54°
Public input was sought at a recent meeting to help with creation of the proposed master plan.
The plan will address how the park can be used to provide recreation amenities for borough residents and habitat for wildlife.
The park, located along the Hackensack River, had been hard hit after Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Because of the this, the borough was able to obtain a post Sandy planning assistance federal grant from the Department of Community Affairs to fund the master plan.
Clarke Caton Hintz in Trenton was assigned with the task of creating the plan for the borough in the spring of 2015.
“We looked at all the damage from Sandy and took a look at the park to figure out how to make it a better asset to the community and serve better in a role of resistance to future flood events on the Hackensack River,” said Beth McManus, as associate at Clarke Caton Hintz.
Beginning the process, Clarke Caton Hintz worked with the borough planner to create a strategic recovery planning report.
The report was presented to residents at the Oct. 8 public meeting.
“We have largely completed the initial phase of project and wanted to gather input from public stakeholders, such as residents, people from the (Department of Public Works) and Bergen County Utilities Authority,” McManus said. “We looked at conditions at the park and will put together into series of recommendations for how the borough can enhance and improve the park.”
Residents who attended the meeting learned of the proposed plan and were able to offer input.
As an ongoing project, Clarke Caton Hintz will tweak their plan to include suggestions from the public meeting.
More public meetings are expected to be scheduled as the plan progresses.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Ridgefield Park-Hasbrouck Heights and receive free news updates.
