Franklin Lakes April 27, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 Former reservoir to open to public as nature preserve by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve, formally known as the Haledon Reservoir property, is expected to be opened to the public after Memorial Day weekend. The plan to open the municipally-owned property to the public was announced at a recent meeting of the Franklin Lakes Council. At that meeting, the council awarded an $18,100 contract for fencing at the property and a $6,221 contract to the Wisconsin firm of Kirby Built for three, eight-foot long cedar look plastic picnic tables and three round-slatted trash and recycling containers in cedar recycled plastic for use at the site. Jan Fence of Wayne received the fencing contract, which calls for the removal of 550 feet of existing fencing and the supply and installation of 1,215 feet of a fivefoot high, all galvanized chain link fence with one 18-foot wide by four-foot high double swing barrier gate, and one five-foot high by 10-foot wide industrial double swing gate, with all pipes installed in cement footings. Councilwoman Nathalie Lota, chair of the council’s Public Works Subcommittee, advised that the fencing would be installed along Ewing Avenue and into the woods and down along High Mountain Road to an existing fence on the Vander Plaat Funeral Home property, and then on to the upper dam and across that dam to the fence on the other side. Franklin Lakes Borough Administrator Gregory Hart advised that the cost of the picnic tables, the trash/ recycling containers, and the fence will be covered by a Bergen County Open Space grant together with matching funds through the state’s Clean Communities grants and borough funds that were previously appropriated. Hart also advised that detailed sketches of signs that will be used at the site have been prepared by Marisa Tiberi of Boswell Engineering, the borough’s engineering firm, and proposals are being solicited for that signage. The borough’s department of public works has begun the work of preparing the preserve for its opening to the public. A cleanup day, focused on the preserve, has also been scheduled for May 7, according to Hart. Mayor Frank Bivona explained that the purpose of the fence is to prevent parking on Ewing Avenue and High Mountain Road for safety reasons and to direct motorists to the parking lot provided for visitors to the preserve. The 149-acre property with a 70-acre reservoir, formerly known as the Haledon Reservoir, was acquired by the borough in 2006 for $6.6 million. Two million dollars of that amount came from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund, $850,000 from the Green Acres Division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection funds, $105,000 from the municipal budget, and $75,000 from the borough’s capital reserve account. The NJDEP requires that property acquired with Green Acres funding must be open to the public, and that all New Jersey residents be afforded reasonable access. The use of the property is expected to be limited to daylight hours for recreational purposes, such as fishing and hiking. Spring into... The Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. will host its 2011 Annual Golf Outing in celebration of the life of Dr. Cheryl Welch. This event will be held Monday May 9 at the High Mountain Golf Club, 845 Ewing Avenue in Franklin Lakes. RBARI is dedicated to making this event successful to continue Dr. Welch’s legacy of caring for the animals at the shelter. Entry fees are $695 per foursome or $180 for a single golfer. The fee includes breakfast, cart, practice balls, a round of golf at a top quality course, contests, a barbeque at the turn, and lunch at the end. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Online registration for golfers and sponsors may be made at www.rbari.org/golf. Sponsorship brochures and additional information are available at www.rbari.org. Email golf@rbari.org or call Rob at (201) 887-4792. RBARI hosts 2011 Golf Outing benefit Visit our friendly, helpful staff for all your landscape and garden needs. Go Green! Save Green! Plant a Tree! Freshly Stocked Trees & Shrubs Pesticide-Free Herbs & Vegetables Container Gardens & Window Boxes “Proven Winners” Premium Annuals & Hanging Baskets Handmade Wreaths Summer camp (continued from page 3) Recreation Coordinator will be Ryan Fells; the Assistant Sumer Camp Recreation Coordinators will be Ali Bryan and Jerry Mercadante, and the Summer Facility Coordinator will be Ed Gordon. All four of these individuals have been involved with running the camp in prior years and are familiar with all programs and procedures.” A standing-room only crowd attended the mayor and council’s April 14 meeting wanting to know which counselors and CITs would have a summer job. They said that early notification was essential so that counselors could look for another summer job, if necessary. 10% &off * Trees Shrubs *Material must be purchased in garden center. With this coupon. Exp. 5/10/11 with any tree purchase With this coupon. Exp. 5/10/11 Free Delivery Stop by from 9:00am to 6:00pm We are located at the corner of OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK PROPANE Paterson Ave. & Goffle Rd. in Midland Park The Villadom TIMES Welcomes Your 201-444-9995 Perennials Buy 3, Get 1 Quart-size Red, Black & Brown Long Island Compost 2 cu ft Press Releases & Photos Email to: editorial@villadom.com. Or mail to: PO Box 96, Midland Park, NJ 07432 (only quality photo prints can be used) Press releases & photos must be received by WEDNESDAY prior to publication. Digital photos must be JPEG files with a resolution of at least 300 dpi. 10 off % With this coupon. Exp. 5/10/11 Spring Annuals With this coupon. Exp. 5/10/11 Free Dyed Mulch Farm Grade Topsoil $ $ With this coupon. Exp. 5/10/11 3.79 Reg. $4.29 1.99 40 lb. bag With this coupon. Exp. 5/10/11 YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER The Natural Green Solution ORGANIC LAWN & SHRUB CARE