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Bergen County receives the most, $30,900, Atlantic County gets $22,300

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Thirty-eight cities and towns and seven counties are sharing $585,000 in state aid to provide recreation for the disabled, the Department of Community Affairs announced Thursday.

Bergen County received the most aid, $30,900, followed by Atlantic County, which obtained $22,300.

“No matter who you are, participating in recreational activities is essential to feeling part of the community and to improving quality of life,” Community Affairs Commissioner Lori Grifa said. “The grants will provide a variety of opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to engage in leisure activities that range from sports to crafts to cooking.”

The aid is to provide assistance to local governments for both short-term special events and long-term recreational services for people with disabilities.

The program strives to reinforce that the disabled are full members of the community and to promote the least restrictive environment in providing recreation and leisure for them.

Here are the 43 aid recipients:

$20,000: West Milford, West Caldwell, Sussex County, Secaucus, Roxbury, Plainsboro, Orange, Cherry Hill and Barnegat

$18,900: Union County

$16,500: Cape May County

$15,000: West Windsor, Middlesex County, Mercer County, Lyndhurst, Jackson, Fair Lawn, East Brunswick and Bloomfield

$14,000: North Bergen

$13,000: Paterson and Montville

$12,500: South Brunswick

$12,000: Willingboro

$10,000: Woodcliff Lake, Howell, Eatontown, Closter, Boonton and Aberdeen

$8,000: Vernon, Perth Amboy and Deptford

$7,500: Paramus and Knowlton

$6,700: Franklin (Somerset)

$6,500: Lincoln Park

$5,200: Vineland

$5,000: Washington (Morris) and Nutley

$4,500: Clayton