County park system recognizes volunteers 141 individuals cited for 1,000+ hours of service to parks Volunteer Catherine Barry of Deal (center) is congratulated by Freeholder Lillian G. Burry and Recreation Chairman Ed Loud of the Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners. Barry recently reached a record-setting 3,000-hour mark of service to the Monmouth County Park System. Among the 141 volunteers cited for their service to the Monmouth County Park System, Catherine Barry stands out. In 2006. Barry, of Deal, reached a record-setting 3,000 hours of cumulative volunteer time given to the park system that began in 1989. Volunteers who reached the 2,000-hour milestone for volunteer hours are Louise DelCollo of Colts Neck, James Henry of Middletown and Doris Tierney of Eatontown. Krystal Roccaro of Atlantic Highlands reached the 1,000-hour mark. The contributions of 141 volunteers to open space, parks and recreation in Monmouth County were celebrated at a luncheon March 11 at the Hominy Hill Golf Center in Colts Neck. Planting flower beds, removing invasive plant species and assisting with therapeutic horseback riding lessons are a few of the ways these individuals contributed to the Monmouth County Park System's Volunteer in Parks program (VIP) in 2006. Monmouth County Freeholders Lillian G. Burry and Barbara J. McMorrow joined the Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners in thanking 141 volunteers who gave more than 40 hours of service to the park system in 2006. The Volunteer in Parks program is an umbrella under which 1,033 individuals donated 22,689 hours of their time to help the park system in 2006. Local volunteers who gave more than 40 hours of service in 2006 include: Eatontown: Linda Lawton, Melissa Reese, Doris Tierney, Samantha Vallone and Shelley Ziegler. Fair Haven: Amy Johnson and Alexanne Neff. Little Silver: Lucy Cabrera, Harris Cabrera, Nina Cabrera, Joe Coppola and Laury Wills. Long Branch: Gerry Lingner, Peter MacConnell, Alisha Mejia, Jessica Mejia, Jan Paul, Kenneth Puryear and Rickey Smith. Monmouth Beach: Martin Grubman and Christine Landuyt. Ocean Township: Jeanne Laffer, Chelsea Murray and Dawna McClendon. Oceanport: Chelsea Livingstone and Joyce Wingerter. Red Bank: Sandy Burn, James Cusick, Danielle Decker, Eileen Murphy, Joanne O'Leary and Devon Pluck. Rumson: Cynthia Dannen. Shrewsbury: Lindsey Lobaugh, Owen Wilson and Amanda Zablocky. Tinton Falls: Stacy Brody, Harden Fowler, Robert Isley and Jean Isley. West Long Branch: Stephanie Rockwell. Volunteer experiences ranged from acting in summer theater, building boardwalks on trails, guiding groups of visitors at the historic sites, and assisting with programs for individuals with disabilities. Scout groups and service club members turned out en masse to help with dune habitat restoration at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch. Park rangers worked alongside 216 volunteers who gave 1,134 hours of their time to maintain trails in 2006. Volunteers led 55 bus trips to sporting and cultural events. Members of Monmouth County's Master Gardener program worked hard to help keep gardens blooming at Deep Cut Gardens, Thompson Park and Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook. Volunteering at races and special events, assisting disabled horseback riders, leading hikes, and clearing out water bars on trails are but a few of the ways that hundreds of people make a difference in the park system. To become a volunteer with the park system, contact Susan Walsh, coordinator of volunteers, at (732) 842-4000, ext. 4283, or e-mail to volunteer@monmouthcountyparks.com. The Monmouth County Park System manages 39 park areas and golf courses, offers more than 4,000 recreation programs, and welcomes 4.8 million visitors a year. For more information about the park system, call (732) 842-4000, ext. 4256, or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.