Inclusive Eno's Pond Playground Wins Statewide Award

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

Eno's Pond County Park's inclusive playground won the Excellence in Playground Design Award.

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

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 Inclusive Playground at Eno’s Pond County Park was funded through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Jake’s Law grant, which encourages playgrounds that exceed Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The playground features a pour-in-place rubber surface, sensory play area, accessible swings for a child and caregiver, a slide and other equipment designed to accommodate children with mobility or other disabilities.