WOODCLIFF LAKE—Should dogs be allowed in the borough’s newest park and well, how would you feel about a central fountain?
Those are just two questions on the survey residents are being asked to weigh in on.
With the environmental cleanup at last complete, residents have an opportunity to voice their opinions on the long-planned passive park at the former Galaxy Gardens site by responding to a survey either online or via the borough newsletter through the end of August.
The survey asks residents two major questions about the future passive park: What types of amenities would residents like to see, and should dogs be allowed?
“We received clearance from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on the cleanup of Galaxy Gardens. Now we are ready for the design and development of the passive park. We value your opinion and seek your input in the design of the park,” announced the borough’s website on July 7.
Borough Administrator Tom Padilla told Pascack Press on July 8 that he had contacted county officials to find out what they require so that the borough can receive the $500,000 in county grant funds for park development that were on hold while the site’s soil and groundwater remediation continued.
In a preface to the online survey, Padilla notes some of the uses that cannot be considered under a passive park concept such as tennis, pickleball, basketball, and ice skating.
He said a “very preliminary” concept sketch developed by Neglia Engineering shows the park site hosting a gazebo, walking paths, and a large lawn area, useful for sunbathing, picnicking, or summer movie nights.
The survey asks residents to choose among various amenities that might be included such as: a band/concert stage, a water fountain in the center, a walking track around the park’s perimeter, lighting/accent landscape lighting, benches, and other possibilities.
The second question bluntly asks, “Should dogs be allowed?” with an either yes or no response requested.
Padilla said the borough offers an off-leash dog park in Wood Dale County Park, a 118-acre park that is part of the Bergen County parks system.
He said residents should vote only once and the survey asks respondents for their email address to reduce the opportunities for an individual to vote multiple times.
Only a day after posting the online survey, Padilla said that of three responses received, two favored dogs and one was opposed. He said residents should take the opportunity to weigh in on the park survey so that local officials get a good feel for what the community wants.
Councilwoman Josephine Higgins has advocated for including a veterans memorial area or monument, and most council members previously voiced support for her idea.
The borough spent $355,000 for clearing, grading, and remediating contaminated soil due to the site’s prior uses as a garden center and gas station.
Councilmembers Jacqueline Gadaleta and Steven Falanga helped design the community survey and co-chair the effort to create a passive park on the site.
In February 2018, the borough purchased the 2.1-acre Galaxy Gardens site for $1.65 million by a 4-3 council vote, with Mayor Carlos Rendo breaking the tie.
Some residents were highly critical of the purchase due to suspected site contamination from its use as a garden center.
Also, the site had been eyed by the Valley Chabad center for Jewish life, serving the Pascack Valley and Saddle River communities, for possible expansion. That deal foundered in part on contamination concerns and the borough’s efforts to acquire the property for open space.
In late May, Rendo posted a request on his Facebook page for input on a passive park design for Galaxy Gardens and received many community responses.
Several called for a band shell, while others advocated for a path for inline skating, bike riding, a playground, a splash pool, miniature golf, a food truck area, and an outdoor gym circuit and obstacle course.
Rendo started off 2021 by proclaiming that he wanted two key priorities to be accomplished this year for residents: a Galaxy Gardens park and a Woodcliff Lake Reservoir Nature Trail. He has advocated for both since though both appear to be a long shot to occur for 2021.
While the park appears to be making progress, the 1.5-mile-long nature trail around the Suez-owned potable water reservoir appears stalled.
Suez spokeswoman Debra Vial told Pascack Press recently that the three towns involved—Woodcliff Lake, Park Ridge and Hillsdale—have yet to complete agreements needed to get the trail project moving. These agreements include accepting responsibility for installing and maintaining security cameras, installing signage and erecting fencing.
“Some of those conditions must be met by the municipalities before the path can be opened. The municipalities must also sign and return the agreement,” Vial said in early June.
Local officials involved told Pascack Press they were not aware of any additional agreements that needed signing for the project to advance.