Clark, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Clark is a township in southern Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 15,544,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 788 (+5.3%) from the 2010 census count of 14,756,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 159 (+1.1%) from the 14,597 counted in the 2000 census.<ref name=Census2020/><ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

History

File:WilliamRobinsonPlantationHouse.jpg

Robinson Plantation House

The territory that would become Clark was originally a part of several early settlements. The Robinson Plantation House<ref>Home page Template:Webarchive, Dr. Wm. Robinson Plantation & Museum. Accessed August 18, 2014.</ref><ref>Robinson Plantation House Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Art and Architecture, Stockton University. Accessed August 18, 2014.</ref> and The Squire Hartshorne House, buildings from the late 17th century,<ref>Clark, New Jersey homes, OldHouses.com. Accessed July 11, 2011.</ref> are remnants of the era. The Homestead Farm at Oak Ridge was the site of a skirmish preceding the Battle of Short Hills.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> In 1858, after the City of Rahway was incorporated, the area of present-day Clark was designated as the 5th Ward of Rahway. Clark was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 23, 1864, from portions of Rahway.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 237. Accessed September 12, 2012.</ref> The township was named for Abraham Clark, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.</ref> Portions of the township were taken to form Cranford Township (March 14, 1871) and Winfield Township (August 6, 1941).<ref name=Story/>

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Clark as its 33rd best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.<ref>"Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.</ref> In 2013, New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Clark 174th in its rankings of "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.<ref>"Best Place To Live - The complete 2013 Top Towns List", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2013. Accessed March 3, 2014.</ref>

In July 2020, the Union County Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into the Clark township police department and put the police chief and a captain on administrative leave after allegations of misconduct.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In March 2022, NJ Advance Media, a local newspaper, revealed a recording of Mayor Sal Bonaccorso using racial slurs when talking to members of the police department, despite him having previously denied doing so, and also saying women police officers were "disasters". The newspaper also reported that in January 2020, Clark Township had paid Clark police lieutenant Antonio Manata $400,000 to not reveal racist and sexist comments made by the Mayor and Chief of Police and to turn over the tapes he had recorded. On April 5, Bonaccorso admitted to using "hurtful and insensitive language" and apologized.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The New Jersey Office of Public Integrity and Accountability subsequently took control of the Union County investigation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 4.45 square miles (11.53 km²), including 4.27 square miles (11.07 km²) of land and 0.18 square miles (0.47 km²) of water (4.04%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ashbrook, Florence Mills, Lenox, Madison Hill and Picton.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

The Rahway River Parkway along the Rahway River runs through the township. The Robinson's Branch Reservoir, also known as the Clark Reservoir, is the largest body of water in Union County and bisects the township diagonally.

The township borders Scotch Plains and Westfield on the west, Cranford and Winfield Park on the north, Linden and Rahway on the east, and Edison and Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County on the south.<ref>Areas touching Clark, MapIt. Accessed February 6, 2020.</ref><ref>Union County Municipal Profiles, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed February 6, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

An abandoned rail spur, the Bloodgood Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, runs through Clark.Template:Citation needed

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 14,756 people, 5,562 households, and 4,038 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,751 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 93.29% (13,766) White, 0.84% (124) Black or African American, 0.10% (15) Native American, 3.71% (547) Asian, 0.03% (5) Pacific Islander, 1.15% (169) from other races, and 0.88% (130) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.50% (1,107) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 5,562 households, 30.2% had children under the age of 18; 60.4% were married couples living together; 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.4% were non-families. Of all households, 24.0% were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.15.<ref name=Census2010/>

21.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.8 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $80,959 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,674) and the median family income was $99,839 (+/− $7,789). Males had a median income of $65,399 (+/− $3,444) versus $49,649 (+/− $3,780) for females. The per capita income for the township was $37,288 (+/− $2,811). About 2.3% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Clark township, Union County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 12, 2012.</ref>

According to the 2009–2013 American Community Survey, the largest ancestry groups were:<ref>Ancestry in the Clark Township, Union County, New Jersey (Township), Statistical Atlas. Accessed May 22, 2018.</ref> Template:Div col

• 26.9% Italian
• 19.8% Irish
• 13.1% Polish
• 11.9% German
• 8.5% American
• 6.2% Portuguese
• 3.4% Russian
• 2.9% English
• 2.2% Slovak
• 2.1% Spanish
• 1.9% Puerto Rican
• 1.4% Lithuanian
• 1.4% Ukrainian
• 1.3% Chinese
• 1.3% Cuban
• 1.2% Greek
• 1.0% Hungarian
• 1.0% Colombian
• 1.0% Arab

