting season going from last year, where I think we had six or seven teams."

With softball participation steadily on the decline, the future might hold a clinic-type style for softball instead of a league. Softball's main competition comes from lacrosse, which is continuously growing in popularity, and soccer, which is practiced year-long.  

Youth Week 2010

Youth Week begins Saturday, April 10, and continues until Saturday, April 17. These programs are open to children over three years old. 

Saturday, April 10th : The Fishing Derby at Southard Park from 9:00am-10:30am.

 Monday, April12th:  Dunham Park will host the Remote Control Car Races from 11:00am-12:00pm. 

Wednesday, April 14th : Dunham Park will have Kite Flying, Chalk Drawing and Window Painting from 11:00am-12:00pm. Chalk Drawing is allowed for children in third grade and under and window painting is for children in fourth grade and older.

Thursday, April 15th:  the William Annin Middle School Gym will have the Seated Scooter Races from 11:00am-12:00pm. Warning to Parents: wear comfortable pants because you will be getting on the scooters after your children! 

Saturday, April 17th: YMCA Healthy Kids Day will be held at the Somerset Hills YMCA from 1:00pm-4:00pm.

Senior to Senior Picnic

This will be the fifth year that the intergenerational event between the senior class at the high school and the senior citizens in town will share. This year the Senior to Senior Picnic will be held on May 7, 2010. Student sign ups among seniors has begun at the school, while the committee has begun registering senior citizens. As of yet, no theme has been disclosed.

250th Anniversary Task Force 

"This month's event is the opening of Sons of Liberty Farm on Saturday, April 24th. In May, on May 25th is the Northeast Navy Pops Ensemble and that's the free concert at the high school. Seating is limited and you will need a ticket to enter," Gander said. The deadline date for residents to begin picking up tickets will be April 26, and then beginning May 10 all other people may begin picking up tickets. While the admission is free, donations are being collected in the form of gift cards to grocery or discount retail stores which will later be sent over to the Lyons VA Hospital.

The Son's of Liberty Farm Dedication Ceremony will begin at 11:00 am on the April 24. Along with the dedication of a newly planted Liberty Elm tree, a reading and a poem will be shared about the tree and it's significance. Mayor Scott Spitzer will be in attendance and he will lead a walk around the park after the ceremony is completed. The ceremony will include the dedication of the tree and the unveiling of a new, permanent kiosk in the park. This kiosk will have a map and history of the Son's of Liberty Farm on one side, and on the other side there will be a map and a history of the English Family Woods. This explanation will further provide the limits of the Woods since they are personal property, despite the fact that the town owns developing rights. 

Mayor's Wellness Campaign

The next program in the Mayor Wellness Campaign series will be a Tai Chi class with Carolyn Gaziano on April 9 in cooperation with Master Kwon's Tai Kwon Do. The upcoming June event will be a bike ride with John Carpenter. 

With so many upcoming activities it is difficult to imagine being bored this spring. The Recreation, Parks and Pathways Advisory Committee has two membership openings. So if you are interested, or know somebody who is, fill out the "Tap the Talent" Volunteer Application form on the Bernards website.