ESSEXCOUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO WELCOMES OVER 4,000 VISITORS TO 3RD ANNUAL ESSEX COUNTYOPEN HOUSE
Carnival Atmosphere and Excitement of Turtle Back Zoo Make Learning about CountyGovernment and Services Fun
West Orange, NJ – A carnival-type atmosphere complete with games, live music, stilt walkers and face painters greeted visitors who attended the 3rd Annual Essex County Open House to learn about EssexCounty government. More than 4,000 people came to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo on Saturday, May 21st to enjoy free admission to the zoo and visit more than 50 interactive displays and exhibits where they learned about county government services.
“Now in our third year, our annual Open House events help us break down barriers, reach out into the community, and make government more accessible and familiar for our residents,” DiVincenzo said. “This year’s Open House was a remarkable event that exceeded my expectations. We took brought County government to the people, highlighted one of our most popular recreation attractions and made residents aware of the many ways their quality of life is positively affected by EssexCounty,” he added.
The excitement began before visitors even entered the zoo. Employees from the Division of Weights and Measures exhibited the equipment they use to test scales, pumps and other measuring devices, and displayed the truck they use when they test the accuracy of gasoline pumps. At the Division of Mosquito Control’s exhibit, visitors could peer through a microscope and learn how mosquitoes are identified. The Division of Citizen Services promoted its services by inviting people to spin a wheel of fortune. The Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs offered a treasure chest and turned a grassy patch of the zoo into a putting green. People could have their picture taken with a “bear” to commemorate their visit to the Open House and the Department of Public Works operated a station where they engraved the names of children on decorative wooden panels.
Visitors also could test their knowledge about EssexCounty and were asked to complete a six-question “exam.” If they did not know the answers, they could embark on a “fact-finding tour” and discover the correct answers by asking county employees at the various display tables. Those with all six answers correct were entered into a drawing to receive free Newark Bears baseball tickets and an Essex County T-shirt.
The Dixie Diamond Band and Tropic Topic provided live musical entertainment as families strolled along the zoo’s paths, mesmerized and excited by the more than 80 species of animals from five continents at Turtle Back Zoo. They also got a sneak peak at the Black Bear Exhibit, Animal Barn at Essex Farm and AnimalHospital that are all nearing completion.
“I was impressed with the creativity of the displays and the energy and enthusiasm our county employees gave to make this our most successful Open House,” DiVincenzo said. “Our Open House was an opportunity for residents to learn how EssexCounty is working for all our families, and gave us a chance to put the spotlight on Turtle Back Zoo so the public could visit one of our most popular recreation attractions and see the exciting improvements that are being made,” he noted.
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