New Public/Private Partnership Offers Healthy-Lifestyle Education for Children and Families

RIDGEWOOD, N.J., March 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ The Village of Ridgewood's Parks and Recreation Department and HealthBarn USA, an educational company, dedicated to empowering families to lead strong energetic lives, announced a public/private partnership offeringa unique healthy lifestyle experience to their residents, schools and the community at large. Founder Stacey Antine, MS, RDN and the HealthBarn USA team will be growing, harvesting and cooking organic produceand educating children and families why and what foods are best for good health. This dynamic, hands-on educational programming will be held at the Gate House and in the new organic teaching garden within the Village's NJ Green Acres funded 10-acre horse farm converted to the Irene Habernickel Family Park, 1057 Hillcrest Road, Ridgewood, NJ.

Ridgewood Parks and Recreations Department serves hundreds of children through a variety of sports, cultural, and environmental programming. "We recognized the need for this expansive healthy-lifestyle educational offering within our portfolio and felt that Stacey Antine and HealthBarn USA will deliver the professional programming we are known for," said Tim Cronin, Director of Parks and Recreation, Village of Ridgewood.

HealthBarn USA has educated over 50,000 children and families seeking nutritional resources in today's fast paced, fast food culture. "It takes a Village to turn the tide in favor of healthy choices for children," stated Antine, who alsoauthored Appetite for Life, HarperOne. "This new partnership is a major boost of support from Ridgewood and NJ Green Acres to continue to make a difference for the health and well-being of children and families," added Antine.

The Village of Ridgewood launched Good Life Ridgewood, the Mayors Wellness Festival in 2015 and hosts the successful annual Ridgewood-Fair Lawn Weight Loss Challenge. "I'm excited to welcome HealthBarn USA to Ridgewood, because it seems like a perfect fit for our community and our overall commitment to health and wellness," stated Paul Aronsohn, mayor, Village of Ridgewood.

NJ Green Acres, a local and nonprofit assistance program,has funded 2,200+ projects Statewide and has assisted in the acquisition of 147,255 acres for recreational programs. "The education and recreational programming offered by HealthBarn USA is exactly what we want to engage the public and give them more reasons, in addition to sports, to visit parks," said Nancy Lawrence, Compliance Officer, NJ Green Acres.