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 14,597 people, 5,637 households, and 4,126 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,709 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 95.61% White, 0.30% African American, 0.01% Native American, 2.75% Asian, 0.63% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Also Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.67% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Clark township, Union County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 12, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Clark township, Union County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 12, 2012.</ref>

There were 5,637 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $65,019, and the median income for a family was $77,291. Males had a median income of $54,543 versus $36,361 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,883. About 1.0% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Clark Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government, which is governed by a "strong mayor".<ref name=Administration/> The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The Clark Township Committee is comprised of seven members, who are all chosen on a partisan basis in even-numbered years as part of the November general election. Three members are elected at-large from the township as a whole and four are elected from wards. The three Council-at-large seats and Mayor come up to vote together, and then the four ward seats are up for vote two years later.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 98.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>Form of Government, Clark Township. Accessed January 12, 2025.</ref>

Template:As of, the Mayor of Clark is Republican Angel Albanese, who was appointed on an interim basis to serve on a term of office ending December 31, 2028, that had been held by Sal Bonaccorso until he was forced to resign from office. Members of the Township Council are Council President Angel Albanese (at-large; R, 2028), Council Vice President Bill Smith (at-large; R, 2028), Steven M. Hund (Third Ward; R, 2026), Frank G. Mazzarella (First Ward; R, 2026), Jimmy Minniti (at-large; R, 2028), Patrick O'Connor (Second Ward; R, 2026), and Brian P. Toal (Fourth Ward; R, 2026).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor & Council, Clark Township. Accessed January 12, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Clark Township. Accessed January 12, 2025.</ref><ref name=UnionDirectory>Union County Elected Officials, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2025.</ref><ref name=Union2024>General Election November 5, 2024 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Union2023>General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref>

In January 2025, Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, who had just been re-elected for his seventh term, pleaded guilty to charges of criminal misconduct and was required to step down from office; Council President Angel Albanese will serve on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is chosen to fill the balance of the term of office.<ref>Nieto-Munoz, Sophie. "Disgraced Clark mayor resigns under plea agreement in misconduct case", New Jersey Monitor, January 10, 2025. Accessed January 12, 2025. "Embattled Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso stepped down Friday as part of a plea agreement that required his resignation following criminal charges and a racism scandal. Bonaccorso, 64, pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Union County to conspiracy to commit official misconduct in the third degree, and forgery in the fourth degree.... Council President Angel Albanese will serve as acting mayor until the township’s Republican committee submits candidates to serve as interim mayor."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Clark is located in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District,<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 22nd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

Although Union County as a whole is heavily Democratic, Clark is considered a Republican stronghold. In the 2016 Presidential election, Donald Trump received 5,182 votes (61.7% vs. 30.5% countywide) versus 2,967 for Hillary Clinton (35.3% vs. 65.9% countywide). In 2020, Trump won 5,872 (60.8% vs. 31.5% countywide) versus 3,659 (37.9% vs. 67% countywide) for Joe Biden.<ref>Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results Union County, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed March 12, 2022.</ref><ref>Amended Presidential November 3, 2020 General Election Results Union County, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed March 12, 2022.</ref>

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As of March 27, 2024, there were a total of 11,952 registered voters in Clark Township, of which 3,240 were registered as Democrats, 3,956 were registered as Republicans and 4,650 (49.4% vs. 42.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 106 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Union, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 27, 2024.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 69.1% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 87.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 5, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 4,538 votes (58.6% vs. 32.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,041 votes (39.3% vs. 66.0%) and other candidates with 97 votes (1.3% vs. 0.8%), among the 7,741 ballots cast by the township's 10,614 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.9% (vs. 68.8% in Union County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Union County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 5, 2013.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Union County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 5, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 5,093 votes (61.5% vs. 35.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,038 votes (36.7% vs. 63.1%) and other candidates with 85 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 8,276 ballots cast by the township's 10,550 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.4% (vs. 74.7% in Union County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Union County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 4,819 votes (58.7% vs. 40.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 3,237 votes (39.4% vs. 58.3%) and other candidates with 80 votes (1.0% vs. 0.7%), among the 8,209 ballots cast by the township's 10,493 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Union County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed May 5, 2013.</ref>

In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 2,688 votes (59.2% vs. 32.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Phil Murphy with 1,734 votes (38.2% vs. 65.2%), and other candidates with 117 votes (2.6% vs. 2.1%), among the 4,607 ballots cast by the township's 11,373 registered voters, for a turnout of 40.5%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.4% of the vote (3,016 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.3% (1,402 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (60 votes), among the 4,549 ballots cast by the township's 10,438 registered voters (71 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.6%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 3,375 votes (63.4% vs. 41.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,500 votes (28.2% vs. 50.6%), Independent Chris Daggett with 365 votes (6.9% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 40 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,327 ballots cast by the township's 10,302 registered voters, yielding a 51.7% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Union County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed May 5, 2013.</ref>

