Community First: Volunteers Team Up to Restore and Improve Ridgewood’s Grove Park Trails

photos courtesy of the The Rotary Club of Ridgewood A.M.

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Tucked away near the bustling intersection of Grove Street and Paramus Road lies one of Bergen County’s best-kept natural secrets: Grove Park. Spanning approximately 35 acres of beautiful native woodland, this local sanctuary offers a rare, peaceful escape where you can walk the trails completely out of sight and sound of nearby roads and buildings.

This past Sunday, July 12th, that beloved “hidden jewel” received some much-needed care and attention.

In a powerful display of community spirit, the Ridgewood Parks & Recreation Department joined forces with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference to host a highly successful volunteer workday dedicated to trail preservation and restoration.

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A True Community Effort in Grove Park

The trail improvement project was spearheaded by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference in close partnership with the Village of Ridgewood. It brought together 22 dedicated volunteers representing several prominent local organizations, including:

• The Rotary Club of Ridgewood A.M.

• The Ridgewood Open Space Committee

• Ridgewood Boy Scout Troop #7 (along with supportive parents)

• The Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands

• Passionate local residents and neighborhood volunteers

Working side-by-side, this diverse team cleared overgrowth, repaired worn pathways, and vastly improved the safety and navigability of the hiking trails. Beyond the hard work, volunteers reported having a wonderful time, making new friends, and enjoying the serene beauty of the native woodland.

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How You Can Become a Ridgewood Park Steward

The success of the Grove Park workday highlights the vital role that local stewardship plays in keeping Ridgewood’s green spaces beautiful. If you are passionate about the outdoors and want to give back to your town, the Parks & Recreation Department is actively looking for new volunteer park stewards.

Whether you want to help lead a cleanup, maintain hiking paths, or participate in future workday programs, your hands-on support makes a lasting difference.

Get Involved: To learn more about volunteer stewardship programs in Ridgewood, reach out directly to Nancy Bigos, Director of Parks & Recreation, at [email protected].

Become a volunteer park steward today—it’s the perfect way to support our community, protect local wildlife, and enjoy the great outdoors!

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