Union County Improvement Authority, Union County Commissioners, and community leaders celebrate the completion of Springfield Avenue Park with a ribbon cutting

Berkeley Heights, NJ – The Union County Improvement Authority (UCIA) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 21, 2026, to celebrate the opening of Springfield Avenue Park in Berkeley Heights. UCIA officials, members of the Union County Board of County Commissioners, and community members attended the ceremony.

“We look forward to the many ways the community will benefit from the renovation, expansion and beautification of Springfield Avenue Park,” said Bibi Taylor, Ed.D., Director, UCIA. “This project reflects UCIA’s commitment to creating inclusive, high-quality recreational spaces designed for people of all ages and abilities.”

“I want to thank the Union County Improvement Authority for overseeing the project and the professionals and crews who planned and built it. I also want to thank my fellow Commissioners for their continued support of county parks and the preservation of open space. Everyone involved can take pride in what has been accomplished here today,” said Joseph C. Bodek, Chairman of the Union County Board of County Commissioners. "To Mayor Devanney, the residents of Berkeley Heights, all of Union County, we are pleased to welcome you to Springfield Avenue Park. We look forward to seeing this property become part of your daily lives and remain a public resource for generations to follow."

The $5.4 million project has transformed the more than 35-acre park into a vibrant, accessible recreational destination, featuring upgraded and expanded amenities, including:

• Playground areas with shade structures and picnic tables
• Asphalt walking paths
• Multi-purpose walking trails
• ADA-accessible boat launch
• Synthetic surface walking track with benches and a pavilion

The park’s designated play areas – including a Fitness Middle School Age Pod, School Age Pod, and Toddler/Tot Pod – feature shade structures and picnic tables, providing welcoming spaces for families and residents of all ages.

“As many of you know, I am a mother of five children – and those ages span from teenagers down to a kindergartener – and there is nothing better than when you can find a space in our community, in our county, that welcomes all of them,” said Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded of the Union County Board of County Commissioners. “There are opportunities here for people of all ages and all abilities, and that is what makes Union County so special and so unique."

The project team included RSC Architects, architect; Remington & Vernick Engineers, engineer; MAST Construction, construction manager; and Z-Tech Contracting, general contractor.

Springfield Avenue Park is open and ready to welcome the community.

To learn more about UCIA, visit https://ucimprovementauthority.org/.