Westfield Gives Brightwood Manicure of Neglected Areas
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
*/ l*uMish«l t'.sery I Hunda) DSPS NMW20 Thursday. July 26, 2001 (008) 2J2-4407 FIFTY CENTS OllR 111th Y EAR - ISSUE NO. 46 odlcaJ - Postage Paid at Westfield, N J. Since UNO AERATORS ADDED: FOOT BRIDGES ANP BENCHES TO FOLLOW Westfield Gives Brightwood Manicure of Neglected Areas Bp DEBORAH MADISON Tainaques Park and Mindowaskin mission on several occasions to ex Spectalh H’rtnrii for The Weitfield lender Park have similar aerators in their press their wishes to preserve the Holding the distinction of being lakes. park’s natural environment. the only natural park setting left in The town hus applied for a $25,(XK) During meetings, Recreation Com Westfield. Brightwood Park, which grant from the state to be matched by mission Chairman Keith S. Hertell borders Scotch Plains, has been get municipal funds in order to make has assured the park lovers on nu ting a much-needed manicure to additional renovations to the park. merous occasions that Brighlwood’s sorely overgrown and neglected ar The status of that grant will not he naturalistic setting would he pro eas. determined until September, Mr. tected and that no unnecessary reno Renovations currently underwuy Marsh confirmed. vations would take place. include removing underbrush where Once the grant application is up- Forty years ago, Brightwood Park necessary to clear paths in order to proved, additional renovations will was a swamp, Mr. Marsh noted. The make the park and trails more acces include adding several park benches swampy area was used as an illegal sible for everyone’s enjoyment, said and two foot bridges to extend the dump and became the unfortunate Department of Public Works Direc path over streams, Mr. Marsh noted. recipient of old refrigerators and tires. tor Kenneth B. Marsh. Other renova Also, wood chips will be added to Before that, in the 1930s, two dozen tions include the installation of two stabilize the paths and prevent ero shacks in a makeshift shanty town aerators bencuth the manmade sion of the trails. occupied the area that surrounded lakebed in order to facilitate healthier In recent years, there has been the swamp. water quality for the wildlife in the much concern on the part of local The garbage was cleared out and lake. residents that Brightwood’s natural the old shacks were leveled to make way for the manmade lake in 1960s. David B. Corbin tor The Weatfieid Leader “The aerators, installed last week, setting would be destroyed by over IG UP...Brlghtwood Park, the only natural park setting left in Westfield, bordering Scotch Plains, has been oxygenate and keep the water mov development and unnatural renova Westfield naturulist and teacher much-needed manicure to sorely overgrown and neglected areas. Current renovations Include removing ing, which will insure the quality of tions. Concerned residents have met Noel Taylor wrote a booklet, ih where necessarv______ to_____ clear paths____ In________ order to_ make_______ the_______ park and trails more accessible. Other renovations the water to maintain a healthy fish with the Westfield's Department of "Brightwood Park,” about the ecol blciude'the Installation of two aerators^beneath the manmade lakebed In order to facilitate healthier water quality for population,” Mr. Marsh explained. Public Works and Recreation Com- ogy of the park, documenting more the wildlife In the lake. thun 350 kinds of flora and fauna by the late 1970s. Over the years, the park has been used as a living labo ratory for biology, botany and ecol • Pedestrian Struck by Car at Elm, ogy students. Concerned residents have ex pressed their desire to maintain the Quimby; Sustains Moderate Injuries park’s natural environment, so that future generations can learn in this By SUZETTE F. STALKER She told police that she saw Mr. Such cases, he noted, can include a natural outdoor classroom, as well as Specially Written for The Weitfield Under Barnes in the crosswalk and attempted cyclist colliding with an open car to protect the wildlife in the park. A pedestrian was moderately in to stop but was unsuccessful. Lieu door. There have been no fatalities as These renovations are in keeping jured last Thursday evening when he tenant Parizeau confirmed. The driver a result of any of these incidents, he with the residents’ wishes to protect was struck by a car in a crosswalk at was not issued any citations. said. the natural setting without disturb the intersection of Elm and Quimby The Westfield Volunteer Rescue However, several pedestrians were ing the health of the wildlife, Mr. Sheets in Westfield. Squad responded to the accident killed within the past two years in Marsh added. No other changes will The accident occurred at 5 :06 p.m., scene. Mr. Barnes’ injuries were de traffic accidents which occurred in be made to the park. as Mountainside resident Brent