WOODCLIFF LAKE—A long-awaited passive recreation park at the former Galaxy Gardens site should be open by spring, say local officials, despite a nearly $100,000 increase over relocating monuments there that will honor local veterans.
Officials told Pascack Press that a name for the 2.1-acre park was recently chosen from several final monikers forwarded by a parks naming committee. Administrator Tom Padilla told us that several dozen name suggestions were submitted and a name, which will be unveiled during the park’s grand opening, was selected by council for the signage to mark the park entrance.
“A good deal of it is done now. We’re waiting for the bandshell structure to arrive,” Padilla told us. He said a pergola, pavilion and sign structure were yet to arrive. “We do expect to have a grand opening in spring, when the weather allows,” added Padilla.
In November, the council okayed a change order for $97,855.47 for a “monument area add-on and associated site work” including relocation of large monuments from the VFW property, states the borough engineer’s report.
The change order for nearly $98,000 (3.55% of project cost) was approved by borough resolution 24-259 at the Nov. 14 council meeting.
In June, the council approved a $2,753,123.00 contract with Applied Landscape Technologies, Montville, to complete the final design of the park. Much of the cost has been covered by grants, private donations, and contributions from the local Open Space Trust Fund, officials told us.
The park, previously the site of a garden center and gasoline station at Werimus Road and Woodcliff Avenue, was acquired for $1.65 million by the borough in 2018 by a 4-3 council vote, with Mayor Carlos Rendo casting the deciding vote. Generally, the borough’s mayor only votes in case of a council tie.
At the time, the vote was contentious due to council’s concern about unknown site remediation costs and an unwillingness by some councilors to take on potential costly remediation.
Since the site’s acquisition, the council has approved nearly $500,000 in remediation costs to clean up soil contamination on the site. Originally, the seller reduced the price by $100,000 to help pay for anticipated site cleanup costs.
However, the councilors voting against its acquisition seven years ago cited its likely contamination and unknown remediation costs.
Borough engineer Neglia Group reported in December that “The sitework, grading, drainage, walkways, lighting, and landscaping improvements are substantially complete. The restroom building structure is substantially complete. Remaining items include the installation of the bandshell structure, pavilion structure, sign structure, and the certificate of occupancy and monument area work. Anticipated delivery of the bandshell, pavilion, and sign structure is the end of January 2025. Contractor is working toward final project completion for early Spring for a Borough ribbon cutting/opening to be scheduled and coordinated with the Borough.”
Mayor Carlos Rendo told us in September that he anticipated a new park name would be selected in October or November and officially voted on by council. Multiple suggestions came in via the mayor’s Facebook page after he announced the contest, including “Old Mill Park,” “Bittman Park,” to honor a local land steward, and the slightly tongue-in-cheek, “Rendo’s Reserve.”
Rendo told us then that the final name would likely be a generic park name, not one honoring a specific individual.
The park’s design concept, created by DMR Architects in June 2022, can be accessed via a link under the “Residents” drop-down menu on the borough website.
Officials told us that at least a couple park bench sponsorships are still available, at $6,000 per bench, for interested individuals or businesses. Bench sponsors get an inscribed plaque that remains for 10 years to honor a loved one or show support for the community, officials said. See the borough’s website for details.
The site had been considered by Valley Chabad as a potential site to expand its synagogue. However, following several efforts to expand its local footprint and having no luck, the Jewish organization filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against the borough.
The federal government later also sued the borough under the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, (RLUIPA). The lawsuits were settled by the borough, which agreed to the organization’s expansion and paid $1.5 million.
Under a recent agreement approved by the council in July, Valley Chabad decided to relocate its former home to a 3-acre site at 530 Chestnut Ridge Road, a commercial office building site. (See “Amended Valley Chabad pact OKs move,” Michael Olohan, Aug. 4, 2024, thepressgroup.net) for details.)