Fall Program Directory - Monmouth County

Special People United to Ride (SPUR) is a non-profit organization of
local citizens established in 1981. Members assist the Park System
in serving individuals with physical and mental disabilities through
horseback riding lessons. Students work to improve self-esteem,
social skills, balance, muscle tone, and posture as well as to process
sensory messages.
A dedicated group of individuals works together to staff the
Equestrian Center year round. Instructors are certified by the PATH
International, the governing body of therapeutic horseback riding.
In addition to the staff, over 100 volunteers help with programs
every year. Caring, dedicated individuals are needed to work as
volunteers. Minimum age to volunteer is 14.
For more information about SPUR, please call 732-224-1367, email
spur@monmouthcountyparks.com, or visit www.spuronline.org.
park partners
Formed in 1991, the Friends of the Parks is a non-profit charitable
organization comprised of area citizens and businesses committed
to the support of the Monmouth County Park system. In this day and
age, when recreation funding must be stretched to meet the needs
of a burgeoning population, membership dues, donations, and
proceeds from special fundraisers furnish the financial assistance
necessary to achieve a number of worthwhile goals.
Throughout beautiful Monmouth County, the Park System manages
more than 30 parks, golf courses, recreation areas, historic sites, and
stream valleys for your recreation and enjoyment. The Friends realize
how important it is to protect and preserve the more than 15,000
acres of county parks and open space maintained by the Park System.
In events during the year, Friends meet and work with Park System
staff and are able to share their views about the ways county parks
can be improved and new programs developed.
Over 200 years ago Monmouth
County was a farm community
whose entire population could be
seated in the present day PNC Arts
Center. Now, the county sits in the
hearts of the eastern “megalopolis”
containing one-fourth of the nation’s
population. To the citizens of 1778 there would always be enough
land, water, and air. Today we know these resources are finite and
delicate.
Thirty years ago, eleven members of the organization’s steering
committee signed a certificate on August 1977 naming the
Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) as a tax-exempt
corporation in the state of New Jersey, Then, as now, the
Foundation’s mission was to acquire, hold, preserve and protect the
open lands in Monmouth County.
The Friends can provide a new outlet for your creativity. Do you
have special talents Do you enjoy giving talks about your travels
or areas of interest With the contacts you make at the Friends of
the Parks, you can find ways to share your interests with others. You
can help the Friends support programs for the disadvantaged and
encourage development of innovative activities.
Friends members receive publications such as the Park System
Directory and Green Heritage and enjoy borrowing privileges at
the Deep Cut Gardens Horticultural Library. Members also receive
discounts on many Friends events.
Join a circle of friends who share your interest in making
Monmouth County a better place to live through the preservation
of open space and the enhancement of county park facilities.
Become a Friend of the Parks today. For an application form,
call the Friends office at 732-975-9735 or download one at
www.friendsofmonmouthcountyparks.com.
Since its beginning, the Foundation has conveyed to the County of
Monmouth and its communities over 4,500 acres of land dedicated
to open space preservation. These tracts range in size from one acre
to 416 acres.
The rapid changes occurring in the country - from agrarian to
residential and industrial - are even more obvious today than they
were at the time of the Foundation’s first meeting. Hence, its mission
is more important now than ever. The Monmouth Conservation
Foundation’s strength in coping with these changes is its ability
to act swiftly and impartially, free from bureaucratic and political
restraints. In addition, it can commit itself to smaller ancillary
projects that may be overlooked by larger organizations.
For more information contact the Monmouth Conservation
Foundation at PO Box 4150, Middletown, NJ 07748-4150; call
732-671-7000, email chorrigan@monmouthconservation.org; or
visit www.monmouthconservation.org.
Pre-registration is required for most of the programs listed in this directory
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