The Alternative Press

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ - Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. is inviting county fourth graders and sixth graders to participate in the county’s essay and poster contest. Fourth graders are asked to write an essay on the theme “Why My Essex County Park is Important to Me” and sixth graders are welcome to join in the “Cherry Blossom Poster Contest.” Both of these competitions are free and winners will be honored at the Essex County Bloomfest on Sunday, April 14. During the month of April, all posters submitted will be on display in the Essex County Hall of Records in the First Floor Lobby.

“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,” commented DiVincenzo.


Grover Cleveland Park  Credit: Raymond Caprio  

The “Why My Essex County Park is Important to Me” essay entries must relate to the Essex County Park System from a student’s perspective and voice, and have logical written development through ideas that build on one another, with language mechanics used correctly.

• open to any sixth grade student attending school in Essex County
• entries must be submitted on 22-by-28 inch poster board
• students can only submit one poster
• collages, computer generated images, or printed artwork is not accepted
• deadline to enter the poster contest is Friday, March 15

Branch Brook Park Credit: Essex County Park System

Anthony Puglisi released this statement from the Office of the County Executive:

         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.
 
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.

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.

Branch Brook Park Credit: Branch Brook Park Alliance


For further information:
Essex County
County Executive:  Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
465 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Newark, NJ 07102
973-621-4400
Website