WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.—An excavator and large container were seen Jan. 22 at the former Galaxy Gardens site at Woodcliff Avenue and Werimus Road, with long-delayed soil remediation work at the former Galaxy Gardens site set to begin.
Once completed, the work will enable the borough to access nearly $500,000 in county grant funds for its future park on the site, said local officials.
Borough Administrator Tom Padilla said no timeline was yet set for the work’s completion but when Pascack Press visited the site Jan. 22, it appeared large piles of soil had been removed from the ground under the former garden center main structure.
Despite approving over $48,000 for site remediation and environmental oversight by its licensed site remediation professional in July, Covid-related and weather delays have held up the remediation work.
Initially, the contract allotted $31,525 to remove and replace 225 tons of contaminated soil and $17,100 for site monitoring by the borough’s licensed site remediation professional, First Environment Inc. of Butler.
The borough previously spent $355,600 on building demolition, clearing, grading, and remediating the former gas station and garden center property.
Padilla said the remediation work will involve completely removing and replacing soil underneath the former garden center building. The soil still tested above acceptable state environmental levels, even following soil blending performed earlier on site, he said.
The former garden center building was demolished last year and high levels of gasoline residue were found in soil underneath the structure. Prior to a garden center, the site was also home to a gas station.
Borough Engineer Evan Jacobs said the groundwater on site must be pumped out to help excavate the contaminated soil, requiring dewatering equipment to be used. He said groundwater will be kept onsite in a truck and later tested to make sure it meets state environmental standards.
Following the latest remediation, samples must be taken and meet state levels for specific contaminants, including heavy metals and petroleum residues.
Previously, the borough engineer provided initial park design concepts, said Padilla, and he was also planning to get back in touch with a resident who offered his landscape design services free of charge.
To get park planning and design started, the borough has applied for two recent grants, a $343,000 county matching grant and a $167,000 county park development grant to help pay for design and architectural costs.
The $343,000 matching grant could help purchase sidewalks, a gazebo, flagpole, lighting, landscaping, irrigation, monuments, signage, trash containers, and benches.
Padilla noted that any designs for a future park must be for a passive park, which means no active sports such as basketball or tennis. He said a passive park may include a gazebo for relaxing and hosting summer concerts, maybe a pavilion, maybe tables and benches, a walking path, and a memorial to local veterans.
He said an evergreen might be planted to host a holiday Christmas-tree lighting, plus serve as a draw for an annual Menorah lighting.
Parking might be needed on site if alternate arrangements are not workable.
The 2.1-acre site was purchased for $1.65 million in February 2018, by a 4–3 council vote, with Mayor Carlos Rendo’s tie-breaking vote.
Residents and some officials criticized the purchase then because possible site contamination was suspected due to its prior land uses.
Moreover, the site was considered by Valley Chabad, a local Jewish organization, for possible expansion of its synagogue. That deal foundered in part on contamination concerns and borough efforts to acquire the property for open space.
Valley Chabad, joined by the Justice Department, sued the borough for religious discrimination in 2018, alleging years of bias and discrimination against the Jewish group’s expansion. Last fall, It won $1.5 million in legal fees and approval to build a 20,000-square-foot synagogue on its 100 Overlook Dr. site.