Roselle Park Schools and Borough Honored for Student Safety Efforts

Four Roselle Park schools and the borough itself have been recognized for their commitment to keeping students safe while walking and biking to school. The distinction came at EZ Ride's 2026 annual Safe Routes to School recognition event held on September 26 in Kenilworth.

Aldene School, Robert Gordon Elementary School, and Sherman Elementary School each earned gold awards—the highest recognition. Roselle Park Middle School received a bronze award, and the borough earned a silver award, signaling a broader community commitment to pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Council President Jay Robaina, who attended the recognition event, highlighted what these awards truly represent. "They recognize the work our schools and borough are doing to make it safer for kids to walk and bike, promote pedestrian and traffic safety, and get our schools, families, police and borough staff working together," he told the Borough Council at Thursday night's meeting.

The Safe Routes to School program honored 75 municipalities and 220 schools nationwide for activities including safety presentations, community audits, bicycle-skills classes, poster contests, and walk- and bike-to-school events. Roselle Park's achievements reflect genuine community effort—collaboration among educators, families, students, and municipal staff all working toward the same goal.

Union County Life celebrates the leadership of school principals Lou Riggi (Aldene), Christine Dougherty (Robert Gordon), John Flecca (Sherman), and Michelle Queiruga (Roselle Park Middle School), as well as the teachers, staff, students, and families who made these initiatives possible.

Looking ahead, Robaina announced that the borough is aiming to move from silver to gold status by updating its 2018 complete streets policy and adopting a formal complete and green streets plan. This commitment builds on Robaina's 2021 initiative to partner with EZ Ride—work that has now yielded recognition and momentum for deeper investment in student safety.

FAQ

Q: What is the Safe Routes to School program?
A: Safe Routes to School is an EZ Ride program that recognizes municipalities and schools for their efforts to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. The program honors communities that conduct safety presentations, community audits, bicycle-skills classes, poster contests, and organize walk- and bike-to-school events.

Q: What awards did Roselle Park schools receive?
A: Three Roselle Park elementary schools earned gold awards: Aldene School, Robert Gordon Elementary, and Sherman Elementary. Roselle Park Middle School received a bronze award. The borough itself earned a silver award.

Q: What does a gold award mean?
A: A gold award represents the highest level of recognition from EZ Ride's Safe Routes to School program and indicates a strong, sustained commitment to pedestrian and bicycle safety throughout the school community.

Q: Who led these safety initiatives?
A: The initiatives involved collaboration among school principals (Lou Riggi, Christine Dougherty, John Flecca, Michelle Queiruga), teachers, staff, students, and families, supported by borough officials including Council President Jay Robaina.

Q: What is the borough planning to do next?
A: The borough aims to earn a gold award by updating its 2018 complete streets policy and adopting a formal complete and green streets plan. These policy updates will strengthen pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

Q: When did Roselle Park start working with EZ Ride?
A: Council President Jay Robaina initiated the borough's partnership with EZ Ride in 2021, laying the groundwork for the safety initiatives that led to this recognition.

Q: How many communities were honored nationally?
A: In 2026, 75 municipalities and 220 schools across the country were recognized for their Safe Routes to School activities.