Action Center
Wednesday July 9, 2008
New Zaccaria Park Playground Open
Children of the borough are sure to be happy campers at Zaccaria Park’s camp program this summer.
Installation of the new playground nears completion and upgrades to the restrooms are finished. The Department of Public Works (DPW) and summer camp counselors made last minute touches to the area when the summer camp program opened on June 30, according to Tom Minnella, mayoral secretary. Campers were using the equipment late last week.
Spreading ground cover and other final touches will continue this week, said Minnella. The new equipment and installation was purchased with money provided by West Paterson’s Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.
According to Council President Keith Kazmark only local money directly from the fund was used for the upgrades.
“No county or state money was used for the state-of-the-art of the Playscape and restroom improvements,” he said. “In November of 2004, the borough council held a question out to voters on whether they wanted to establish this fund and an overwhelming number of residents voted yes. Our recreation committee made recommendations for Zaccaria Park and other necessary improvements to the borough council. This began an allocation of tax money directed towards the fund.
About $80,000 a year goes into this fund per year, Kazmark said, adding that the state has contracted vendors for these types of municipal upgrades. West Paterson had that list so it didn’t need to go out to do any bidding.
The cost for the playground upgrades was approximately $95,000. The upgrades to the restrooms cost $35,000.
In addition to the playground and restroom improvements, other recent upgrades were also completed with money directly from the local fund.
“The veteran’s war memorial at Memorial Park, located on McBride Avenue, was recently redesigned through money stemming directly from the fund as were the Dowling Park tree plantings,” said Kevin Galland, municipal clerk. “The construction of the Arnold Lijoi Riverfront Park, located on Bergen Boulevard, was also made possible through this local fund.”
At a recent session, the Borough Council approved applying for a $1 million Zaccaria Park improvement grant from the Passaic County Open Space Trust Fund.
Galland said the county endowment would be used to fund larger scale items at Zaccaria Park, like a new park pavilion and parking lot upgrades. Council members deemed the current parking facility as a safety hazard and the pavilion, currently made of wood, would be reconstructed of cinderblock for durability. The possibility of erecting a third building to be used for recreational programs, like the summer camp program, is being discussed.
“We’d be grateful for any money we would receive from the county, in addition to our local fund,” he added. “It would benefit us greatly because it would help fund the larger scale projects where our local fund might run short. There are always improvements to be made and the list is never ending.”
Reprinted with permission. (c)2008 Passaic Valley Today (Passaic Co., NJ) Tina Pappas
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