Ridgewood March 10, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Residents dislike county plans for dog park, bike path by John Koster The Ridgewood Village Council recently heard from residents who urged the governing body to reject Bergen County’s plans for an extension of the bike path along the Saddle River and the relocation of the county dog park as the centerpiece of five parking lots. “What is our leverage with the county?” Ellie Gruber asked Mayor David Pfund. “The county just seems to ride roughshod over us and do whatever it wants to do…it is almost a Captain Queeg-like project that makes no sense.” Mayor Pfund told Gruber that Ridgewood’s only leverage with Bergen County is whatever portion of the proposed bike path extension goes through land the village owns. The dog park near the duck pond and most of the present bike path are within Ridgewood’s borders, but are owned by Bergen County. Ridgewood Village Manager Ken Gabbert said that one of the county’s two alternate plans has about 100 yards of the proposed bike path running through land Ridgewood owns, and the other alternate has no coverage of Ridgewood land at all. Mayor Pfund wondered aloud whether allowing some use of Ridgewood land would give the village more clout, or whether an outright rejection would be the better course of action. “Our leverage is, if it’s our own village property, we can say no,” Pfund said. “If it isn’t, we don’t have a lot to say.” The residents had a lot to say, and all of it was in opposition to the plans to extend the bike path past Ridgewood backyards and to add more parking lots around the countyowned dog park. “It is really a multi-use path,” said Debra Sweet, an enthusiastic bicyclist who said that serious cyclists didn’t use the county bike path very much. “It is not a bike path. It is for pedestrians and bikers. Bike riders will not gain anything from an additional half mile of path.” Sweet did not like the plans for the expanded county dog park with expanded parking either. “Pavement does not make for a very good flood plan,” she said. “I’ve lived here for most of my life and I talk to a lot of people,” said Eliza Albrona. “I have never heard anybody say, ‘Gosh, I need more track.’ I’m not against bike THINK GREEN • • • • • • • Lawn Maintenance Spring & Fall Cleanup Trimming Mulching Gardening & Planting Power Wash Snow Removal Spring & Fall Gutter Cleaning Fully Insured & Licensed Owner Operated - Walter A. - 201-674-0725 Ridgewood NJ Residential and Commercial paths, but that’s an awful lot of money for half a mile.” Steve Roth said the county had allocated $950,000 for the project, but he doubted the project could be done for that price – and that the money would not be well spent in any case. Roth said habitats for wildlife would be destroyed. “The county should cease needless and repetitive projects in the Saddle River corridor using taxpayers’ money,” Roth said. Linda Reik and other objectors mentioned that a leak in the bottom of the duck pond had still not been rectified. She asserted that this was more important than adding a half-mile of bike path to a route that was already 12 miles long, especially when the proposed construction involves two bridges and an underpass below Linwood Avenue. Sam Cohen, a long-time Ridgewood resident who now lives in Glen Rock, said he loves both towns, but he misses the birds and other wildlife he used to see when he was living in Ridgewood. He said that more construction would disrupt habitats. Several Paramus residents who spoke (continued on page 10) 15% Off Any Service Exp. 4-24-10 2 FREE CUTS with Seasonal Contract NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN CONTEMPORARY VARICOSE VEIN TREATMENT 3-10-10 janine AAALandscaping3x3(3-10-10) 3x3” Rev1 265 Ackerman Ave. Ridgewood, NJ 201 791 9339 www.chubackveins.com The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce congratulates Van Dyk Manor of Ridgewood, for being named one of America’s Best Nursing Homes by U.S. News & World Report ' See the complete list at www.usnews.com/nursinghomes Van Dyk Manor ' 304 S. Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-8200 ' www.vandykhealthcare.com Family caring for family, since 1953