Historic Barnegat County Park Wins Statewide Award

BARNEGAT, NJ — The Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation has won two statewide awards for excellence in its parks, one of which is in Barnegat.

The department received the Gregory A. Marshall Parks and Historic Resources Award for its stewardship of Cedar Bridge Tavern Historic Site in Barnegat Township.

The department also received the Excellence in Playground Design Award for the Inclusive Playground at
Eno’s Pond County Park in Lacey.

During the 2026 Awards Program for the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association, members of the Parks Department were joined by Ocean County Commissioner Robert S. Arace, liaison to the department, and Commissioner Deputy Director Jennifier Bacchione to accept the awards. The association’s Awards Program recognizes outstanding leaders, employees, and volunteers in parks and recreation, highlighting agencies across New Jersey for excellence in programming, facility design, innovation, and public service.

“These awards highlight the incredible work our Ocean County Parks Department does every day to serve our residents and preserve the places that make our county special,” said Arace. “Whether it’s creating inclusive spaces where every child can play or protecting historic sites like Cedar Bridge Tavern, our parks continue to enhance quality of life and connect our community to both nature and history.”

The Gregory A. Marshall Parks and Historic Resources Award recognizes efforts to protect natural resources and historic sites through environmental stewardship, education and preservation initiatives. Cedar Bridge Tavern Historic Site, built around 1816, sits near the site of the Affair at Cedar Bridge, one of the last engagements of the American Revolutionary War. The site serves as both a cultural and educational resource, giving visitors insight into early life in the Pine Barrens.