PASCACK VALLEY—A unanimous Bergen County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 13 approved slightly more than $2.1 million in Open Space grant funding for 14 towns in the Pascack and Northern valleys.
Among the largest grants in the Pascack Valley: $550,000 for land acquisition of 450 Pascack Road in Washington Township, and $412,150 for historic preservation of the train station in Park Ridge.
Township officials said recently that the agreed purchase price for 450 Pascack Road—abutting popular Memorial Field—is $750,000, and pending due diligence and acquisition, the cost to township residents will amount to about $200,000 to acquire 3.2 acres of mostly wooded property for recreation use.
The township moreover is in line for $60,111 for Phase I engineering, surveying and environmental testing at the 6.1-acre former swim club property at 464 Ridgewood Boulevard North.
Between the 2022 Open Space grant for $438,750 to acquire the former swim club property, and this year’s $550,000 and $60,111 grants, the county has awarded Township of Washington slightly over
$1 million in Open Space grants in two years.
The commissioners approved 58 grants totaling over $11.5 million: 51 will support municipal and county park improvements, two will support municipal open space acquisitions and five will fund historic preservation efforts.
A total grant amount of $1,322,816 went to six Pascack Valley towns, and a total $783,597 went to seven Northern Valley towns.
The Open Space Trust Fund program is funded through a rate of 1 cent per $100 of total county equalized real property valuation annually, as approved by the public in 2013. The county administers these funds as a reimbursement once the proposed project is completed by the awardee.
Township of Washington mayor Peter Calamari told Pascack Press, “I am thrilled the County Commissioners approved these grants in addition to the one last year for the swim club property purchase. It shows they recognize the importance of keeping open space available in our mostly built-up town.”
He said residents appreciate the county’s investments: “During the past couple of years they have redesigned our intersection at Pascack Road and Washington Avenue, paved the entire length of Pascack Road within our town limits, and given us these Open Space grants. We have a fine working relationship with our county partners.”
Park Ridge mayor Keith Misciagna told Pascack Press, “We are thrilled to receive this grant along with another $147,000 grant from last year that brings us to almost $600,000 to restore our historic train station. With these two grants we can afford to make sure that this important project will be done the right way. Our train station is an important piece of our history and an iconic Park Ridge symbol of our past, present and future.”
Other Pascack Valley towns approved for 2023 park improvement grants:
- $60,111 for Emerson, Ackerman Park: Renovation of basketball courts. Ackerman Park, off of Ackerman Avenue, consists of lighted and newly repaved basketball courts, a bocci court, and two sets of playground equipment: one for kids 2–5 and one for kids 6–12. There are also picnic tables and benches. The Kyle Griffin Memorial, commemorating the Emerson resident who was killed while serving in Iraq, is at the entrance to the park.
- $60,111 for Montvale, Memorial Park, 1 Memorial Dr.: New synthetic turf field, drainage and fencing;
- $60,111 for Park Ridge, Sulak Field; Lighting system installation with underground electric poles;
- $60,111 for River Vale, Upper Grove (Library) Park; new patio, outside stage, and eating area;
- $60,111 for Westwood, Westvale Pump Park track circuit for mountain and BMX bikers.
- Bergen County Board of Commissioners chair Tom Sullivan in a statement shared with Pascack Press
“We take great pride in our public parks, recreation areas, and open spaces here in Bergen county, and we are grateful to the Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee for their partnership in making recommendations for improvements.”
He said, “We will continue to invest in our open spaces and historical sites for all our residents, and ensure they remain beautiful for future generations.”
Northern Valley
The two largest Northern Valley grant awards of $146,730 apiece went to Demarest and Norwood for park improvements. As well:
- $125,000 for Cresskill: Craford Park Phase 2 Sports field lighting and new playground;
- $146,730 for Demarest, Wakelee Field: Turf infield of softball field, drainage improvements;
- $125,026 for Englewood: Herring Field; Turf for baseball and football; fencing, goal posts;
- $100,000 for Haworth; Memorial Field: Dugouts, bocce courts, basketball court and fencing repairs;
- $80,000 for Northvale, Hogan Park: Remove and replace fencing at baseball and softball fields;
- $146,730 for Norwood: Kennedy Field ADA-accessible playground; and
- $60,111 for Old Tappan: Old Tappan Golf Course installing drainage piping, plus renovation of bunkers.