HOMETOWN PRIDE  in Clark Township

Clark Township spans about 4.7 square miles in southern Union County, surrounded by Scotch Plains, Westfield, Cranford, Winfield, Linden and Rahway, plus Middlesex County's Edison and Woodbridge. Clark ranked 40 among the top cities as the best place to live in New Jersey*. 

"Clark is a true New Jersey hometown," says Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, meaning its place resi­dents are

ERA Village Green Realtors

proud to claim as their own. "It's a town where the mayor knows you by name and you know the mayor by first name - it's a community where the people really know one anoth­er." Opportunities to meet neighbors are plenti­ful, he says, through the town's abundant recre­ational programs for youth and seniors alike.

Approximately 15,000 people live In Clark an upscale communi­ty of older, well-maintained homes and neighborhoods, as well as a few corporate campuses. Most notably, L'Oreal USA, manufactur­er of fashion-forward cosmetic, haircolor, haircare and skincare products, has its headquarters In Clark.

Typical new home in Clark

Most homes in the township are single family, though there area few two-family homes, town home/condo develop­ments and apartment complexes. In addition, many older, homes are being razed and replaced by larger residences with modern, open floor plans.

Many of Clark's residents com­mute to work. In addition to quick access to the Garden State Parkway, there are NJ Transit rail stations In nearby Linden, Cranford, Westfield and Rahway, as well as bus service direct1y from Clark. A train ride to New York Penn Station is about 45 minutes.

Clark provides all of the advantages of a comfortable suburban, lifestyle. Shopping and dining opportunities in and around town are plentiful, as are fine recreation­al and educational facilities.

Throughout Clark, there are several small shopping centers with retail stores and, professional services catering to everyday needs. National retailers like, Barnes & Noble, Marshals and Bed Bath & Beyond are comple­mented by local gift shops, jewelers, tanning and nail salons, banks, Super ShopRite, and more. Residents can adopt a pet and pur­chase pet supplies at Animal Crackers. Bonaccorso, adds that the old A&P on Raritan Road is being replaced by state-of-the-art A&P

Fresh Market. A smaller A&P is temporarily located on Westfield Avenue, he notes.

Clark residents interested in downtown shopping can visit nearby Westfield and Cranford. Shoppers also are a short drive away from Woodbridge Center mall which is anchored by Fortunoff, Macy's, Lord & Taylor, JC Penney, Sears and Dick's Sporting Goods.

Clark is a serv­ice-oriented community that places major importance on providing residents with outstanding recre­ational facilities and programs.

Brewer Recreation Center	Clark Library	Clark Reservoir

The township Recreation Department sponsors a wide range of athletic programs, including

soccer, basketball, wrestling, roller hockey, tennis, karate and lacrosse. A popular summer youth program just ended. "We had more than 600 kids signed up this year,” the mayor notes. "Actively, about 475 showed up daily.”

Many township activities take place at the Brewer Recreation Center, which features two gymnasiums, a teen center, meeting rooms and a Senior Fitness Center. Seniors can come in five days a week between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and exercise free of charge. It's a place where seniors can gather and meet people, and exercise in a safe environment. Seniors also can participate in a Senior Citizens Picnic held each September and bi-monthly Senior Birthday Breakfast gatherings.

Outside the Rec Center, there are softball and soccer fields, a concession stand and tennis courts. The facility also is used for the township's annual Health Fair, holi­day fairs and other social meetings. The Clark Community Pool offers swim team and swim lesson programs, and features a separate kiddie pool, plus shade areas, dressing rooms and a snack bar.

There are two golf courses in town. Oak Ridge Golf Club is an 18-hole course sprinkled with interesting fairways and sand traps. Hyatt Hills Golf Club offers just nine holes of play, but features a full-service clubhouse, a driving range, a putting green and a fun 18-hole miniature golf course. Sixty-two acres of this 88-acre site lies In Clark; the rest is in Cranford.

Adding further appeal to Clark's family-friendly lifestyle are its fine schools. The Clark Public School District includes Frank K. Hehnly and Valley Road elementary schools,

Arthur L. Johnson High School

Carl H. Kumpf Middle School and Arthur L. Johnson High School. During the 2003-04 school year, the high school had a student enrollment of 970. The average class size was 21, and the student-to-teacher ratio was 11.8-to-1. More than half of the faculty and staff held advanced degrees. About 48 percent of the student body took Advanced Placement courses with the opportunity to earn college credit. Classes offered include biology, chem­istry, U.S. history, English literature and composition, and psychology. Students who took the SAT earned an average score of 1,031. above the state average (1.016). Eighty-four percent of graduating seniors planned to attend two- and four-year colleges and universities.

Private and parochial schools in Clark include Featherbed Lane School of Clark, St. John the Apostle School, St. Agnes School and Mother Seton Regional High School. Colleges In the area include Kean University and Union County College with campuses in Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield and Scotch Plains.

*New Jersey Monthly magazine, April 2006 issue.