Steve Wagoner hands off a check for $32,000 to the Borough of Oakland. This represents 100% of the 2012 Oakland carnival proceeds plus an extra $7,000 raised by the SAO. These funds will be used for the construction of the walking path to be built at the Alexander Potash Recreation Complex this spring. From left to right: Recreation Commission Chairman, Mike Guadagnino, SAO Recording Secretary, Jim Fuhrman, SAO Vice-Chair, Caron McCormick, SAO members Steve Wagoner & Tim Contrini, Mayor Linda Schwager, SAO Chair Jim Folkerts, Borough Administrator, Richard Kunze and Recreation Commissioner and SAO member, Bob Scalabrini. Missing from photo SAO Treasurer Dave Altana and member Laura Belle.
Somewhere in 2007 an idea percolated to the surface asking, “why doesn’t Oakland have a walking path?” Oakland is made up of many hills, limited sidewalks and other the high school’s track, not any real areas for residents to walk, jog and enjoy a safe stroll. In fact this question has been asked many times over the years, but never has anything been done to move the idea forward. The genesis in 2007 came from Kelly Clark and her girls scout troop. “I was speaking with then Recreation Commission Chairman Steve Wagoner about using the fields to hold a ‘She and Me Walk and Picnic’ for Oakland Girl Scouts in honor of Mother’s Day – an event for all of Oakland Girl Scouts and their Mothers (or Aunts/Grandmas etc.).” She continued “I nonchalantly asked Steve if there was ever a plan to pave a walking path, because it seemed logical to me and he thought that was a great idea. We talked about what a simple asset it would be to the community in terms of the health benefits of walking, the convenience, and the appeal of a flat, walking path in a hilly town! We basically agreed that it would be utilized by many residents of all ages.”
Then Steve Wagoner shared the idea with the full Recreation Commission. “This was a fantastic idea”, said Steve. “During my many years in Oakland people always complained that walking or jogging around Oakland could be dangerous. But now we had a concrete idea so I thought let’s do something about this”. Steve brought the idea to the full Recreation Commission who loved the idea and were on board. Over the subsequent months and years, Shade Tree Commissioner Ed Clark, coincidentally Kelly’s husband, created different designs of the walking path until one just seemed right. The final creation has been on display at the Sports Association of Oakland’s carnival booth for the past 3 years.
In 2011 the walking path seemed to hit a stumbling block. “Back in 2011 right after Mike Guadagnino and I were no longer on the Recreation Commission, the then council put the brakes on the walking path. At a June meeting that year they tabled it for future discussion; which is often the death knell for ideas. I am happy to hear that today’s council is very much in support of the plan” added Wagoner. In January 2012 with Mike Guadagnino ‘s reappointment back onto the Recreation Commission and elected its chairman, the walking path was put back on track.
“The entire commission has been very supportive of the idea,” said Guadagnino. “This has been a community effort from Ed Clark donating his time and designing it, the Sports Association of Oakland who has been raising funds for the project and the overwhelming number of Oakland residents who have embraced and contributed to its development.”
In 2012 with the Oakland Carnival in doubt, the 8-member Sports Association of Oakland (SAO) volunteered to run the entire event, where 100% of the proceeds were earmarked for the walking path. At the time Steve, who was then the SAO President led the charge. “I remember when I came up with the idea of the SAO running the event I immediately contacted Mike to see what he thought. After Mike caught his breath”, Steve said with a chuckle,”he asked me if I thought the SAO could pull it off. We only had 3-weeks, no blue print and the entire town dependent on the carnival, so what else would I think -I said definitely!” Mike added. “If you know Steve, once he gets something in his mind he’s goes ‘all to the wall’ and succeeds. This was one of those time he went ‘through the wall’, and of course succeeded”. Steve continued, “The SAO is made up of some of the most caring volunteers you will ever find. They not only backed my idea, they put their blood sweat and tears into accomplishing what some thought could not be accomplished”. After three weeks of no sleep for the Sports Association, the carnival was pulled off and a giant fundraising effort for the walking path was completed. Mike stated, “Without the 2012 carnival and the work that the SAO put into this raising theses funds, the walking path would NEVER becomes a reality!”
With some money in the bank what was next for the walking path? In 2013 Mike, as Recreation Chair applied for a Bergen County Recreation Grant and was happily awarded over $26,000 in grant money. Final funding came from the Recreation Trust account, which meant that no taxpayer money will be used to design or build the walking path. Mike was asked about using private funds and grant money to pay for the walking path. “One thing I believe in and would like to see is Oakland move toward is using non-taxpayer funds to pay for non-essential improvements. Over the past few years we have seen the borough move in this direction on various projects such as Great Oak Park, the recreation budget, the Van Allen & Stream House and the walking path. These are all things that will improve residents quality of life and hopefully our property values; but they are non-essential items.”
So as the walking path moves onto its final phase which is construction, we all look forward to enjoy a stroll on a nice spring weekend, a leisurely walk on the new path on a warm summer nights or an autumn jog as we take in the changing leaves. This will improve Oakland’s quality of life from the youngest to oldest residents. The path will be located directly across the street from the senior center, have ample parking and be located right in the heart of town. Oakland has a lot to cheer for this spring.
In the end, something as simple as the inertia of Kelly Clark’s great idea moved people to do great things. When the construction is complete it will be 8 years, but well worth the wait!