Ridgewood Celebrates New Habernickel Park Pavilion Amid Controversy
photo courtesy of the Village Manager Keith Kazmark
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Village of Ridgewood recently celebrated the grand opening of a new pavilion at Habernickel Park, a structure that will provide a much-needed community gathering space with shade and shelter. This addition, fully funded by Ridgewood taxpayers, was envisioned as a hub for families, community groups, and local events.
While residents are excited to use the new amenity, its development has sparked a controversy over who will get to use it—and on what terms.
The Debate: Public Space vs. Private Use
The heart of the issue lies in conflicting public statements about the pavilion’s future use, specifically concerning Healthbarn USA, a private business that leases space within the park.
In early 2024, Ridgewood’s Parks & Recreation Director, Nancy Bigos, stated that Healthbarn USA would be allowed to reserve the pavilion for its commercial use without charge. This statement immediately raised concerns among residents, who questioned why a taxpayer-funded public facility would be made available for free to a private business.
Just one month later, Mayor Paul Vagianos clarified the situation, explaining that Green Acres laws prohibit granting exclusive or free access to private businesses in a public park. He stressed that if Healthbarn USA wished to use the pavilion, its lease would need to be renegotiated to comply with state law.
This back-and-forth has left many residents wondering about the true management and accessibility of the new pavilion. It brings up a larger question: Should public, taxpayer-funded spaces ever be prioritized for private commercial interests?
The grand opening marks a positive step for the Village, but the conversation about equitable access is far from over. As the pavilion becomes a new focal point for the park, residents will be watching to see how the village ensures it remains a space for everyone.
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Peewee has no shame. None.
PFAS Paulie and The Bond King wearing shorts is sloppy, rude, and frankly disrespectful for such a historic occasion and important photo op.
No class.
Pam’s hat, on the other hand? Fire, as the Gen Z kids say.
Looks like a bunch of losers and Healthbarn lady front and center to accept another gift from Keith
Does the Bee Man think he looks cool wearing shades?
It’s a joke. That business uses areas outside the lease on a daily basis and the VM and Nancy Bigios turn a blind eye. They have killed grass and destroyed tax funded property with their tarps and tents. Now they will use these new tables and garbage pails and then walk away and leave the clean up for the tax payers employees. Tragic
That grass was destroyed by the tents and tarps that have been used for 10 year by Healthbarn. Destroyed!!! Then a week before the grand opening of the pavilion your tax dollars were used in full to bring the area back to life after healthbarn usage trashed it. All hands were on deck to undo what the business did to beautiful Habernickel park.
The public should see to it that they require the use of the pavilion in full or in part for the most available hours. If Healthbarn throws them out, all h*ll should follow.
The problem is this VM and Nancy Bigios are so secretive about this privately owned business. They have her back. They will say they gave her permission to do XY and Z. Just watch. That loud summer camp will be in that structure everyday. Good luck Ridgewood families getting a picnic table in the shade.
Just refuse to move
You don’t have to move you paid for it not a business. It is a public park and a public pavilion. Period
“Just refuse to move”
Smart post of the day.
Do not move until health barn produces proof /receipt of reservation at that specific time.
Yes!!! Absolutely. a brownie troop was kicked out of the park! Sadly the person was so scared that she left. She should have called the cops and said why am I being told to leave a public park
Is it a nice design? Yes, it is, is it expensive? Yes, it is. This is just another political hack. It’s a shame that we spent this kind of money on something that we really didn’t need at this time. Maybe down the road. We have village buildings that are falling through their ass . They kept on saying we have no money we can’t repair our buildings, we can’t replace employees that retired, we can’t replace all equipment. But all of a sudden, the past three years, they’re spending money like water. What happened 10 years ago or so .
Agree except for the part about “nice design.” It is hideous.
This mayor council and manager better start preparing for a major line item in the budget regarding lawsuits. Because they’re starting to wiggle their way through paperwork and the brewing is starting, peoples health is at risk, they failed big time on this contamination throughout the village. So now they’re going to have to pay. Yes it’s going to take time and I’m sure a few people will be gone, but not forgotten. what’s going to be interesting is that the village is going to try to push this on the insurance company.,
Residents are aware of the favoritism and preferntial treatment Healthbarn gets. We can keep eyes on it and if there’s an overuse by the tenant with proper booking, this can be raised with the manager if the vilkage, its for public use and there’s only so much covering up he can do.
How can one make a reservation??
This think cost $350,000.00 and the bathrooms have not even been installed. That will cost more. I think it is pretty clear that PauLIE gave this present to his friend who owns Healthbarn as a favor and they were in the Feed the Frontlines effort where the Mayor’s business stayed afloat during the pandemic. Wonder if it was all businesses or a select few, but anyway, now HB gets to run a private business as a low rent tenant taking over almost an entire park and operating outside of the hours of the lease yet protected by Kazmark another political operative. When will this favoritism end?
It won’t until Keith and his clowns are gone. Starting with Bigios and the engineer.
The question is why?
And where is the 4 million dollars given to Healthbarn?
Wake up that was ALL tax payers money. And this pavilion was funded with Ridgewood tax payerss dollars
WHY
I deeply resent having helped to pay for this hideous boondoggle. Perhaps one day in the future we will have a mayor and manager who let Healthbarn’s lease lapse and throw them the heck out. This was always a terrible mistake and we can thank Roberta Sonenfeld for it.