scribed in a police report as a “con the town. During the first two months An 11,7-acre parcel of land, adju- Barnes, 48, was attempting to cross tusion, bruise and abrasion," but no of 1999, Ellen Interdonato, 71, of cent to Brightwood Park, immedi ‘Quimby Street, according to further information was available Scotch Plains and Anna Tkacova, 23, ately over the border of Westfield, in 'Westfield Police Lieutenant John M. regarding where he was transported a Perth Amboy resident who had Scotch Plains, known as the Broad Parizeau. for treatment or the status of his been working as a nanny for a way Development site, has been re The driver, identified as Kathleen condition. Westfield family, were killed in sepa zoned by the Township of Scotch Szymona, 21, of Cranford, was trav- Lieutenant Parizeau confirmed that rate incidents as they attempted to Plains. Previously zoned us ML-1 * eling northbound on Elm Street in since the beginning o f this year, there cross East Broad Street. for Mount Laurel low to moderate . her 2000 Mercury Sable and had have been 17 incidents reported in Last December 4, Sherry Warman, income housing, the land has been ; been attempting to make a right turn Westfield involving motor vehicles 30, of Westfield was fatally struck as rezoned in the newly revised Master : onto Quimby. and either a pedestrian or bicyclist. she tried to cross North Avenue, West. Plan for senior citizen-age restricted housing, designated as a SC-1 zone. This was possible because the town’s Camp Counselors Trained In CPR DOWNTOWN ACCIDENT...On Thursday evening, Mountainside resident Mount Laurel obligations have been Brent Barnes, 48, was moderately injured alter being struck in a crosswalk at met. the Intersection of Elm and Quimby Streets In Westfield, by driver Kathleen The site, jointlyowned by the town Szymona, 21, of Cranford. Traveling northbound on Elm Street in her ZIHHI Mercury Sable, the driver was attempting to make a right-hand turn onto ship and Broadway Associates, will CONTINUED ON PAOE 10 By American Red Cross Chapter Quimby. By„ SETH AUGENSTEIN..imsumviu 1 f’LiUChild and adultTDD CPR Irainino training u/as was ihp the fniTimiSSIOil’SCommission’s nOlTTial normal rOUtinC, routine, and Specially Written for The Weitfield Leader focus of July 10 gathering. Each everyone is pleased with the new For the hundreds of kids involved night was scheduled to last five hours, focus on safety. State Legislation Could Strip Towns’ aily in Westfield’s summer play- running from 5 to 10 p.m. Assistant Director of Playgrounds rounds, parents often want to be The program is the result of plan Thomas Homish was excited about ssured that their children will be ning by the Westfield Recreation the new program. Powers Regarding Home Businesses Commission, spearheaded in particu “There are many merits to having afe. legislation to make changes to their Keeping that in mind, the Westfield lar by the new Director of Recreation camp counselors trained and certi By FRED ROSSI tions the legislation's potential im respective zoning codes regarding lecreation Commission held Car- M. Bruce Kaufmann, who took the fied in CPR and First Aid. The par Specially Written for The Weitfield l eader pact in local communities. any further restrictions on home busi iopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) post only two months ago. ents of 600 to 700 children involved Legislation currently working its “ You can’t have a blanket policy nd First Aid training for 24 camp According to Mr. Kaufmann, the in the Westfield Recreation way through the State Legislature that says if something is a home- nesses. “I don’t think it does any harm to ounselors on July 9 and 10. CPR and First Aid training is another Commission’s summer camps want could potentially strip heal munici based business, it’s alright,” he said. *o be reassured that their children palities of certain zoning powers as Such a policy could potentially al Westfield," Mr. Sullivan stated. “This (the legislation) is common devoted to child and adult First Aid. vill be safe while they are having they relate to home-based businesses. low a home-based business to oper un,” he said. Assembly Bill No. 1193, the Fam ate regardless of its impact on the sense.” ‘To know that the staff can deal ily Home Occupation Act, passed neighborhood. Susan Jacobson, a Westfield resi vith a crisis situation is comforting, the lower house of the Legislature Mr. Atkins said local communities dent and Vice President of the Union fhe training was a prudent move for late last month. The bill, sponsored could then face problems such as an County Chamber of Commerce, said iveryone involved,” he added. by Assemblymen Joseph Azzolina excessive number of deliveries to a the legislation is intended to allow The Westfield/Mountainside (R -13th, Middlesex and Monmouth) home, numerous employees and cli such businesses to exist in the first place.