UNION COUNTY, NJ — The Union County Board of County Commissioners has announced that the Union County Veteran Parking program — for which specially designated parking spots are reserved for veterans who display an official Union County Veteran Parking placard in their car — has expanded to 14 locations in 2023. The program is administered by the Union County Office of Veterans Services and helps raise public awareness about military veterans in the Union County community.
To request a Union County Veteran Parking placard, use the online form on the Union County website at ucnj.org/veterans.
“We invite veterans to contact the Office of Veterans Services for assistance with benefits and other resources in Union County, including the Veteran Parking program. This year we continue to show our respect, appreciation and support for military veterans by continuing to expand and improve our outreach through the chairman’s Building a Stronger Union County initiatives for 2023,” said Union County Commissioner Chairperson Sergio Granados.
The Union County Office of Veterans Services provides a variety of free services for veterans including:
• Acting as the veterans’ official representative to the Veterans Administration.
• Assisting with the assembling of paperwork and timely submission of claims.
• Helping with VA disability compensation claims and other VA benefits.
• Assisting with survivors benefits.
• Providing information on current VA regulations.
• Explaining VA correspondence.
• Aiding with veterans’ pensions.
• Helping with burial benefits.
The Office of Veterans Services also provides information on a range of resources, including discharge registration, disability compensation claims, transportation, education and training, employment and veterans preference, equine therapy, VA health care and clinics, support and suicide prevention, property tax deduction/exemption, housing, job opportunities, end-of-life planning, military burial, special events and home loans.
Union County launched the Veteran Parking program in 2020 with a designated veteran parking spot at each of these county facilities:
• Union County Archery Range at Oak Ridge Park, 136 Oak Ridge Road, Clark.
• Ash Brook Golf Course, 1210 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains.
• Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Ave. E., Westfield.
• Echo Lake Park 9/11 Memorial, 1028 Springfield Ave., Mountainside.
• Galloping Hill Park and Golf Course, 3 Golf Drive, Kenilworth, two spots.
• Rahway River Park, Memorial Grove Area, St. Georges Avenue, Rahway.
• Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside.
• Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth.
• Warinanco Sports Center, 1 Park Drive, Roselle.
This year, four locations in Rahway and one location in New Providence have also been added to the program:
• New Providence Borough Hall, 360 Elkwood Ave., New Providence, two spots;
• Hamilton Stage, Union County Performing Arts Center, 360 Hamilton St., Rahway, two spots;
• Rahway City Hall parking lot, 1 City Hall Plaza, Rahway;
• Rahway Public Library, 2 City Hall Plaza, Rahway; and
• Rahway Senior Citizens Center, 1306 Esterbrook Ave., Rahway.
For more information about all veterans’ services in Union County visit ucnj.org/veterans or contact Geoff Smith, office coordinator, at 908-527-4918 or [email protected].