WOODCLIFF LAKE—The borough’s architect estimated recently that construction costs for a proposed 1.2-acre Galaxy Gardens passive recreation park — at the nexus of Werimus Road and Woodcliff Avenue — might be reduced by nearly $600,000 to approximately $2.9 million, said the borough administrator at the Sept. 19 council meeting.
Officials revealed that architect Francis Reiner, of DMR Architects, also said that the initial cost estimate of $3.5 million made in June was on “the high side” and was done to make sure that the council had enough funds to complete the project.
Borough Council members said Sept. 19 that they want DMR Architects to come back soon with bid specifications for a new Galaxy Gardens passive park and advertise for bids.
Moreover, officials instructed Borough administrator Tom Padilla to prepare a bond ordinance for introduction at the next meeting.
The next council meeting is Oct. 17. The borough’s architect, Fran Reiner, of DMR Architects, presented conceptual designs for a new passive park at a June council meeting.
Borough administrator Tom Padilla said that though the borough may bond for a higher amount than projected by recent estimates, the funds will not be spent if not needed.
He said monetary donations from some residents, county Open Space funds, plus local Open Space funds, will go towards completion of the long-anticipated park.
In June, Mayor Carlos Rendo said most of the park’s costs will be underwritten by county grant funds, municipal Open Space funds and private donations.
Padilla told Pascack Press Sept. 27 that local residents will vote Nov. 8 on a public question that will allow the borough to use local Open Space funds to pay down bond costs, reducing the tax impact of a potential $3 million bond for construction of Galaxy Gardens passive park.
He said this provision was not included in the 2021 Open Space referendum question, which voters approved last year for another seven years. He noted that the “bulk” of funding used to purchase the Galaxy Gardens site in early 2018 for $1.65 million came from its local Open Space fund.
The borough had an Open Space fund that expired in 2020, and voters renewed it via a referendum on last year’s November ballot.
The 2021 ballot question asked voters to pay a tax levy of 1 cent per $100 of assessed property value annually. On an average $765,000 home, the annual open space tax amounts to about $76, said Padilla. He said about $200,000 is raised yearly via the local Open Space tax.
Padilla said that the borough has financial commitments from Party City ($250,000), and from an anonymous individual for $750,000, but needs to move quickly to get the park project moving to completion.
In addition to paying down bonds with local Open Space funds — pending voter approval on Nov. 8 — Padilla said that other park donations may come from revenues generated via dedication of park benches, and tree donations.
Padilla said the bonding ordinance is likely to include separate options for a dog park, and playground design and equipment. He said a possible pergola option was also being considered.
Padilla said a public hearing on the bond ordinance was likely at the Nov. 21 meeting. He said bonding cannot occur until at least 28 days after the approval of the bond ordinance. He said park bid specifications are likely to go out in early 2023, with a construction contract awarded in spring or early summer.
However, he said before construction commences, the borough must receive permit approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection for soil disturbance activities within regulated buffer zones for high-quality, or class “C” waters.
“That’s why I’m trying to be positive but also realistic,” said Padilla, citing the state permit approvals as a potential delay for park construction. He said it was “very likely” construction may not commence until late 2023 or early 2024 if state approvals are delayed.