Frederick Parker Space is a Republican member of the New Jersey Senate representing the 24th Legislative District, which encompasses municipalities in Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties. The district's most populous communities include Sparta, Vernon Township, Hopatcong, Mount Olive Township, Roxbury Township, and Washington Township. Space assumed office on January 9, 2024, after serving more than a decade in the General Assembly.

Born on December 4, 1968, Space graduated from High Point Regional High School in 1987 and attended the Sussex County Vocational Technical School and the Sussex County Fire Academy. He is a farmer and the owner of Space Farms Zoo and Museum, a 450-acre roadside zoo and historical museum in the Beemerville section of Wantage Township founded by his grandparents in 1927. The facility houses more than 500 animals across more than 100 species, plus antique vehicle and colonial artifact collections. He also owns Extreme Pizza restaurant on the property.

Space has served as a volunteer firefighter with the Wantage Fire Department since 1989 and was fire chief from 2001 to 2002. He entered municipal politics in 2004, winning a seat on the Wantage Township Committee. He served as mayor in 2005 and from 2008 to 2009, and as deputy mayor in 2006 and 2007. In 2010 he was appointed to the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders following Hal Wirths's appointment to state labor commissioner, won election to a full term that November, and became Freeholder Director in 2013.

In February 2013, Space was selected by Republican convention to fill a vacancy in the General Assembly left by Gary Chiusano's resignation. He won election to his own full term in November 2013 and was re-elected in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021. After initially announcing his retirement from the legislature, he ran for the State Senate in 2023 following Steve Oroho's retirement and defeated Democrat Edmund Khanoo.

Political Career

- Volunteer Firefighter, Wantage Fire Department (1989–present), including Chief (2001–2002)
- Member, Wantage Township Committee (2004–2009)
- Deputy Mayor, Wantage Township (2006–2007)
- Mayor, Wantage Township (2005, 2008–2009)
- Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders (2010–2013), including Freeholder Director (2013)
- New Jersey General Assembly, District 24 (2013–2024)
- New Jersey State Senate, District 24 (2024–present)

Key Policy Areas

- Agriculture and natural resources
- Labor and employment
- Environment and energy
- Military and veterans' affairs
- Municipal governance and land use

Notable Actions / Initiatives

- Operates Space Farms Zoo and Museum, a family-owned attraction founded in 1927 that spans 450 acres and houses more than 500 animals across more than 100 species, including endangered species and record-holding longevity specimens for bobcat, puma, and jaguar.
- Served as a volunteer firefighter for more than three decades, including a term as chief of the Wantage Fire Department.
- Served on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Labor Committee throughout his Assembly tenure.

Education
- High Point Regional High School (1987)
- Sussex County Vocational Technical School
- Sussex County Fire Academy

Personal

- Birth date: December 4, 1968
- Residence: Wantage Township