After reading our town's "Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund Ordinance," my first concern is that the 33.33 percent allocation for each purpose can be changed by another council, potentially leaving us with unfinished projects which become eyesores.
We have enough ballfields and I am not against any sports for our children. My own son played Little League and PAL soccer for many years. What our town really lacks is an actual park for all of us.
I grew up in Hoboken, which is one square mile in area and lived there 23 years. We had four parks when I moved in 1964; today they have 12, with another one in the works. They have a $3 million grant to buy one acre for their 13th park. The present parks have modern playground equipment on safe, spongy surfaces, basketball and tennis courts, fenced and covered dog runs, soft surfaces for people to walk or jog, picnic areas, gazebo, and two also have water parks and benches for anyone to read, watch their kids play or just enjoy the weather. All of these are on property no larger than one or two acres.
West Milford has one underused park, Bubbling Springs, on 42 acres of land. There is a lake, beach, ballfields, day camp area, gazebo, concession stand, parking, but nothing else.
Hoboken has $23 million to acquire even more open space and their Mayor Dawn Zimmer said, "The only way our open space promises can be fulfilled, is if we take the tangible steps that are needed to actually fulfill them." She called it "The Year of Parks." Her open letter to residents asked them to contact council members if they wanted more parks and/or if they wanted the present ones improved, and the people responded they wanted both. Their eight-member council all supported this, without making it a political issue.
Hoboken has a Family Alliance Group that began "Project Play," which is dedicated to seeing the city keeps providing the park space facilities residents desire. West Milford needs a similar group, non-political to work toward giving all of us the same kind of parks my small hometown provides and keeps improving upon.
It is past time to make Bubbling Springs into a real park facility. Unlike Hoboken, we are blessed with green space; they have had to create their own. We have other town-owned land, but letting it sit is a real waste when much could be turned into parks, as well.
Don't our children and those in the future deserve this? What about families of all ages and senior citizens? There is a genuine desire for park facilities here and now is the time for this council to get moving on this need, together with our Parks and Recreation Dept., as well as our residents.
If my one square mile hometown can offer as much as they do, why can't we? The Highlands Act is on our side with this one too.
Let us all come together and make 2014 the "Year of Parks in West Milford" and begin by turning Bubbling Springs into a real park for the enjoyment of all.
Eleanor Monahan
West Milford