Thanks to an AARP Community Challenge grant, the town of Dunellen was able to build benches in Columbia Park with help from community volunteers. (L-R) John Gibney, Rachel Appleton, Glenn Donatiello, Homer Mosley Jr, Georgette Mosley, Terri Albertson, Daniel Cole Sigmon, Mayor Jason Cilento, Stacy Narvesen, Kenneth Baudendistel, Peter Albertson Sr., Heidi Heleniak, and Alex Miller.
A half-mile walking path surrounds Dunellen’s Columbia Park, the town’s recreational hub and the location of its senior center. But until recently there was no seating along the path, making it unusable for some older and disabled residents.
Thanks to a $6,500 AARP Community Challenge grant, the borough’s Parks and Recreation Department, along with the Dunellen Municipal Alliance and other groups, added a dozen benches, installed and labeled new plantings, and painted a footbridge in the park.
The Columbia Park project did more than beautify the space, said Jason Cilento, Dunellen’s mayor—it engaged the community across generations.
“They all came in and did it together,” Cilento said.
The town’s high school football team, the Dunellen Destroyers, helped with planting. Members of the Dunellen Senior Citizens Club joined in, too, staining the new benches.
The town’s Arts and Culture Commission painted the park’s footbridge, and a former mayor donated signs for the bridge and walking path.
Even a small grant can have a big impact, Cilento said. “We’re a very small town, so resources are limited.”
Great places, new spaces
Dunellen was among 159 municipalities and organizations in every state (including three in New Jersey), D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to be awarded grants last year through the third annual AARP Community Challenge. There were more than 1,660 applications.
The program funds quick improvements, typically completed in under six months, that are meant to make communities more livable for everyone.
“Here in New Jersey, we want our communities to be great places not just to grow up but to grow old, as well,” said Christine Newman, AARP New Jersey community outreach director.
Easter Bunny Around Town Sunday March 28th 
Starting time will be 10am on the north side of town.
We need your help in making Dunellen a more walk-able community!
The Dunellen Parks and Recreation Department is excited to share this opportunity for you to provide input, comments and pictures on a popular walking corridor for Dunellen's school children - from North Ave to Faber Elementary School. (You don’t have to have children in the schools to participate as anyone who walks this route will reap the benefits!
Some Background
Thanks to a technical services grant awarded to Dunellen earlier this year, under the leadership of Councilwoman Stacy Narvesen, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority/Sustainable Jersey/Voorhees Transportation Center arranged a Walkable Community Workshop for the aforementioned walking corridor.
On July 13, 2020, the technical assistance team conducted a half-day workshop on how to improve the walking environment along this corridor with an emphasis on pedestrian safety. The workshop included one hour of training and a corridor specific audit of the built environment for approximately one-half mile of contiguous streets in the municipality. The product of this effort will be a report documenting existing conditions and providing recommendations to improve walkability along the corridor.
How to Provide Resident Input
Complete an audit form and/or provide comments and pictures about this walking corridor by August 3, 2020 at 5PM. To assist you in providing input, use this link to complete the online version of the walk audit form. Send all input to Anne Heasly, AICP from Sustainable Jersey at heaslya@tcnj.edu.
More Info: map, workshop presentation, audit form
Please use this link to a webpage on the Sustainable Jersey website - where you'll find the workshop recording, presentation materials and audit form (.pdf).
Questions?
Please email Borough Councilwoman Stacy Narvesen at snarvesen@dunellen-nj.gov or contact Anne Heasly, AICP from Sustainable Jersey at heaslya@tcnj.edu.
VENDORS WANTED
Dunellen American Legion Post 119
137 New Market Rd., Dunellen, NJ is hosting our
Craft Show and Flea Market
ATTIC TREASURES, CRAFTERS & VENDORS ALL IN ONE LOCATION
Saturday June 5th, 2021 - 9am to 3pm.
10 ft. space - $25
Very limited amount of tables for rent - $15
(No food vendors please)
RAIN OR SHINE
Call 732-968-9899 for application or email Post119events@optonline.net
PLEASE JOIN US FOR A GREAT DAY!
Also on June 5th – Dunellen is having their town-wide garage sale sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 29
Dunellen will be full of people ready to spend!!
Upon signing the vendor application and this contract/waiver, the vendor acknowledges that the venue and hosts (Dunellen American Legion Post 119) are NOT responsible for theft, loss, damages or bodily injury to the vendor or employees of the vendor during this event.
Next Stop Dunellen!
Next Stop, Dunellen is an e-newsletter brought to you by the Dunellen Downtown Management Organization. Created as a community resource, it's designed to highlight all there is to see and do in Dunellen.
To sign up, click here.