Message from Councilwoman Ellen Zimmerman – July 31, 2026
As we close out July – marking the end of Parks and Recreation Month in Scotch Plains – it's the perfect time to reflect on how much our Township has enhanced spaces where our community joins together — and how much more is still ahead.
Over the past several years, Scotch Plains has made real, measurable progress in strengthening our parks system.
For example, the Township Council vastly improved “the rink” in front of Brookside Park, with a full redesign that included a full-size basketball court and four pickleball courts, transforming one of our most heavily used recreation spaces into a modern facility that can handle the demand year-round.
We've also completed major upgrades at Greenside Park and Green Forest Park, celebrated with ribbon-cutting ceremonies that brought neighbors and families out to see the results firsthand.
We also continue to improve Kramer Manor Park, renovating two basketball courts, six tennis courts, and transforming another tennis court into four pickleball courts.
And at the county-owned Ponderosa Farm Park — a popular destination with its playground, sports fields, picnic area, and spray pad — we partnered with Union County to add 58 new parking spaces, addressing years of frustration from families who struggled to find parking on busy weekends.
The work continues. Phase One of the revitalization of Haven Park is complete, and we've begun renovating bathrooms across several of our most-used facilities, making our parks more comfortable and accessible for residents of all ages.
Working alongside Union County, we also secured significant improvements to the athletic fields at the Vo-Tech campus on Raritan Road, giving our student-athletes and community leagues a better place to play.
Perhaps most exciting for the future: the Township acquired five acres of new park space with the purchase of the former Highland Swim Club property on Martine Avenue. That land is now deed-restricted for recreational use. In the year ahead, our Recreation Department will begin the planning process — with plenty of opportunities for residents to weigh in on what comes next.
None of this success happens without the daily work of our Recreation Department staff, our Recreation Commission volunteers, and the residents who show up to council meetings, fill out surveys, and tell us what matters to them.
Parks aren't just amenities — they're where our kids learn to play team sports, where neighbors run into each other on evening walks, where seniors gather for programs designed just for them, and where our whole community can be outside, together.
Today, as we finish our celebration of Parks and Recreation Month, I want every resident to know: the Township Council remains committed to continuing this momentum.
Whether it's expanding programming in STEM and the theatrical arts, enhancing our ballfields, or planning what's next for our newest parkland, Scotch Plains is not slowing down when it comes to investing in the places that make this community feel even more like home.
Thank you for supporting the ongoing improvements in our local parks. I invite you to enjoy them through this summer and throughout the year.
