$18M In Recreation Funding To Enhance 'Quality Of Life' In Bergen Co.

HACKENSACK, NJ — Nearly $18 million will be divvied out to local municipalities to support outdoor recreation infrastructure and maintain "quality of life" in Bergen County, a county spokesperson said.

The grant funding comes after approval on Wednesday by the Bergen County Board of Commissioners of a list of projects recommended by the Open Space Trust Fund advisory committee.

Funded through a rate of one cent per $100 of total county equalized real property valuation annually, as approved by the public in 2013, the program is administering 70 grants as reimbursements once the proposed projects are completed by awardees.

"The Board continues to prioritize quality open space to maximize recreation areas accessible to all county residents," Commissioner Steve Tanelli said.

Recommended project awards (listed below) range from open-space acquisition, floodplain protection, historic preservation, and improvements to county and municipal park facilities.

“The Open Space grant program is one of the greatest tools in our arsenal to advance our shared goals of protecting the environment, promoting sustainability, and preserving open space for future generations to enjoy,” said County Executive Jim Tedesco. “I look forward to celebrating the completion of several of these projects in the months and years to come.”

Open Space Acquisition Projects

• East Rutherford — Richard Outwater House
• East Rutherford — 731 Lois Lane
• Garfield — Riverwalk Expansion Phase V
• Saddle River — 153 East Saddle River Road
• Upper Saddle River — Creative Gardens Tract Acquisition
• Washington — Parks and Recreation Expansion Project

Historic Preservation Projects

• Bergen County — Garretson Forge & Farm
• Upper Saddle River Historical Society — Hopper-Goetschius House

County Park Improvement Projects

• County Parks Department — Riverside County Park Phase III
• County Parks Department — Riverside Park - Comfort Station
• County Parks Department — Various Parks - Comfort Stations
• County Parks Department — Teaneck Creek Park Trail Network
• County Parks Department — Wortendyke Barn Restoration

Municipal Program Park Improvement Projects

• Allendale — Crestwood Lake: Installation of shade structures, tables, playground
• Bergenfield — Thomas Roos Park: Tennis court resurfacing and pickleball court installation
• Bogota — Oscar E. Olsen Park: Equipment refurbishment, picnic tables, outdoor grills
• Carlstadt — Zimmerman Park: ADA ramp, seating, landscaping, drainage, and lighting
• Cliffside Park — Zalewski Park: Playground resurfacing, perimeter fencing and gates
• Closter — Ruckman Park: Tennis and pickleball court lighting installation
• Cresskill — Third Street Recreational Complex: Pickleball court, walkway, benches
• Demarest — Borough Hall Passive Recreation Project: Walking path, pavilion, benches
• Dumont — Veterans Memorial Park: Water feature, benches, and trash receptacles
• East Rutherford — 10 Morton Street Sports Complex: Fields, ADA bleachers, playground
• Elmwood Park — Borough Park: Synthetic turf soccer fields, pavement repair, fencing
• Emerson — Hillman Field: Lighting improvements and walking path
• Englewood Cliffs — Witte Field: Playground Improvements, ADA equipment, dog park, pavilion
• Fair Lawn — Etler Playground: New playground equipment and safety surfacing
• Fairview — Columbus Park: Pavilion, scoreboard, sidewalk, updated electrical circuits
• Flat Rock Brook Association — Jones Road Streamside Restoration: Pavilion, ADA bridge, pathways, plantings
• Fort Lee — Whitey Lang Park: Playground equipment, rubberbond elevate surfacing
• Franklin Lakes — Municipal Field Playground: Custom playground with accessibles ramps
• Garfield — 20th Century Field: Replace baseball fields with multi-purpose turf field
• Glen Rock — Wilde Memorial Park: Installation of outdoor fitness equipment
• Hackensack — West Railroad Park: Playground equipment and surfacing, fencing, signs
• Harrington Park — George Street Tennis Courts: Reconstruction of two remaining tennis courts
• Haworth — Haworth Swim Club: Picnic area pavers,concrete, tables, seating, and pavilion
• Hillsdale — Beechwood Park Trail: boardwalk replacement, observation platform
• Leonia — Wood Park: Resurfacing tennis courts and installation of pickleball court
• Lodi — Memorial Park: Improvements and upgrading of the track and concrete pad
• Lyndhurst — Townhall Basketball Courts: Basketball courts, striping, backboards, pickleball
• Mahwah — Continental Soldiers Park: Bocce courts, drainage infrastructure improvements
• Maywood — Maywood Pool: Concrete slab improvements, sidewalk around pool
• Midland Park — Dairy Street Recreation Complex: Dugout sunshades, concrete pads, irrigation
• Montvale — Huff Park Playground Improvements: rubberized safety surfacing playground
• Moonachie — Joseph Street Park: Tennis court asphalt, coating, striping, nets, posts
• New Milford — Prospect Park Lighting Project: Installation of lighting for basketball courts
• North Arlington — Children's Centennial Park: Bleachers, bird bath, landscaping, ground leveling
• Northvale — Veterans Park Dog Park Project: Bag dispensers, fence gate, benches, fencing
• Norwood — Kennedy Park: Replace baseball field fencing, shade trees, park benches
• Oakland — Bush Plaza Revitalization Project: Passive sitting area with installed greenery
• Old Tappan — Old Tappan Golf Course: New underground irrigation system
• Oradell — Memorial Field: Drainage improvements, lawn restoration, and safety-netting
• Palisades Park — Municipal Pool Improvements: Splash pad, spray features, and filtration
• Paramus — Gennarelli Sports-Plex: Replace playground equipment, fitness equipment
• Ramsey — Finch Park: Resurfacing of basketball courts with repaving and painting
• Ridgefield — Veteran's Memorial Park: Repave basketball & tennis courts, backboards
• River Edge — Brookside Park: ADA playground equipment, rubberized surfacing, pathway
• River Vale — Mark Lane Lighting Replacement: LED field lighting upgrades
• Rochelle Park — Carlock Field Lighting and Improvements: Field lighting and security cameras
• Rockleigh — Borough Hall Lot: Drainage improvements for walking and hiking trail safety
• Rutherford — Memorial Park: Tennis court milling and surfacing, coating system, fence
• Saddle Brook — Mayhill Street Park: Upgrade tennis and basketball courts, ADA crosswalk
• Saddle River — Rindlaub Park: Expansion and upgrade of path systems, viewing platforms
• Teaneck — Phelps Park: Replacement of wading pool with new splash pad
• Tenalfy — Swim Club: Security cameras, raised flower beds, fencing, skate park, fountains
• Upper Saddle River — One Lake Street Park: Multi-purpose fields, tennis courts, bleachers, pathway
• Waldwick — Brookview Park: Pedestrian footbridge and primitive walking trails
• Westwood — Jake Voorhis Park: Basketball court replacement with new asphalt surface