Mark Hillringhouse of Verona won first place in the adult category of the Annual Essex County Parks Photography Contest. Hillringhouse (center) was recognized by Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. (right) and Essex County Parks Director Dan Salvante on Saturday during the Annual Fall Family Festival at the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland. His winning photo was titled “Verona Park.”
The Essex County Parks Photography Contest was sponsored by the Essex County Environmental Center. Anyone with a camera was encouraged to participate. Entries were judged in two categories: Youth for ages 17 years and younger and Adult for ages 18 and older. All photographs should have been taken within the boundaries of the Essex County Parks System during the past year. Entries were judged on creativity, technical superiority, composition, and the photograph’s depiction of the uniqueness of the Essex County Parks System.
All photographs will be on display at the Essex County Environmental Center during September and October. Hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sponsoring the contest and providing prizes for the winners were The Little Gym from Livingston, Livingston Camera, RD Works from Budd Lake, Home Sweet Home from Summit, Millburn Frame Shop, The Home Depot from Parsippany, Frames and Framers from Millburn, Signarama from Roseland, McHutchenson from Wayne, the Zoological Society of NJ and ShopRite from West Caldwell.
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 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, two miniature golf courses, golf driving range, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.
(Photo by Glen Frieson)