Education

The Clark Public School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Clark Board of Education District Policy 0110 -Identification, Clark Public School District. Accessed February 16, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Clark School District. Composition: The Clark School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Clark."</ref> As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 2,299 students and 184.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.4:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Clark Township Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2021.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Clark Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2021.</ref>) are Clark Preschool<ref>Clark Preschool, Clark Public School District. Accessed January 20, 2022.</ref> with 20 students in Pre-K, Frank K. Hehnly Elementary School<ref>Frank K. Hehnly Elementary School, Clark Public School District. Accessed January 20, 2022.</ref> with 551 students in grades K–5, Valley Road Elementary School<ref>Valley Road Elementary School, Clark Public School District. Accessed January 20, 2022.</ref> with 435 students in grades K–5, Carl H. Kumpf Middle School<ref>Carl H. Kumpf Middle School, Clark Public School District. Accessed January 20, 2022.</ref> with 518 students in grades 6–8 and Arthur L. Johnson High School<ref>Arthur L. Johnson High School, Clark Public School District. Accessed January 20, 2022.</ref> with 708 students in grades 9–12.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Clark Township Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Clark Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Students from Garwood attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Garwood Public Schools.<ref>Clark Township Public Schools 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 5, 2016. "The school district educates more than 2,350 students in five buildings and enjoys a very positive and collaborative send/receive relationship with the Garwood Public Schools. Students from Garwood are educated in their local K-8 district. They subsequently attend grades 9-12 at our Arthur L. Johnson High School here in Clark."</ref><ref>About Us, Garwood Public Schools. Accessed June 5, 2016. "High school students attend ALJ High School in Clark, NJ"</ref>

Students who excel in middle school have the opportunity to attend the Union County Magnet High School and the other programs of the Union County Vocational Technical Schools, which accept students from across the county on the basis of admissions examinations and applications.<ref>Admissions Process, Union County Vocational Technical Schools. Accessed August 3, 2016.</ref>

Mother Seton Regional High School is an all-girls, private, Roman Catholic high school, operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.<ref>Union County Catholic High Schools Template:Webarchive, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed August 3, 2016.</ref> St. John the Apostle School School is a co-ed K–12 school, also operated under the auspices of the same archdiocese. It was dedicated as a National Blue Ribbon school in 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Clark Scholarship Fund is a not-for-profit organization that has provided need-based scholarships to college-bound Clark residents since 1955, funded entirely by contributions from individuals and businesses.<ref>About Template:Webarchive, Clark Scholarship Fund. Accessed July 11, 2011. "Since 1955, the Clark Scholarship Fund has honored outstanding Clark, NJ students. The Fund is supported entirely by contributions from businesses and individual citizens in the community. It has no endowment and does not receive support from government or foundation sources."</ref>

Transportation

File:2021-06-05 11 37 41 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) from the overpass for Union County Route 604 (Madison Hill Road) in Clark Township, Union County, New Jersey.jpg

The Garden State Parkway southbound in Clark

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Union County, and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.<ref>Union County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

The Clark Circle connects Central Avenue, Brant Avenue, Valley Road, and at Exit 135 of the Garden State Parkway, which passes through the township.<ref>Garden State Parkway Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated August 2014. Accessed December 3, 2022.</ref> The New Jersey Turnpike Authority redesigned the circle as part of a project that ran from 2007 to 2009 under which the movements at the circle are now controlled by traffic lights.<ref>"Interchange 135 Improvements", Union County, New Jersey, Backed up by the Internet Archive as of October 15, 2007. Accessed April 11, 2013.</ref> Interchange 135 on the Parkway is signed for Clark / Westfield.<ref>Travel Resources: Interchanges, Service Areas & Commuter Lots, New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Accessed August 18, 2014.</ref>

Public transportation

The Lehigh Valley Railroad served Clark with a passenger station in the Picton section.<ref>Berg, Walter Gilman. Buildings and structures of American railroads:A reference book for railroad managers, superintendents, master mechanics, engineers, architects, and students, p. 294. John Wiley & Sons, 1893. Accessed July 11, 2011.</ref> The rail line remains active under Conrail's auspices, excluding the Bloodgood Branch spur which is now out of service. The closest NJ Transit rail station is in Rahway, located approximately Template:Convert from the center of Clark.

