Scotch Plains golf course receives national historic designation – MyCentralJersey.com

From Staff Reports  |  MyCentralJersey.comSCOTCH PLAINS – Shady Rest Golf and Country Club, one of the first Black country clubs in the United States, was recently granted listing on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service.The listing solidifies the facility at 820 Jerusalem Road as a national landmark. It joins buildings, sites and districts across the nation worthy of preservation because of their significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering and culture.“We could not be more pleased,” Mayor Josh Losardo said. “For a number of years, the volunteers of the Preserve Shady Rest Committee, chaired by Tom Donatelli, have been steadily working toward achieving this important designation. The listing will further ensure that Shady Rest will remain an American landmark for perpetuity, enjoyed for generations, protected from development and a living reminder of a dark era in this nation, when African Americans faced segregation.”Donatelli said the committee will now aggressively seek government grants for restoration, noting the cost of upkeep had been the sole responsibility of the township, through the Recreation Commission.“We plan to apply for as much outside funding as we can,” he said. “This national listing is a great opportunity for us to further…
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