ADA & Non-Discrimination Statement

Mission Statement

"Committed to excellence in promoting stewardship of land and resources, providing outstanding recreation opportunities and leisure services, and fostering an environment which is service oriented and responsive to public needs."

Non-Discrimination Statement

Somerset County Park Commission does not discriminate in any manner against any person by reason of race, color, gender, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or religious or political affiliation.

ADA and Discrimination Notice

Somerset County Park Commission (SCPC) welcomes everyone to participate in its programs and facilities regardless of race, color, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, or religious or political affiliation. 

In accordance with the requirements of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the SCPC will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities. 

  • Employment: Somerset County Park Commission does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under title I of the ADA.
  • Effective Communication: SCPC will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in SCPC programs, services, and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments.
  • Modifications to Policies and Procedures: SCPC will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities.  For example, individuals with service animals are welcomed in park offices, even where pets are generally prohibited.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity of SCPC, should contact Janine Erickson (hereafter "ADA Coordinator"), PO Box 5327, North Branch, NJ 08876, 908-722-1200 ext. 5224 as soon as possible, but no later than three weeks before the scheduled event or program.  For camps, six weeks’ notice is needed to ensure proper supports can be provided. 

The ADA does not require the SCPC to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden. 

Complaints that a program, service, or activity of SCPC is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed in writing to the ADA Coordinator, PO Box 5327, North Branch, NJ 08876 no later than 60 days after the alleged violation.

Somerset County Park Commission will not place a surcharge on a particular individual with a disability or any group of individuals with disabilities to cover the cost of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy, such as retrieving items from locations that are open to the public but are not accessible to persons who use wheelchairs.  

American with Disabilities Act Grievance Procedure

This Grievance Procedure is established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA").  It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits by the Somerset County Park Commission. The Park Commission’s Personnel Policy governs employment-related complaints of disability discrimination. 

The complaint should be in writing and contain information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number of complainant and location, date, and description of the problem.  Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews or a tape recording of the complaint will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request.

The complaint should be submitted by the grievant and/or his/her designee as soon as possible but no later than 60 calendar days after the alleged violation to:

Janine Erickson
ADA Coordinator
PO Box 5327
North Branch, NJ 08876

Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the complaint, the ADA Coordinator or her designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and the possible resolutions. Within 15 calendar days of the meeting, the ADA Coordinator or her designee will respond in writing, and where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, such as large print, Braille, or audio tape.  The response will explain the position of the Somerset County Park Commission and offer options for substantive resolution of the complaint.

If the response by the ADA Coordinator or her designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or his/her designee may appeal the decision within 15 calendar days after receipt of the response to the Secretary-Director or his designee. Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the Secretary-Director or his designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions.  Within 15 calendar days after the meeting, the Secretary-Director or his designee will respond in writing, and, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, with a final resolution of the complaint.

All written complaints received by the ADA Coordinator or her designee, appeals to the Secretary-Director or his designee, and responses from these two offices will be retained by the Somerset County Park Commission for at least three years.