Bound Brook Borough Breaks Ground at Pool

County Grants $455,000 for Recreation Renovations in Codrington Park

BOUND BROOK, NJ – Borough of Bound Brook officials and the Somerset County Board of Commissioners recently broke ground at a new public pool in Codrington Park that marks a major upgrade to the previous pool.

Improvements will include a new pool with a toddler area with spray jets and a spiral slide and an adult section with diving boards. Native plants will be planted in the green space of the surrounding area. The new upgraded pool facility for Borough residents is centrally located with pedestrian connections to residential neighborhoods providing greater access to local businesses on West Union Avenue. These improvements were made possible, in part, by a Somerset County grant of $455,000 through the Recreation Grant Program and the Open Space Preservation Program.

“I’m so excited that we can support this project. By maximizing the public space, the Borough is providing an affordable recreational opportunity for residents,” said Commissioner Melonie Marano, liaison to the Somerset County Open Space Advisory Committee. “It’s important that Bound Brook residents see the benefits of their Open Space tax dollars used in their community.”

“The Bound Brook pool is the heart of our community during the summer months.  This is a place where families spend time together creating positive childhood memories; much like the fond childhood memories I have of swimming in this very pool when I grew up here in Bound Brook,” said Borough of Bound Brook Councilman Dominic Longo, liaison to the Recreation Commission and lifelong resident. “We are grateful for the support the Board of County Commissioners has given us. This project has been a few years in the making, and we are all excited to get this project underway. This will be an asset for our residents.”

In 2021 and 2022, the Somerset County Board of Commissioners awarded grants to 12 municipalities, totaling $3,750,000 through the Recreation Grant Program.  These communities are benefiting in a variety of ways, including trails to playgrounds, community gardens, pavilions, and pickleball courts.

More About the Recreational Grant Program

Somerset County established the Program to assist municipalities with the development and upgrade of active and passive recreational facilities on preserved land, which does not include maintenance of the land.

Administration of the program occurs on a rolling basis without a deadline. The County Commissioners grant awards depending on the annual allocation of funds and the number of requests for funds. Recreational Grant funding does not require a minimum match, but direct project funding or an in-kind contribution is recommended.

About the Open Space Preservation Program

Somerset County began the process of preserving its open space with the formation of the county’s Park Commission in 1956 when the development of a plan to create a countywide park system was undertaken. The original goal was to protect 2,250 acres of recreational open space, and today almost 15,000 acres have been preserved with almost three-quarters undeveloped.