photo courtesy of Village Manager Keith Kazmark
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ – The much-anticipated new pavilion at Habernickel Park is entering its final stages, with Village Manager Keith Kazmark confirming that finishing touches are underway.
Kazmark announced that the official ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for September, marking the pavilion’s debut as a community gathering space.
“The structure will provide cover from both the sun and the rain while families enjoy the playground—soon to be renovated—or catch a ball game,” Kazmark said.
A Pavilion for All—or Just for Some?
The Habernickel Park pavilion has been a year-long project, fully funded by Ridgewood taxpayers, and was envisioned as a space for residents, community groups, and local events.
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In April 2025, Kazmark posted on Facebook that the pavilion was “nearing completion,” and that community groups were already inquiring about reservations. At the time, he promised a grand opening in May.
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However, the pavilion’s development has also sparked controversy over its future use, particularly involving Healthbarn USA, a privately owned wellness and education business that leases space in the park.
Conflicting Statements on Healthbarn’s Access
In February 2024, during a Village Council Budget Meeting, Parks & Recreation Director Nancy Bigos stated that Healthbarn USA would be authorized to reserve the pavilion regularly for its own commercial use—without charge.
But just a month later, on March 6, 2024, during a Village Council Work Session, Kazmark clarified that Green Acres laws prohibit granting exclusive or free access to a private business in a taxpayer-funded public park.
“Healthbarn USA will not have free access to the proposed covered pavilion at Habernickel Park,” Kazmark said, emphasizing that if the business wishes to use the facility, its lease with the Village would need to be renegotiated to comply with state law.
This apparent conflict between public statements has left many residents questioning how the pavilion will truly be managed once it opens.
What Residents Can Expect
Despite the debate over private use, the pavilion is being positioned as a multi-functional space for Ridgewood residents, offering:
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Shelter from sun and rain for park visitors
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A venue for community gatherings, family events, and recreational programs
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A future hub for playground activities and ball games
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Key Dates & Timeline
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February 2024: Parks & Rec Director suggests free commercial use for Healthbarn USA
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March 2024: Village Manager Kazmark refutes, citing Green Acres restrictions
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April 2025: Pavilion nears completion, with plans for a May grand opening
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September 2025: New ribbon-cutting date announced for public debut
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The Bigger Question: Who Gets Priority?
While the pavilion is designed as a public amenity, the lingering debate over Healthbarn USA’s access underscores a larger issue: Should taxpayer-funded facilities ever be prioritized for private business use?
As the September ribbon-cutting approaches, Ridgewood residents will be watching closely to see if the pavilion remains a true community space—or if it becomes entangled in political and commercial interests.
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Jeez….looks like Taj Mahal….
So ugly and too big. Ridiculous waste of our money. For who??!
Wait til you see the 24 karat gold toilet that Kazmark will give Healthbarn, you know ow, for the camp kiddies. Since he is the new landlord, its raining money!
Why is he so overly interested in this particular business?
Just ignore the HBarn
Residents should use as they wish
Yes it’s our pavilion. Use it even if the business is taking over like they do the whole park. It’s ours!!!! Bring your kids, dogs and elders. Don’t let her kick you out like she is known to do
I am going to use this pavillion for sure. Yeah its ugly but heck, we paid for it. And Oh listen, if she even says one word to me or my family, or gives us the stink eye, I will have Green Acres on the phone so fast her head will spin! There is no way I will put up with any nonsense, Mark my word.
I hope you do because it has been done and people still get the stink eye and written up for being in the park. OPRA her quarterly reports. No one is safe not even neighborhood kids
I can’t wait to have my kids birthday party there, I’m a taxpayer. I’m using it.
Should be interesting. They do not follow their lease as it is so they will not follow instructions about this issue either. Also Bigios doesn’t care. She lets them do whatever they want. And NO ONE in the town monitors anything over there with that business. Good luck tax payers another loss for you and another gain for Healthbarn
I am going to suggest Habernickel to friends on the Fresh Air Fund Board.
It’s only fair that a park this spectacular, paid for with tax dollars, should be shared with young people from Camden, The South Bronx, Brownsville, Paterson and Newark.
Ridgewood is committed to inclusivity so this should be easy to facilitate.
It already is. Don’t be ignorant. The field trips come from all over Jersey by the bus load. But it’s not out of the goodness of anyone’s heart. It’s a business and a business only. $$$ for Healthbarn
I saw 2 coyotes there last week…stay away from the wooded trail before dusk.
And Bear travel along the hohokus brook. And there are fruit trees planted close to the boarder. Be careful. It’s a jungle. And all the garbage cans. I wouldn’t let my kids play there during the summer months
This seems like a childish comment. You selected several NJ towns with majority minority population.
Actually outside groups could come and use it. There is no residency requirement. Mahwah renovated a playground several years ago. The residents were upset that busses from NYS Hebrew schools visited and monopolized the playground. They tried to make it resident only and lost in court.
Any one is welcome. But not someone making money off of tax payers hard earned cash to maintain the park. No one cares who comes to the park as long as they aren’t selling their wares and making bank off of our tax payers like Healthbarn is. Two different issues here. Don’t try to spin it
A boondoggle from Day One and a waste of money we cannot spare.
With any luck we will one day have a village council lacking a personal agenda and the HealthBarn contract will be ripped up and tossed in the recycling bin.
Roberta Sonenfeld should be ashamed of herself for perpetrating this on our town and taxpayers and the neighbors of this private business in a public place.
Why is Healthbarn part of their personal agenda? It’s an unanswered question for years
I don’t think residents and taxpayers who paid for this pavillion realize that there is a business monopolizing this property. The pavilion was supposed to be used by the sports teams who come and require shade and shelter. However, healthborn, we’ll monopolize this like they do the rest of the park for their private use. Making serious money while paying almost nothing for that house. This for profit budiness hosts private parties and makes a ton of money for a very low cost lease an absolute sweetheart deal that continues to this day. There is a parking garage, a private garden, bedrooms washer and dryer, bathrooms with showers and a full size catering kitchen and outdoor patio for all of the parties. The ingredients from the garden are used for the private parties. The Village is aware that this business operates well outside of their stated lease, and it is allowed to continue by this village manager, mayor and council. Because they make it look like healthbarn is an actual nonprofit. There are 2 entities and one is most definitely a for profit business. Healthbarn was given this pavilion as a gift because of special favors and feed the front lines.Don’t kid yourself. Political relationships once again cost taxpayers and a private business benefits.
No one monitors the business and the lease that was tboroughly outlined by green acres. It’s a crying shame what most tax payers are not aware of. The deal of a century
willfully ignorant
A good lawsuit against the town and HealthBarn might actually win in court, but no one wants to spend money on something like that, understandably. A crying shame for years and getting worse. That area would be far better as grass.
Wait until I put up the bathrooms. That’ll be another 200 grand.
You???