Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. invites Essex County students in fourth grade to participate in the “Why My Essex County Park is Important to Me” Essay Contest and Essex County students in sixth grade to participate in the “Essex County Cherry Blossom Poster Contest.” Both activities are free and winners will be recognized on stage during the Essex County Bloomfest on Sunday, April 14th.
“Our parks, reservations and recreation facilities have a significant place in our lives and the Cherry Blossom Festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Branch Brook Park every spring. These contests will help us raise awareness about the treasured open spaces in our communities and highlight their importance on our quality of life,” DiVincenzo said. “The essay contest for fourth graders and poster contest for sixth graders is an opportunity for our students to share their insights and creativity and show why our parks are such beloved places,” he added.
The “Why My Essex County Park is Important to Me” Essay Contest is open to any fourth grade student attending school in Essex County. Essays should be one page, typed double space on regular 8.5 by 11 paper, and students can only submit one essay. Entries must relate to the Essex County Park System, take a student perspective and be written in a student voice, have logical development and have ideas that build on one another and use language mechanics correctly. The deadline to enter the essay contest is Friday, March 15th.
The Essex County Cherry Blossom Poster Contest is open to any sixth grade student attending school in Essex County. Entries are limited to one poster per student and must be submitted on 22-by-28 inch poster board. Posters may be done in marker, crayon, watercolor, ink, acrylic, colored pencil or tempura paint and must have the words “Essex County Cherry Tree Collection.” Collages, computer generated images or printed artwork is not accepted. The deadline to enter the poster contest is Friday, March 15th. Posters will be on display in the Essex County Hall of Records First Floor Lobby during the month of April.
Full contest guidelines and registration forms are available at www.essexcountynj.org by clicking on the Cherry Blossom icon. Entry forms, essays and posters can be submitted to:
Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs
Essex County Kip’s Castle Park
Attn: Caitlin Sharp
22 Crestmont Road
Verona, NJ 07044
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 22 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.
