WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.—Despite more than $48,000 approved by the Borough Council in July for site remediation and environmental oversight at Galaxy Gardens—site of a future park—no remediation has been done mostly due to COVID-related staff shortages, said a local official.
Administrator Tom Padilla said the 2.1-acre site, at Woodcliff Avenue and Werimus Road, was to have park designs presented this year, but it’s now behind schedule.
Officials had been hoping to complete remediation by the end of 2019.
In late July, Padilla said he anticipated soil remediation work due to gasoline contamination to be completed in four weeks.
On Dec. 7, Padilla said the soil remediation was not completed due to staff Covid-19 outages at the borough’s licensed site remediation professional, First Environment.
“They know this is a priority for us” said Padilla. He promised he’ll have weekly updates from First Environment to find out where the work stands.
He told Pascack Press last week, “My concern is the weather will be changing and we’ll segue into some other delays.”
The $48,000 soil remediation cost includes $31,525 to remove and replace 225 tons of soil and $17,100 for site monitoring.
The borough already spent $355,600 on clearing, grading, and remediating the former garden center and gas station property.
At risk due to delays is an approved $500,000 Bergen County open space grant for park development. The funds will be released only when the site has been certified as meeting state environmental standards, Padilla said.
Mayor Carlos Rendo broke a council tie vote, ultimately 4–3, in February 2018, allowing the $1.65 million site purchase. Residents and some officials opposed the deal in part because because of possible contamination stemming from from prior land uses.
The site was also considered as a location for Valley Chabad’s synagogue expansion. That effort foundered in part on contamination concerns and municipal efforts to acquire the property.
The borough also applied for a $341,000 county matching grant in July. Padilla said the borough’s contribution likely would come from its local Open Space fund, a bond issue, or corporate sponsorships.
Moreover, the borough applied for a $167,000 county park development match grant in July to help pay for design and architectural services.
If it comes through, the $341,000 county grant could be used for sidewalk installation, a gazebo, a flagpole, lighting, landscaping, irrigation, monuments, signage, trash receptacles, and benches.