NJ Municipalities, published by NJLM
February NJM Cover

Inclusivity is the new design standard for parks. Read all about it in Kenneth Keltai’s UpFront article on page 6.

February 2025

Feature Articles

  • Inclusivity
    A new design standard for parks
    Kenneth Keltai
  • Outlook 2025: Addressing the needs and meeting the challenges of State and Local Government
    Nicholas Scutari
  • Outlook 2025: Supporting Local Government 
    John DiMaio
  • The Future of New Jersey Journalism: Evolution, Not Extinction
    About legal advertising
    Marc Pfeiffer
  • The Next Chapter
    Women's leadership starts with you
    Cai Barias
  • 2024 Innovation in Governance
    Jersey City and Deerfield honored for achievement
  • 2025 Mayors & Elected Officials Halls of Fame
  • Saving Seabeach Amaranth
    Coastal restoration project gives threatened coastal plant another chance
    JoAnne Castagna
  • Combatting Runaway Lawsuits 
    Effective strategies to protect local governments
    Michael L. Razze Jr. and Joseph Hrubash
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An example of inclusive park design at work.

Issue Focus: Inclusivity

A new design standard for parks

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 27% of adults in the United States has some form of disability that impacts their mobility, cognition, hearing, vision, independent living, and/or capacity for self-care. The CDC has also reported that between 2019 and 2021 the prevalence of developmental disability in children aged 3 to 17 increased from 7.4% to nearly 8.6%. Likewise, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows an increase in number of Americans with disabilities from 11.7% in 2019 to 12.5% in 2023. 

Given the dramatic increase in disability throughout the country, it is more imperative than ever that people of all ages can access recreational facilities like parks, beaches, and playgrounds regardless of disability. There are a number of ways to improve accessibility in these facilities, but the gold standard of design is shifting toward creating spaces that are not just accessible, but inclusive. To continue reading, please visit page 6.

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Gold Dome of Capitol Building

In This Issue

2025 Legislative Guide

The 2025 Legislative Guide provides an overview of municipal advocacy in Trenton. The guide offers insight on how the League's Legislative team helps you, the legislative process, the 2025 League Legislative Committee and members of the 2025 Legislature. To read the Legislative Guide visit page 45.

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Quiz icon and NJ State outline

Word Scramble: Parks & Recreation

Take a break, have some fun and visit page 56 to unscramble familiar parks and recreation words.

For more NJ trivia, view the last page of each magazine issue.

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March 2025

Issue Focus -- Human Resources & DEI

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