County's Parks Champion Bartlett Honored At Berkeley Ceremony

BERKELEY, NJ — When Ocean County Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. was elected nearly 40 years ago, he had a desire to bring more recreation spaces to the county.

Berkeley Island County Park, in Berkeley Township, was one of the first projects Bartlett worked on after he was elected. At the time, he referred to the park as the first major active county recreation area on Barnegat Bay.

In the 39 years that Bartlett has served as a freeholder, the county parks inventory has expanded to 27 parks and conservation areas, including two golf courses, two off-leash dog parks, areas for swimming, canoeing, fishing and sports fields and playgrounds. There is a historic cranberry farm, a tavern (currently closed) on the National Register of Historic Sites with rumored ties to the Revolutionary War, and the Barnegat Branch Trail is part of the system.

The parks system also expanded its recreation offerings over the course of Bartlett's time.

Those efforts are why county and local officials gathered at Berkeley Island County Park on Halloween for the official unveiling of signs renaming the park in Bartlett's honor.

Now named John C. Bartlett Jr. County Park at Berkeley Island, the new name goes with the renovated park that reopened in May 2018, after it was reconstructed following the devastation wrought by Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. The park originally opened May 29, 1983, and reopened nearly 35 years to the day, on May 23, 2018, with Bartlett cutting the ribbon.

The freeholder withdrew his re-election bid this summer as his battle with cancer worsened, and Wednesday's ceremony was his first public appearance in months.

Bartlett called the park renaming a fitting capstone to his time on the board, a news release from the county said.

"We call it a testimonial to his hard work and dedication to Ocean County," officials said.

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Photos: The sign is unveiled. Ocean County Freeholder Director Gerry P. Little with John C. Bartlett Jr. at the ceremony. Bartlett and his wife, Peg. Officials gather after the unveiling. Photos provided by the Ocean County Parks & Recreation Department