Open Space Options Eyed By Bernardsville Residents

Bernardsville residents who attended Tuesday night's workshop at Bernards High School to suggest where open space investments in the future were given an assignment — to draw on a map showing existing parks and open land and show where they'd like to add more.

The meeting was led by consultants for the borough, Conservation Resources of Chester.

Conservation Resources is assigned to gather input on residents and come up with an open space plan, said Mayor Lee Honecker. A report is expected to be presented to the Borough Council in March.

The meeting began with a presentation outlining what open space already is preserved in the compact borough.

The borough, which has a more densely developed downtown area, also includes rugged wooded sections such as Moraine Crest Park, Little Brook Sanctuary and the more well-known N.J. Audbon Society's Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, said Jon Wagar, one of the consultants at the workshop.

It also includes a section of Morris County's Patriots Path trail, he said.

In looking at their maps, Wagar noted that open space often is added to already existing larger parcels or linking one green spot to another. However, a part of Patriots Path passes through the middle of Chester Borough, he said.

Open space in the borough is funded by a dedicated tax.

Some of the suggestions will be more doable than others, whether in the short-term or long-term, said Conservation Resources' president, Michael Catania.

"This is something you are experts on — you know Bernardsville better than anyone," Catania told the group of about 40, broken into four subgroups.

"Really explore the maps and write on the maps," he advised. "This should be a Christmas list — or Hanukkah list," he said of the planning process.