Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 24, 2011 Franklin Lakes Borough council sets rules for nature preserve by Frank J. McMahon A new ordinance adopted by the Franklin Lakes Council has established the rules and regulations for the use of the 143-acre Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve, which is located in the southern portion of the borough near the Borough of North Haledon. The ordinance supplements Chapter 356 of the borough’s code entitled “Parks and Public Lands” by adding new rules and regulations for the preserve. According to those rules and regulations, the nature preserve will be open for use by the public from dawn to dusk, and fishing will be permitted for those with a New Jersey state license. Littering, boating, swimming, and wading are prohibited on the property, which features a 70-acre reservoir, formerly known as the Haledon Reservoir. Motorized vehicles, including, but not limited to, all-terrain vehicles, are also prohibited on the property except on roadways or in the parking lot. Alcoholic beverages and fires are prohibited, although dogs are permitted on the property provided they are kept on leash. The nature preserve, which is dedicated to hiking, fishing, and birding, was officially opened to the public on June 11. The ceremony was held at the entrance to the nature preserve, which is located on High Mountain Road in North Haledon, just south of the Franklin Lakes border. Based on the recommendations of the borough’s Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve Advisory Committee, the nature preserve is intended to be a passive recreation area and features hiking paths, a small picnic grove in a stand of pine trees, good fishing, and scenic views. It is also expected to attract birders. According Gregory Hart, the borough administrator, Franklin Lakes agreed to purchase the nature preserve from the Borough of Haledon on May 24, 2005. The total acquisition cost of $6.6 million was subsidized by a $2.9 million grant from the Green Acres Division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and a $2 million grant from the Bergen County Open Space Preservation Trust Fund. The borough bonded $1.6 million plus an additional $100,000 that was later authorized for various miscellaneous expenses. The NJDEP requires that property acquired with Green Acres funding must be open to the public and that all New Jersey residents must be afforded reasonable access. Picnic tables and trash and recycling containers have been provided for use at the site and 1,215 feet of a five-foot high, all galvanized chain link fence with gates has been installed along Ewing Avenue and into the woods and 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. The fencing is intended 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 nature preserve. According to Hart, 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. A contract for the construction of an informational kiosk has been awarded by the borough council. This small roofed booth will be constructed at the beginning of the main trail near the upper dam. War Eagles are tournament champs The 2011 10U Franklin Lakes War Eagles Baseball Team recently defeated Mount Olive 8-1 to capture the Wayne PAL 10U Baseball Tournament Championship. The team also won the 10U Dumont Manning Tournament with a 6-2 victory over Emerson. Pictured (top row): The War Eagles’ coaching staff. Middle row: Grant C., AJ W., Matt W., Anthony V., Raj S., Nick C., and JR W. Front row: David B., Brandon V., Bobby S., Andrew M., and Jacob M.