Block Party behind-the-scenes

April 15, 2022| Community, Events, People

By: Caitlin Doran

The Lake Hopatcong Block Party is the largest celebration of our shared “lake neighborhood,” and it takes hundreds of volunteers to make the day run smoothly, safely, and enjoyably for the thousands of people who come to Hopatcong State Park to take part in the event. Be sure to thank a volunteer when you see one on May 21, and if you are interested in joining our volunteer team that day, there’s still time to sign up for a shift here.

The help doesn’t stop with the folks you see in volunteer t-shirts that day, however. There are many unsung heroes of the Block Party who work in the background and deserve their moment in the spotlight. Take a bow, reader, if you are one of these unsung heroes. You are the engine that powers the machine, and we are grateful to have you on Team Block Party! In no particular order, we’d like to thank…

Shuttle Bus Coordinators

Complimentary shuttle bus service from the six off-site parking areas to Hopatcong State Park is provided by Hopatcong, Jefferson, Mount Arlington, Roxbury, and Wharton. School buses were added to the fleet in 2022 from Roxbury and Hopatcong. Thank you to the town and school leadership and each bus driver!

Off-site Parking Partners

Complimentary parking areas are located at Roxbury’s Landing Park Recreation Complex; Landing shopping center (courtesy of FORSONS Partners); Assembly of God church (a.k.a. the Barking Lot, reserved for guests with dogs); Hopatcong Senior Center; the Wayne L. Threlkeld Hilltop Sports Complex; and 12 Orben Way, Landing, compliments of Tri-State Industrial.

Traffic Management and Safety Coordinators

We’d like to thank the Roxbury Police Department, working the busy Lakeside Boulevard; volunteers working the Hopatcong Senior Center and Hilltop Sports Complex; the Morris County Sherriff Office Explorers, working crowd control and traffic safety in the State Park; the New Jersey State Park Police, working the Hopatcong State Park complex; New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau; and S.P.A. Safety Systems.

Camp Six Property Management

Camp Six is the hard-working group of folks from the Live the Lake NJ family of businesses, our 5-Star Sponsor.  More than a financial sponsor, they have been hands-on throughout the planning of the Block Party, offering help and solutions for making things run more efficiently and effectively. Their innumerous help includes reinforcements in the parking areas, equipment to mark vendor spots, and gators and golf carts, which enable us to set up and maneuver around the event quickly and easily. They even prep better lids for our recycling bins to prevent mixing of trash and recycling. Their generosity and willingness to help are beyond compare, and we want to thank them, Lisa Palanchi especially, who is all about getting the job done!  

Be sure to join us on Saturday, May 21 at Hopatcong State Park from 10 am - 4 pm to experience the awesome Block Party built by these dedicated volunteers.

Safety Notice: The Lake Hopatcong Foundation would also like to ask everyone to please slow down and drive safely on Saturday, May 21, due to the high number of attendees at this event. Please make accident prevention your business.