WOODCLIFF LAKE— Veolia North America and the Borough of Woodcliff Lake were set to celebrate the long-awaited opening of the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir Nature Trail as part of Veolia’s Watershed Recreation Program.
Just not this weekend.
Originally planned for this weekend, the event has been postponed due to weather and other delays. The 1.5-mile trail, located along the reservoir’s eastern boundary, has been in development for over a decade and is set to provide residents with a scenic route through the area’s natural beauty.
Deb Vial, spokeswoman for Veolia, explained the decision early Friday afternoon:
“After speaking to Woodcliff Lake officials, it was decided that the event will be rescheduled for some time within the next two weeks. This will also allow us to invite officials and residents from the other two municipalities to celebrate. I apologize for the confusion. I do appreciate your interest.
“The trail is OPEN. Starting today, any resident in the three towns—Woodcliff Lake, Hillsdale, and Park Ridge—may apply for a free membership in our Watershed Recreation Program for access to the new trail as well as all of our fishing gates. Anyone interested may email us for more information.”
Veolia had earlier noted that in addition to the trail’s ceremonial opening, the borough was planning to host a reservoir cleanup event to raise awareness about the trail and encourage community engagement in environmental stewardship. Woodcliff Lake residents will receive free memberships to the Watershed Recreation Program through the end of the year, offering access to hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities at Veolia’s reservoirs.
The Borough of Woodcliff Lake reached out to residents on Sept. 27, via its website: “We are so excited that Veolia is opening more of the reservoir to their watershed program. We hope this is just the beginning, and we will continue to work with our neighbors to extend the trail into Park Ridge. After much discussion this week regarding storms approaching our area, we’ve decided to move the Veolia kick-off to a brighter day in the coming weeks.”
The borough added: “We will be posting the application and more information about the program on our website. Sorry for any inconvenience, and we look forward to seeing you by the water!”
At Wednesday’s special meeting of the governing body, members tabled a resolution for a right-of-entry and indemnification agreement with Veolia Water New Jersey to enter upon lands and waterways at Woodcliff Lake Reservoir to conduct land and shoreline cleanups of the property on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m
A long time coming
Officials from Hillsdale, Park Ridge, and Woodcliff Lake have been working with Veolia for years to bring the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir Nature Trail to fruition. The project was approved by the state’s Watershed Property Review Board in 2019. This approval included requirements for specific property easements and municipal responsibilities, which have been a key part of the collaborative effort between Veolia and the three municipalities.
The Watershed Recreation Program also includes other family-friendly activities and environmental education opportunities, such as the Reservoir Rangers program for children ages 5 to 12. Members can enjoy hiking, fishing, and bird watching at reservoirs in both New Jersey and New York.
For more information or to join the Watershed Recreation Program, visit Veolia.