AUGUST 21, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Village should give more attention to King’s Pond Park
To the Editor:
It was reported last week that two truckloads of construction debris were dumped in the rear of the village’s composting site at the end of Lakeview Drive sometime in the prior two months. The village manager’s response is that the police are attempting to track down culprit. This effort seems like a worthy effort. However, the result of this dumping, although wrong, is inconsequential as it is not visible from any walk paths, does not impede access to anything and actually blends into the landscape of that area.
How the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection was able to discover and react to this violation is to be applauded. However, the DEP and the village administration have failed to recognize the very visible dumping by Mother Nature on King’s Pond Park, the largest wildscape in Ridgewood. Here, we have a dangerous, partially collapsed dam, a pond full of debris, and a shoreline overgrown with vegetation that denies access. All of this is in plain view but remains ignored. It is a disgrace that this wildscape has been allowed to deteriorate without any action by current or previous village mangers or the DEP. After 15 years of neglect, the current village budget is devoid of any funding to address this situation.
From my standpoint, if you want to clean up a mess, let’s put our efforts into restoring a popular fishing area in a very visible park setting to its intended use. The village’s 2006 master plan showed, in detail, how that could be accomplished. It’s way past the time when it should be implemented.
George W. Shabet
Ridgewood
Thank you, Mr. Shabet. This is one project that deserves the attention of the Village and the support of the Residents. King’s Pond is a priceless asset that needs to be preserved. The Silent Majority and the vocalantis can work together on this.
the county and the state should pay for this to be repaired,we had been told that the county and state is in charge of all water ways ,if so they need to re do the dam. we do know in the past the parks crew cleaned it and cut the brush, put they are down to 4 workers and they can not keep up with all the other work that needs to be done. this is what happens when the mayor and council don’t replace workers when they leave. this don’t get done, we have dpw crew’s that are down to the lowest level of man power in the history of the village. and it shows all around town, people it’s your tax money not at work. ware did all that money go.
Mr. Halaby, I agree with you on this project. However, although technically you are part of the majority (by a few votes) based on the last election, you may find that you are in the minority in the next election. I think your use of silent and vocal to be perjorative – when the powers that be, like Valley and the downtown developers, have deep pockets and influence, those who oppose it must be more vocal.
Looking for friends Rurik ?
what are we talking about , and how much will it be to rebuild it.
This definitely merits attention… and to 12:57, show some courage and speak at the village council meeting.. you too 1:23… the 3 as you call them may listen if the cyberspace squawkers would grow a pair…
they wont listen , there goal is to turn ridgewood into hoboken they dont care what you think , just what their hudson County masters think
James is right. They won’t listen. They have their plans and their minds are made up. Disgusting.
I get it “Paul Smith”, you don’t like anonymity. I vote in private, thank you.
That was a favorite place to walk from home but it has become depressing. Used to be a popular ice skating venue. Poor town has gone to seed for lack of maintenance and caring. Wrong people in charge for too long.
Amazing how George Shabet’s letter was quickly twisted into an east and west thing. Rurik couldn’t help but destroy debate on a topic that might have brought people together. This is the kind of divisiveness his “silent majority” has brought into the public debate over the past few years. Has he no shame?.
Rurik is a stunning hypocrite
Not that I hope he ever needs it, but Rurik wants to make really sure he is remembered fondly by the folks at Valley just in case he ever needs a room. He is not alone in that regard.
well 10:50, not having a pair is painful, ain’t it?