News
4/11/2018 - Town Hall Meeting on Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan
The Woodland Park Municipal Council held a Town Hall meeting on April 9 to gather resident comments and input into the municipality’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. The plan is in the process of being updated by CME Associates, a consulting and municipal engineering firm from Howell, N.J.
Mayor Keith Kazmark said that the last update to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan was in 2007. The Borough has seen significant changes since then throughout its parks and open spaces including the recent completion of a $1.2 million phase of renovations to Rose Place Park and Frank Zaccaria Park.
CME Planner Malvika Apte was on hand to show attendees a map indicating overall existing open space areas in the Borough and who the parcels are owned by. The planner is looking to identify areas which could be utilized for recreation (passive or active), potential open space buys and compiling an inventory of current space and usage. The aim is to come up with a five-year plan for the Borough.
Some suggestions from residents at the meeting included a pump track, which can be dirt/asphalt or a combination, for use by bikers, skaters and scooters, as well as bocce ball courts. The Mayor and Council indicated at the meeting that both ideas would be looked in to.
Mayor Kazmark reminded everyone that a popular request for a dog park will become a reality soon, but not on municipal grounds. It will be located at Rifle Camp Park, installed by the Passaic County Freeholders on county parkland.
Councilwoman Tracy Kallert noted that some items that are being looked at include seating areas or a dock at Arnold Lijoi Park, for the folks who enjoy fishing there, outdoor fitness equipment that could be installed along a pathway, and a community garden. Kallert explained that a garden brings the community together. “Residents can make new friends," she said while addressing the Town Hall audience. "In addition to health reasons, it’s a good thing for people to take part in."
According to the Mayor, other improvements in planning stages include installation of rest rooms at Memorial Field, expanding Benjamin Cavalieri Memorial Park on Bergen Boulevard following the acquisition of the properties alongside it for flood buyouts, and continuation of work at Frank Zaccaria Park. Funding has been obtained by the Borough for an extension of the walking path around Henderson Pond in Zaccaria Park and to install a turf soccer field there.
Any resident with questions, suggestions or feedback can contact Mayor Kazmark at kkazmark@wpnj.us or Councilwoman Kallert at tkallert@wpnj.us.