Westfield Residents With Special Needs Can 'Paint By The Pond'

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Union County residents of all ages with special needs are invited to participate in Paint by the Pond, on Saturday, July 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mindowaskin Park, located at 385 E. Broad Street in Westfield.

Paint by the Pond encourages participants to express themselves and create art by painting cardboard model houses. The houses will be floated on the pond and participants will be allowed to take their creations home with them.

Paint by the Pond is sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Town of Westfield. Participation is free but pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/opdsn-reg.

“Union County has hosted Paint by the Pond in county parks, and the participation of Westfield enables us to present this popular event in additional communities,” said Commissioner Board Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Commissioner Board is proud to partner with Westfield in creating new opportunities for our special needs residents to enjoy the outdoors in an inclusive, welcoming environment.”

“This is a terrific initiative that supports one of my administration’s key priorities to ensure that Westfield is accessible and inclusive for all,” said Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle. “We are thrilled to host Paint by the Pond in Westfield for the special needs community.”

“I am thrilled to see the Paint by the Pond event come to my hometown again,” said Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “This collaboration with the Town of Westfield helps our special needs residents enjoy an enriching experience in a community setting.”

For more information on the Paint by the Pond program, please contact Jasmine Whitous at the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs by phone at (908) 527-4781 or email at jwhitous@ucnj.org.

More information about the Union County Office for People with Disabilities and Special Needs is available online at ucnj.org/special-needs.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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