Ridgefield Park nature trail

2-October-2018
   On Monday-1-October Bergen County Executive James Tedesco  presented Ridgfield Park Mayor George Fosdick with a check to create an new nature preserve, and trails in the eastern  section of Ridgefield Park. The sum of $200,000 dollars was made from the Bergen County Open Space Trust that is to be use to preserve open spaces throughout Bergen County. This is a matching grant which will allow the Village of Ridgefield Park's Environmental Commission, to design and construct an interpretive trail and boardwalk through the Ridgefield Park Nature Preserve. 
   Executive Tedesco and Mayor Fosdick talked about the cooperative effort by the Village and the County  that will help make this project a reality. They were joined by members of Village Commissioners John Anlian and Hugo Poli,  Environmental Commission Chairperson Stephen Quinn, High School Principal Eric Koenig and Freeholder Tracy Zur.  Along with other Citizens and officials from the Village 
   The Nature Preserve will start at the northern end of Ridgefield Park High School and extend to the Teaneck border. It will occupy the  land from I- 95 on the east to the properties on the west. The plan is to have three distinct habitats: woodland, open field, and wetland, this will include a trail and boardwalk.  The trail will provide visitors with the opportunity to experience plants & animals in these habitats and be approximately 1 mile in length.  The trail will loop through the entire 13 acres of the preserve. It will feature an entrance near the Ridgefield Park Junior Senior High School for easy access for school science classes and club activities and will include areas over it’s route for nature exhibits, gathering areas for class environmental and nature studies, and scenic overviews.
   Plans will also include access to a future overpass from the High School to the Ridgfield Park section of Overpeck Park.  The overpass would allow the Students travel to  sporting events in Overpeck Park. This will  give the residents of the Village a walkway to the park. This will also allows visitor to Overpeck Park the opportunity the new Nature Preserve when fully completed.

 County Executive James Tedesco and Ridgfield Park Mayor George Fosdick  (C)
with Commissioners Hugo Poli and John Anlian

County Executive James Tedesco (C)  with Freeholder Tracy Zur
presenting Ridgfield Park Mayor George Fosdick(R)
with a grant check  

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