PARK RIDGE—A long-sought tract of land on North Fifth Street has finally been acquired by the borough to be preserved as open space.
After nearly two decades of on-again, off-again development plans and possible use as a multifamily affordable housing site, the Borough Council unanimously approved a $950,000 bond ordinance Dec. 11, 2023 to purchase approximately 3.15 acres of undeveloped property in two lots on North Fifth Street.
The bond ordinance notes the property will be purchased from its owner, Metropolitan Homes, and includes Block 608, lots 15 and 37.
Borough Clerk Maggie Giandomenico explained, “Overall, the existing property is wooded and vegetated with a section of the Mill Brook crossing through the property.”
She said, “We had to initially bond for the purchase, but we intend to apply for the 2024 Green Acres application with this and I have started working on that application with our borough engineer and grant writer. The goal is to apply for Green Acres 2024 funding round grant monies to make the area passive recreation.”
The state Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program provides loans and/or grants to municipal and county governments and grants to nonprofit organizations for assistance in the acquisition, development, and stewardship of lands for outdoor recreation and conservation purposes.
“This will not only add to our passive recreation, but also prevent overdevelopment on those lots,” Giandomenico said.
The borough was awarded a $92,500 land acquisition grant from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund in 2021 to help partly pay for the purchase. Bond Ordinance 2023-017 states that the total amount of bonds or notes will be $857,500, which includes $30,108 for architect fees, accounting, engineering, inspection costs, legal expenses and other expenses.
North Fifth Street resident Burton Hall praised the council’s action preserving the property for open space. He said the “actions that you have taken will preserve the character of the community—this is not a small thing. In this very quiet room, you have made a very loud statement and I thank you.”
He said the purchase was the result of “20 years of hard work” by officials and the community. Hall congratulated the council for approving the purchase.
Outgoing Council President William Fenwick noted that he and council have been negotiating all year long for the property, adding “I’ve probably got more phone calls about this than many other issues, and I’m very thankful that the council decided to move forward with this project. I know it’s been pending for some time.”
Fenwick said the purchase marked the second Open Space acquisition by the borough this year, after acquiring a property off of Forest Street, which was considered for purchase years ago. “So I’m happy to see that Park Ridge will remain a community filled with open space.”
Mayor Keith Misciagna said, “Everybody up here on the dais, to a person, supports saving our open space and everybody was in agreement with this purchase for future generations.”
Indicating Hall, he added, “And I know it’s near and dear to your heart. We’re happy we could do that for you, for the community, and for the future.”