NORTH BRUNSWICK – On one Monday morning, a North Brunswick couple decided to open their own home for the betterment of the entire county of Middlesex.
Middlesex County has teamed up with Rutgers University’s Public Outreach and Engagement Team (POET) to launch Set the Table! Pete Clark went through the necessary training to host a gatherings of friends, neighbors and colleagues to discuss their priorities for Middlesex County’s future as part of the extensive outreach effort for Middlesex County’s DESTINATION2040 Comprehensive Master Plan initiative.
“My wife [Terry] and I felt it was a great social and civic concept so I attended the training session called Set The Table at which I received a host kit and had the opportunity to practice a mock meeting, and at the conclusion I received $50 cash stipend for food and refreshments. We held the event on [April 15] with breakfast and a special guest participant, Bert Baron from WCTC [radio].”
The group of 10 selected to discuss housing, parks and open space, economic opportunity, transportation and historic preservation.
The discussion on parks and open spaces included expansion of hours, additional lighting and transportation for families and single parents, and continued education to the public on what is offered and where county parks are located, according to Clark.
The transportation discussion was a need for more weekend transportation, and the creation of some type of autorail from all parts of the county to be connected.
The economic opportunity discussion was on renewed efforts on teaching and promoting skilled trade positions, as well as a focus on entrepreneurship.
The housing discussion was on affordability, more education and bilingual information to better educate people, and continued efforts to assist homeless veterans, Clark said.
The historic preservation component was to connect with all local historical societies in a summit meeting and continue to promote business partners, and to use it as a way to create increased tourism within the county for economic growth.
”It was a wonderful two-hour discussion with some ideas, and most importantly, representing North Brunswick in this initiative. Our feedback will be sent back to be part of the Destination2040 plan which we hope in a small way guide how Middlesex County will grow and change over the next 20-plus years,” Clark said.
Attendees saw the value in the meeting as well.
”This was great way to provide a think tank process to have a say in our county,” Baron said.
Eleanor Molloy, president of the Elmwood Cemetery Association, said, “Set The Table was a great event with lots of good ideas shared. The big idea for the next 20 years for historic preservation is to expand public and private partnerships to research and restore Middlesex Country’s many historic treasures. Partnerships will promote outreach and education which will be economically and socially beneficial to the health and strength of our county,” she said.
“I thought it was a great networking session and collaboration of ideas from different residents in our community,” said Lou Ann Benson, director of the North Brunswick Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services, who keyed in on the need to expand transportation linked to every generation for different needs. “We could’ve talked all day, there was so much to talk about.”
For more information, visit middlesexcountynj.gov/destination2040.