NJ Transit also provides bus service to New York City and points in-between. The 112 route provides service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan,<ref>Union County Bus/Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed July 11, 2011.</ref> as well as stops throughout downtown Elizabeth.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately Template:Convert from Clark.

Arts and culture

• The Deutscher Club of Clark was founded in 1935 and is one of the largest German clubs in the US. It offers German food, beer, music and entertainment events to the public.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The Clark chapter of Unico National, known as Clark Unico, is an Italian American service organization and social club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The Polish Cultural Foundation is a nonprofit organization that hosts the Skulski Art Gallery and Polish cultural classes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The Clark Recreation Department hosts a summer concert series.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>

Parks and recreation

File:The Robinson's Branch Reservoir in Clark, New Jersey in 2020.png

The Clark Reservoir

• Oak Ridge Park is a county-operated former golf course turned recreational park in Clark.<ref>Friedman, Alexi. "Closed Oak Ridge Golf Course transitioning into multi-use park", The Star-Ledger, April 7, 2009. Accessed July 28, 2022. "Work crews have begun filling in sandtraps and reseeding grass at the now-shuttered Oak Ridge Golf Course in Clark, preparing for its future as a multi-use park.... The 80-year-old county-run course was officially closed last month -- despite strong opposition from scores of devoted local golfers -- when county freeholders approved the measure at a finance committee meeting as part of budget negotiations."</ref>
• The Clark Recreation Department offers a variety of recreational opportunities in town, including the Clark Community Pool.<ref name="auto"/>
• The Rahway River Parkway, a greenway of parkland around the Rahway River, snakes through the east side of Clark and includes Bloodgoods Pond, Jackson Pond, and the northernmost portion of Rahway River Park.<ref>Rahway RiverParkway Clark / Linden Section, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed July 28, 2022.</ref>
• Esposito Park, named a destination park worth traveling for by New Jersey Family magazine, is located near St. Mary's Cemetery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Hyatt Hills Golf Complex is a 9-hole golf course in Clark.
• The proposed Clark Reservoir Recreation Area is an area of natural land surrounding the decommissioned Robinson's Branch Reservoir (also known as the Clark Reservoir), which is currently being rehabilitated for recreation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Union County’s Clark Reservoir Slated for Restoration, Union County, New Jersey, press release dated December 3, 2021. Accessed July 28, 2022. "The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that work is moving forward on the restoration of the Clark Reservoir. Located along Robinson’s Branch of the Rahway River in the Township of Clark, the reservoir was built in 1907."</ref>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Clark include:

