Summer in Bridgeton
By Albert Kelly
It’s that time of year again; summer is in full swing in
Bridgeton and there’s some fun to be had. One thing that is new this year is
our new miniature golf venue. Located right next to the Splash Park, mini-golf
is $3.00 a person for 18 holes and it’s not a bad deal.
That remains important; namely providing folks with some
affordable fun and entertainment. I’m not sure if you’ve been to a movie
theater lately, but buying tickets and paying for refreshments can leave you a
little lite in the wallet- but that’s not the case at Bridgeton City Park.
For an afternoon you can visit the zoo (free admission)
spend a couple of hours at the Splash Park ($3.00) a head, and then do 18 holes
of golf (also $3.00) so that a single parent with two or three children can
enjoy an afternoon out for not too much money. That’s not bad thing when
household budgets are tight.
We’re working on other activities, venues and programs and
to the extent possible, we’ll always be looking for that sweet spot between keeping
things affordable and allowing these activities to be somewhat self-sustaining.
The bottom line is that we’re always looking to improve and provide visitors
with a quality product.
One other thing to keep in mind; the Splash Park and
miniature golf, not to mention our picnic areas, are available for private
affairs. We’re talking birthday parties, family reunions, class trips, and
other such gatherings. Times are limited and the calendar fills up fast, but this
is an option to keep in mind if you are having a private event and you need a
place to be.
Speaking of movies, this summer will feature “Movies in the
Park” at the amphitheater. Slated for the second Saturday of the month, the 8pm
shows will be PG and PG-13 movies. Refreshments will be available and you’ll
want to bring your own lawn chair or blanket. You can call our Recreation
department for specific dates and info.
For those who are fans of fishing, Sunset Lake might just be
the spot. Word from the good folks at NJ Fish and Wildlife has it that the lake
was restocked with Largemouth Bass and Bluegill Sunfish in 2015 with more added
in 2016. This is part of establishing a
good foundation for the lake as a fishing spot and it seems that growths rates
of the Largemouth Bass were for the most part good.
At the height of summer, you don’t want to miss Zoo Camp.
Kids of all ages attend to learn about animals, the environment and healthy
living. Zoo camp will be in the fat part of July and you can call the
Recreation Department or visit the City’s website for more info.
If music is your thing, the Sunday Night Concert Series
might just do the trick. Held at the Riverfront in downtown Bridgeton, these
concerts run from July 10th through August 14th.
Beginning at 7:00pm, you can hear a number of different local and regional
talent everything from “Golden memories” to “Mid-Life Crisis”.
Not to be outdone, the Bridgeton Library also has a full
summer menu of events and activities. On June 22nd, kids can enjoy a
magic and puppet show courtesy of Rick Waterhouse. The festivities kick off at
7:00pm and it’s part of the summer reading program.
For students of all ages, the summer reading program is
important because reading is foundational to success in life no matter what
we’re doing. Knowledge is power and one of the main ways to acquire knowledge
is through reading. Summer reading means students won’t lose ground over the
summer months and they’ll get off to a good start in September.
The library team will also hold a “smell-o-rama” for tweens
and soda-palooza for teens and while I’m not entirely sure about the
particulars of either event never having attended a “smell-o-rama”, I can say
that it’s all about the science of food-
so that’s a good thing. The library closes out July with their annual teen
tubing trip- a good time with lots of water and sunshine.
So there’s a lot to do in Bridgeton this summer; this isn’t
the whole line-up, but it’s the highlights. You can contact the Recreation
Department at (856) 453-1675 or visit our website. You can reach the Library at
(856) 451-2620. Whatever you do, we hope you have a fun summer- with Bridgeton
in the mix.