Nancy Bergen, the new Lawrence Township recreation department superintendent, has an enthusiasm for recreation that’s contagious.
Bergen, who was hired on April 4, has a passion for recreation, a strong desire for all residents to participate and, most of all, aspirations to maximize the enjoyment of the activities the department offers now and will offer in the future. She brings with her an impressive work and educational background to complement her passion.
“I’m very excited to be here in Lawrence,” said Bergen, who took over for Steve Groeger, who had been the recreation superintendent for more than 30 years. “I have big shoes to fill with Steve Groeger leaving after all those years. People here have been very supportive and welcoming so far, and that has been great.”
Bergen grew up in Pequannock, where her exposure to recreational activities began early on with her father, Ed Phillips and mother, Rita Phillips. Ed was a Korean War veteran who worked for an aerospace company in Teterboro. Rita worked for the Pequannock school system. Bergen played baketball growing up.
“When I was a kid, my parents coached me a lot growing up. I’ve been around sports my whole life,” she said.
Bergen took her love of sports with her through high school and into college. She majored in recreation at Montclair State University, where she also played basketball.
After graduation, she had an internship at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, a NCAA Division I conference founded in 1980. Current member institutions include Canisius, Fairfield, Iona, Manhattan, Marist, Monmouth, Niagara, Quinnipiac, Rider, Saint Peter’s and Siena. She worked for some insurance companies in the years that followed.
In 1996, Bergen got married and moved to Hillsborough. She was a stay-at-home mom while her children were growing up. As they started to dabble in youth sports, though, her involvement grew, too, and she started working for the Hillsborough parks and recreation department.
“When they got a little older and involved in recreational activities, I began to get involved with them, attending practices, games, coaching,” Bergen said. “What began as a part-time transition from at home mom to recreational activities with the kids eventually became the full-time commitment that recreation is today.”
Her son, Kyle, is 19 and attends Stevenson University in Maryland. Her daughter, Bridget, is now 16 and attends Hillsborough High School, where she has continued the family tradition in basketball. Her husband, Matt, hails from Manalapan.
Bergen worked for the Hillsborough recreation department for 10 years and has served as the assistant recreation department director in that township since 2013.
Some events she recalled organizing there included the Memorial Day parade and an annual breakfast for veterans. The department had around 800 fall and 800 spring program participants, an impressive level of participation.
Bergen’s philosophy about recreation in general tells a lot about her approach. “There’s so much history in Lawrence,” she said. “Recreation is a nice area to work in because it has a very positive impact on the community. Being director is nice because you can see firsthand all the positive impacts it is having on the community. You have to be open to what recreation does for people. It really means different things to different people.”
Seeing the joy parents get from watching their children get involved with different activities—especially when the parents participate in the same activities—is one of the best parts of her job, she said.
So are events like the Memorial Day parade.
“The Memorial Day Parade is so meaningful, too, and it is very touching to see the joy on the faces of all the veterans who attend every year,” she said. “The holiday is also so important to non-veterans and the kids because it reminds us that the things we enjoy doing so much required others to sacrifice so much.”
Right now, Bergen said the she and the department are working on several projects.
“I’m still trying to get the handle on what types of activities and programs we’ve done in the past,” she said. “We want to expand in areas that have room for more growth. We want to develop as many activities as we can to make sure as many residents can reap the benefits of the recreational programs as possible.”
One of those projects is an inclusive park and playground to “meet the needs of all children and adults alike,” she said. The construction of the park was an idea of Grover’s, and it’s something Bergen would like to see become a reality in Lawrence.
Bergen said she’s not sure where the park will be located yet, although she is adamant that it be right in the center of town. Many towns are developing such inclusive park projects.
“We are currently looking for grants and donations to fund this park. Everyone from the handicapped to the very youngest to our senior citizens will benefit,” she said.
The recreation department’s next big event coming up is the Friday, July 1 fireworks display at Rider University. The event begins at 7 p.m., and fireworks start at approximately 9:40 p.m. The event has a built-in fundraising component for the department through the sales of glowsticks. The proceeds will go to fund future projects like the inclusive park.
Another upcoming event Bergen noted is the October 2016 Community Day, which will include pony rides, face painting for kids and some old-fashioned community bonding.
The township also conducts various clinics and has an extensive summer camp offering with park-oriented and travel camps. A playground safety program in cooperation with the police department provides new kindergartners with tips on playground safety.
“I’d also love to see a fishing derby at Colonial Lake,” Bergen said.
Summertime offerings include park and art camps, sports camps, community garden, swim lessons, tennis camps in conjunction with Princeton Tennis Program, travel camps and much more. National Night Out takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is a joint police department and community event. For more information, email recreation@lawrencetwp.com or visit lawrencetwp.com/rec.html.
The recreation department also hosts Senior Center programs, which include guest speakers, activities, classes and programs such as Bible study, bridge club, line dancing, yoga and the like. There are also health lectures and screenings. On Mondays from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. the Senior Choraleers meet to sing in a relaxed atmosphere. Nancy Chordas is the director. No experience necessary. For further information on Senior Center offerings, call (609) 844-7094 or (609) 844-7048.
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