Somerset County, N.J., Honored by State Turfgrass Group

The Somerset County Park Commission has received the 2006 Recognition Award from the New Jersey Turfgrass Association.

This award was presented at the NJTA's annual Conference and Expo held Dec. 5-7 at the Trump Taj Mahal hotel in Atlantic City.

The NJTA was founded in 1970 and is recognized as the voice of the green industry in New Jersey, representing the broad concerns of turfgrass-related businesses.

According to a Park Commission release, the Recognition Award acknowledges individuals or organizations for "outstanding effort and accomplishment in pursuit of better turf, thereby contributing to the beautification of facilities, a greener world, and a more attractive environment."

The Park Commission was honored for the care and maintenance of its five county golf courses and three general-use parks, along with nearly 10,000 acres of open space and farmland that has been permanently preserved by the county.

The NJTA "is a very focused organization, concentrating their efforts on a very specific element of New Jersey's environment," according to Frederick D. Quick, the Park Commission president. "To be recognized for our initiatives by [the] NJTA is a very significant honor."