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Somerset County honors Park Commission for pickleball courts, therapeutic program and employee award
Summary
The Somerset County Board of County Commissioners recognized three Park Commission achievements: conversion of a storm-damaged rink to six public pickleball courts, an award-winning Therapeutic Recreation event and field supervisor Robert Daniels’ statewide employee honor.
The Somerset County Board of County Commissioners recognized the Park Commission and its staff Wednesday, citing three statewide awards including a reuse project that created public pickleball courts, a Therapeutic Recreation program honor and a statewide employee award for a long‑time park supervisor.
The commissioners presented the county’s Park Commission with a 2025 New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association (NJRPA) award for the North Branch Park Greenway pickleball courts in Bridgewater, which were built on the footprint of a soccer/ice rink damaged during Hurricane Ida. Commissioners also recognized the Park Commission’s Therapeutic Recreation “Murder, Mystery and Dinner Night” program with an NJRPA Special Event Award and presented Field Supervisor Robert Daniels with NJRPA’s 2025 Employee of the Year award.
Park Commission representative Dan (last name not specified) thanked the board and credited the awards to “a team effort,” saying the commission values the county’s budget support and operational freedom. “We have a great team and the team was recognized for a lot of work,” Dan said.
Robert Daniels, the Park Commission field supervisor, who has worked for the commission for nearly 18 years, accepted his award and said, “I love going to work. I have no complaints about the park commission,” adding that long staff tenure reflects satisfaction with their work.
Commission remarks highlighted the pickleball courts as a public reuse of a storm-damaged facility: commissioners described six new courts open for public play at North Branch Park Greenway. County staff also noted the Therapeutic Recreation program’s role in community inclusion.
No formal vote or funding action was recorded in the transcript for these recognitions; the presentations were ceremonial. The board moved on to other agenda items after the presentations.
The Park Commission presentations are part of the county’s regular recognitions of county programs and staff.
