SAYREVILLE – A new director of recreation has been named in Sayreville.
During the Borough Council’s April 12 meeting, Brian Van Dongen was announced as the newest director of the Sayreville Recreation Department. He will begin serving in this position on May 3.
The appointment of Van Dongen was announced by Councilman Damon Enriquez, who is the council liaison to the Recreation Advisory Commission.
“[Van Dongen] comes with a wealth of experience,” Enriquez said. He was an assistant director in two other towns and it looks like he’s going to be a good fit for our town. I can’t wait to get him started.”
Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick also spoke highly of Van Dongen’s hiring.
The 2015-2016 Membership Directory of the New Jersey Recreation & Park Association identifies that Van Dongen previously served as the recreation assistant in Hillsborough Township. His second assistant recreation director position was with Readington Township in 2017, according to the agenda of the Township Committee meeting where he was hired.
Van Dongen will succeed Jerry Ust, the borough’s longtime director of recreation until 2020. Ust died in October 2020 and the position has remained vacant since his passing.
The duties of the recreation director have been filled by Enriquez, the Recreation Advisory Commission and Business Administrator Dan Frankel in the interim.
“We’re going to welcome [Van Dongen] with open arms,” Enriquez said.
