WOODCLIFF LAKE—Residents interested in voicing their opinions on the borough’s newest passive park at the former Galaxy Gardens site at Werimus Road and Woodcliff Avenue have until Aug. 31 to submit a survey posted on the town website.
Borough Administrator Tom Padilla told Pascack Press that approximately 40 residents had responded to the survey that was posted in June and also printed in the borough’s summer newsletter.
About 20 online responses and 20 print surveys were received so far. Padilla said more than half of online responders favored a band area, benches, and walking tracks so far and that the 20 online surveys split evenly over whether dogs should be allowed in the new park.
Padilla suggested those not favoring dogs might not want to be “hounded” by dogs, as some dogs are friendly and some aren’t.
“The hard part is going to be including everything that people want,” he said.
Padilla said it appeared more people wanted the proposed passive park to be “an area of respite” where they can have a place to walk, sit, and relax.
He said following compilation of final survey results, the council would decide whether to request services of a landscape architect or go with its consulting engineering firm, Neglia Engineering, to provide concept designs for a future park.
He said he submitted final paperwork to Bergen County Parks Department to solicit release of its original $500,000 park development grant awarded in 2016.
He also noted that the municipal open space fund tax, which expired in 2020 and generated nearly $200,000 yearly for related projects, would be on the ballot in 2021.
He said the fund contains approximately $300,000.
At the Aug. 16 council meeting, members approved a final fourth change order of $23,568.14 and a final payment of $28,663.26 to ENR Contracting for Phase II of its soil blending and removal project on the formerly contaminated site.
The site had most recently been a garden center and service station, both of which caused residual contamination that needed to be remediated before the park could be developed and used.
An approximate additional $100,000 in four change orders was needed by ENR Contracting LLC to complete its soil remediation to meet state environmental standards.
All told, the borough has spent more than $400,000 to clear, grade and remediate the site, which the borough purchased in 2018 for $1.65 million. The vote was 3–3; Mayor Carlos Rendo broke the tie.