Waldwick August 14, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 5 Parking expansion eyed for open space application Borough Park in Waldwick has seen sev- eral improvements over the past few years which have in turn generated increased park use by residents. Now the borough council is considering seeking grant funds to increase parking facilities at the park. Borough Administrator Gary Kratz is proposing applying for a Bergen County Open Space and Recreation grant to expand the existing parking lot across from the playgrounds towards Branagh Field. He said the council will be discussing other options for the grant application during this week’s meeting and will make the decision on the final project by the dead- line later this month. Options are limited, he said, because the municipal open space trust is set to expire on Dec. 31 and there is just enough left in it to cover the borough share. Kratz’s proposal includes adding room for 24 cars to the 30-space lot at an esti- mated cost of about $70,000. A grant would cover half the amount, with the other half coming from the Municipal Open Space Trust Fund, Kratz said The borough is asking voters through a 5K recipient The Waldwick Golden Club shared in the profits from this year’s 5K Run, sponsored by the Waldwick Chamber of Commerce. Above, Chamber president Christine Figliuolo presents a check to club President John Livesey (center), as run director Stan Kowalski looks on. referendum in the November general elec- tion to reauthorize the half-cent tax for the trust for another 10 years. Currently, the owner of a home assessed at $416,000, the borough’s average, contributes $21 a year towards the open space trust. There would be no increase in taxes to property owners since the amount is already included in the tax base. Waldwick projects done with open space funds through the years include rebuilding Veterans Park, installing new playground equipment at Emmet Park, and upgrades at Borough Park, including the recent instal- lation of a special needs playground. The rehabilitation of the comfort station is scheduled to be done later this year, and a second pavilion adjacent to Branagh Field is also in the works. Municipal trust fund moneys may be used “solely for the acquisition, develop- ment, maintenance and preservation of lands for recreation and conservation pur- poses as well as acquisition of farmland and historic properties for restoration and pres- ervation purposes and for the payment of debt service for any of these purposes.”