December 2, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Midland Park Board adopts open space/recreation plan The Midland Park Planning Board at its last meeting adopted the borough’s first Open Space and Recreation Plan. This component now becomes part of the town’s master plan. Prepared by Burgis Associates Inc., the OSRP is a guide for borough officials to provide open space and a survey of existing recreational facilities to serve current and future residents and visitors. The plan includes recommendations for preserving, increasing and enhancing open space, and ideas to bring the existing recreation facilities up to date and to preserve historical and scenic sites. The needs analysis included in the OSRP “identified the fact that the borough is significantly deficient in lands dedicated to open space and recreational facilities. Therefore, it is recommended that the borough increase its efforts to provide additional open spaces, to expand the existing facilities and to preserve environmentally sensitive lands.” Sites identified for potential acquisition include the Church of the Nativity property on Prospect Street, a 12.89acre site located in proximity to the existing recreational facility on Dairy Street. “From the analyzed environmental data it is also found that this site contains a large patch of forest area identified in the landscape project. This area has been identified as providing habitat for some of the herptile species listed in the state priority concern list of species. The site should be considered for acquisition for recreational and open space conservation purposes,” the OSRP states. The plan also recommends the expansion of Wortendyke Park by partially acquiring contiguous properties that are only partially developed. “Given the fact that this area contains several environmental constraints, including stream, pond, 100-year floodplains, wetland and a patch of forested wetland area; habitat for some of the state listed species, the partial acquisition of these properties would be a highly viable option.” The properties eyed for acquisition include Block 26 Lot 6.02 and Lot 4, adjacent to the Church of the Good Shepherd. The plan also recommends the expansion of Veteran’s Park in Wortendyke. “It has been indicated by numerous borough employees and residents that Veteran’s Memorial Park is too small to accommodate the public events that are held there, and any expansion of the park would be appropriate. The lot adjacent to the park, Block 48 Lot 1, is currently vacant and, according to municipal tax records, this parcel is owned by the borough. It is recommended that this vacant parcel be improved and redesigned to be integrated with the existing Veteran’s Memorial Park,” the plan states. The plan’s adoption could have favorable financial implications for the borough. The federal Green Acres Program, which provides funding for land acquisition and recreational facility enhancement, includes a planning (continued on page 10) Winner of Wyckoff Chamber General Meeting Drawing Assistant Branch Manager mkidd@columbiabankonline.com Marie M Kidd, CISR W/COUPON • Exp 12/31/09 • Not Combinable 303 Franklin Avenue • Wyckoff, NJ 07481 Phone: (201) 848-4545 • Fax: (201) 848-4544 www.VacationRentalsRetreats.com Come stay in our CATSKILL MOUNTAIN SKI RETREAT. Stay 2 nights, get the 3RD NIGHT FREE! 12-2-09 pat/janine WCC_Winner2x2.5 2x2.5 11-18-09 kathy/janine IreneFokine2x5C(11-18-09) 2 x 5” 12-2-09 CirinoLandscpVacaRental2x2.5 2col x 2-1/2” Pat... from Janine