• Todd Burger (born 1970), former offensive guard who played for the New York Jets<ref>Eskenazi, Gerald. "Pro Football; Jets Add Burger and Byars To Free-Agent Acquisitions", The New York Times, February 26, 1998. Accessed May 5, 2013. "Burger, a 300-pounder who grew up in Clark, N.J., idolizing Bill Parcells and the Giants, is the second instant starter on the troubled offensive line that the Jets have picked up in the last week."</ref>
• Halsey (born 1994), singer<ref>Lustig, Jay. "Concert review: Halsey at Madison Square Garden" Template:Webarchive, The Record, August 14, 2016. Accessed December 9, 2016. "Halsey – who grew up as Ashley Frangipane in Clark, and is now 21 -- wiped a tear from her eye as she told the story, standing on the Garden's stage herself, Saturday night."</ref>
• Kenneth Ham (born 1964), NASA astronaut<ref>Caroom, Eliot. "Clark native set to lead one of last NASA shuttle missions", The Star-Ledger, May 2, 2010. Accessed September 18, 2011. "A love of flight and a helpful guidance counselor led Kenneth Ham from his high school in Clark to a trip to the International Space Station next week. Ham is one of several Garden State natives who will be among the last astronauts on a space shuttle as NASA winds down the long-running program this year. For Ham, his path to the stars began in the early 1980s at Arthur L. Johnson High School."</ref>
• Jeffrey Lichtman (born 1965), defense attorney who represented Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and John Gotti Jr.<ref>Finn, Robin. "For a Lawyer Who's Angry, a Gotti Is Therapy", The New York Times, September 30, 2005. Accessed April 14, 2008. "Mr. Lichtman, unsurprisingly, was no fan of the mob turncoats the prosecution engaged as witnesses: 'Arrogant.' They reminded him, he says, of the bullies he grew up with in Clark, N.J., where his father was a meatpacker and fistfights trumped schoolyard conversations."</ref>
• William J. Maguire (1916–1997), politician who served as mayor of Clark and in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1976 to 1982<ref>Toal, Brian T. Clark, p. 35. Arcadia Publishing, 2003. Template:ISBN. Accessed July 24, 2020. "William J. Maguire (June 12, 1916–November 5, 1997) was the 35th mayor of Clark. A Republican, he served two terms, from January 1, 1961, to December 31, 1968."</ref><ref>"William J. Maguire, Former Clark Mayor", Home News Tribune, October 4, 1997. Accessed December 3, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "He was born in Massachusetts and lived in Roselle before moving to Clark 48 years ago.... Mr. Maguire served three Assembly terms, from 1977 to 1982. He was a freeholder from 1970 to 1976, and was mayor from 1960 to 1968."</ref>
• Ed Pinkham (born 1953), former college football coach<ref>Luicci, Tom. "Elon hires former Rutgers defensive coordinator Ed Pinkham", The Star-Ledger, February 15, 2011. Accessed April 5, 2020. "Pinkham spent the past three seasons as Rutgers' co-defensive coordinator (with Bob Fraser) and as the secondary coach. The Clark native was expected to be one of two coaches to be let go after Greg Schiano hired former Pittsburgh assistants Jeff Hafley and Brian Angelichio without formally releasing two current staffers."</ref>
• Matt Poskay (born 1984), professional lacrosse player for the Boston Cannons<ref>Matt 'Posk' Poskay #7 Template:Webarchive, Boston Cannons. Accessed August 3, 2015.</ref>
• Erik Rosenmeier (born 1965), former NFL center who played for the Buffalo Bills in 1987<ref>Staff. "Cranford Cougars Defeat Johnson in Season Opener; Cranford's new quarterback excels in his first outing.", Cranford Patch, September 15, 2011. Accessed September 6, 2017. "Interestingly, head coach for Cranford, Erik Rosenmeier, is a Clark native and a 1983 Arthur L. Johnson alum."</ref>
• George M. Scott (1922–2006), associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court<ref>George M. Scott, Associate Justice 1973-1987, Minnesota State Law Library. Accessed July 13, 2022. "George Matthew Scott was born September 14, 1922 in Clark Township, New Jersey. He was the youngest of eight children and grew up in a home without running water, gas, or electricity."</ref>
• Robert Sparks (born 1947), former handball player who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and in the 1976 Summer Olympics<ref>Fremon, Suzanne S. "State Has 13 on Olympic Team", The New York Times, August 13, 1972. Accessed November 22, 2017. "Other New Jerseyans on the various Olympic teams are Phillip Grippaldo of Belleville and Frank Capsouras of River Edge, weight lifters; Robert Sparks of Clark and Thomas Hardiman of Trenton, team‐handball players, and Reginald Jones of Newark a light‐middleweight boxer."</ref>
• Frank Spaziani (born 1947), former head football coach for Boston College Eagles football<ref>Dooley, Ellen. "Clark native Spaziani takes over as Eagles coach at Boston College", Suburban News, September 2, 2009. Accessed April 14, 2011.</ref>
• Kurt Sutter (born 1964), creator of the television show Sons of Anarchy who plays the character Otto Delaney in the show<ref>"Favorite Son: Kurt Sutter grew up dreaming beyond Jersey", Inside Jersey, February 3, 2011. Accessed February 4, 2015. "Nothing on Kurt Sutter's résumé can be considered family-friendly. Since 2002, the Clark native has written for, executive produced, directed and co-starred in two of the FX cable network's most beloved and most violent adult dramas — The Shield, a Golden Globe-winning series that followed a group of corrupt Los Angeles cops for seven seasons, and current hit Sons of Anarchy, which he created, about an outlaw motorcycle gang in the fictitious Charming, Calif."</ref>
• Dave Toma (born 1933), whose life in law enforcement was the basis of the television shows Toma and Baretta<ref>Longcope, Kay. "Centerpiece; Ex-Cop David Toma Crusades In Schools Against Drug Use", The Boston Globe, February 23, 1981. Accessed April 14, 2011. "The only time he slows down is when he's home (in Clark, NJ)."</ref><ref>Caruba, Alan. "Toma is Returning", The New York Times, June 12, 1977. Accessed January 20, 2020. "Clark is not far from where Mr. Toma was born and reared in the Central Ward of Newark, the youngest of 12 brothers and sisters. However, distance can be measured in many ways, and the Dave Toma of today lives in an entirely different world than the one in which he graduated from West Side High School in Newark, played a little professional baseball and then spent three years in the United States Marines as a drill instructor."</ref>

External links

• Clark Township website
• Clark Public Library