Mountainside Recreation Department

The Recreation Department provides a variety of programs and activities for borough residents of all ages. In addition, the department is responsible for the maintenance and operation of several facilities located within the borough. These include the Community Pool, Echo Lake Park Fitness Trail, sandbox, basketball/volleyball courts adjacent to the pool, the Echo Brook softball/soccer fields (lighted), and the Echo Brook tennis courts (lighted). All of these are located in the vicinity of Borough Hall. In the Deerfield School area, the department maintains the toddler playground equipment, several softball and soccer fields (lighted), batting cages, and the tennis courts (lighted). Behind Beechwood School, the department maintains the softball field. Back to top

Programs for Children

Basketball and soccer for Kindergarten-8^th graders
Indoor Soccer Clinics
Softball for 1^st-8^th graders
Spring Softball Clinic
Koosh Kids (introduction to baseball skills for 5-year olds)
Tennis lessons for ages 4 and older
Summer Playground for children in 1^st grade and above
Dining etiquette class
Interview and résumé preparation class
Babysitter training course
December family ice skating night
Ice skate swap
Summer soccer camp
Summer multi-sport camp

According to a new state law, any child who wears corrective eyeglasses while participating in a recreation sports program is required to wear shatterproof protective eyewear that meets federal standards. Contact the Recreation Department at (908) 232-0015 for more information. Back to top

Programs for Adults

Men’s Softball League
Women’s Softball League
Summer Tennis Lessons
Kick Boxing
Adult volleyball
Men’s basketball
Duplicate bridge group
Body Sculpting
Yoga
Digital camera class
Computer classes
Greeting card-making class
Steps to a Healthier Mountainside walking program
Family, adult, and senior citizen trips:

TRIPS:

· Multi-day, overnight trips

· Museum trips (Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, American Museum of Natural History)

· New York City theater trips (Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Cirque du Soleil Wintuk)

In addition, discount tickets to area attractions are available seasonally and are sold at the Recreation Office. They include Great Adventure, Hershey Park, Dorney Park, Wild Water Kingdom, Sesame Place, and Water World at Mountain Creek, as well as Blue Mountain, Shawnee Mountain, Mountain Creek, Camelback, and Jack Frost/Big Boulder ski areas.

The Recreation Department also provides NJYSA training for youth sports coaches.

Information about programs and facilities is published in the Recreation NEWSLETTER, which is mailed to residents in February, April, June, October, and December. Volunteers are needed to help collate.

For further information, please call the Recreation Department at (908) 232-0015. Back to top

Community Pool

Dip, dunk, plunge, and jump into the water at the Mountainside Community Pool. Our beautiful barrier-free outdoor facility features:

50-Meter Olympic pool
Diving tank
Two water slides
Two diving boards
Wading pool
Snack bar
Picnic grove
Basketball courts
Youth swimming and diving instruction, and teams
Special family events:

Float Nights
Family Carnival Night
Splash Parties

Seasonal memberships are available for families, individuals, and senior citizens.
Applications are available at the Recreation Department in Borough Hall. Back to top

Fitness Trail

The Echo Lake Park Fitness Trail is located behind Borough Hall and is 9/10^th mile long. It features Accessible Paracourse Fitness Stations. The new trail surface – warning track mix – is easy on the knees and joints. Walk, jog, run, roll or stroll along the scenic trail. Back to top

Tennis Facilities and Programs

There are six public courts in Mountainside: two at Deerfield School and four adjacent to Borough Hall (Echo Brook courts). All are lighted. Yearly badges are required for all players. A variety of programs are offered, including multi-season Introduction to Tennis and Summer Tennis Lessons for children and adults. Details at the Recreation Department or call (908) 232-0015. Back to top

Community Room

The Community Room at Borough Hall is open for meetings and events. Located on the 2nd Floor, the room includes a main, large meeting room; the Learning Center; the Senior Fitness Room, and the Game Room, as well as a storage closet and a bathroom. The room can accommodate up to 180 people, and may be reserved weekdays and weekends until 11 pm. Scheduling is on a first-come, first-served basis. Municipal purposes, such as elections, board meetings, and scheduled recreation programs, have priority. The room is also available for private rentals. Application for use of the room must be made at least 30 days in advance through the Recreation Office. For reservation information and a copy of the rules and regulations, please call the Recreation Department at (908) 232-0015.

Game Room

The Game Room contains air hockey, dome hockey, foosball, ping pong, pool, skeeball, and a variety of board games. For more information, please call the Recreation Department at (908) 232-0015.

Senior Fitness Room

The Senior Fitness Room provides seniors with an opportunity to improve and maintain a healthy lifestyle through the use of state-of-the-art fitness equipment. Treadmills, an elliptical, a stationary bike, a recumbent bike, a multi-station gym, and dumbbell weights are all available. Free orientation tours are scheduled several times each month and are required for new members. The tours include a demonstration of the proper use of equipment. The room is open weekdays from 10:30 am-2:30 pm. Memberships for people ages 55 and above are $50/year or $30/six months. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Department.

Learning Center

Our state-of-the-art computer lab is equipped with eight Dell desktop computers, monitors, printers, a projector, and projection screen. The Learning Center is used for computer training for municipal employees, as well as Recreation Department-sponsored computer classes. Classes include In a Snap (digital camera class), Internet and Email for Beginners; Google-It; Shopping on the Internet; I Have a New Computer! Now What?; Mail Merge for Holiday Cards and Address Labels; Organizing Documents, Files, and Folders; Newsletter Design and Creation; Movie Maker, Open Learning Center; Make Your Own Stationary & Letterhead; and various Microsoft Office tutorials. Call the Recreation Department at (908) 232-0015 for a class schedule.

Union County Recreation Facilities Located in Mountainside

Echo Lake Park: A beautiful 139-acre park with two lakes. There is boating, skating, and fishing as well as picnic areas, restrooms, dog run, ball fields, playgrounds, and the Union County memorial to September 11, 2001.
Summer Music Festival: Featured every Wednesday evening from June through August at Echo Lake Park’s natural amphitheater.
Watchung Reservation: This incredibly beautiful 2,000-acre wooded reservation is ideal for horseback riding, hiking, and fishing. It features an arboretum, athletic field, bridle trails, cross country ski course, model airplane flying, nature trails, picnic areas, playground, and the deserted village of Feltville.
The Watchung Riding Stable: A magnificent state of the art facility located on Summit Lane in Mountainside. It features extensive programs for young and old. Call (908) 654-9404 for information.
Trailside Nature and Science Center and Planetarium: Now reopened! Located in Mountainside at Coles Avenue and New Providence Road. The expanded and renovated facility features many programs and special events, both indoor and outdoor.

Mountainside Home Page E-Mail the Recreation Department

Recreation Links

Last Updated: 6/8/09