August Park Meeting Recap


Disclaimer:  These are not the official minutes of the meeting, only a recollection of the highlights.

Our first meeting in July saw the park take baby steps, last night the park began the process of rebirth.

The first DEP report was discussed, which was a detailed search for  Endangered and/or Special Concern animal and plant life.  Although  there were a couple areas of interest noted on the report, there was  nothing prohibiting us from slowly beginning the process.  There will  be many other DEP permits and applications filed as we move along, but  our first report was a positive one.

Up for discussion was the formation of a 501(c)3 not-for-profit  “Friends of the Park” fundraising arm.  Things are moving along  smoothly and we hope to begin the IRS filing for this separate  committee in September.  As a clarification to questions I have been  asked, the Friends of the Park is not the same committee as the Park  Committee. Both will be separate but work together.  A couple good  examples of the relationship on how they will work together the Board of Ed and the OEF and the Recreation  Commission and the Sports Association of Oakland.  Two separate  entities, one as the “nuts and bolts” organization and one as the fund  raising arm.

The committee’s next steps are to ask for a DEP site visit with the  Park Committee.  This will enable the group to get a better  understanding of the environmental do’s and do not’s.  After this  meeting we can develop a permit matrix of all the proposed phase 1 and  phase 2 items that fall within the “do’s” category.  The matrix will  enable all volunteers heading up a specific project (such as the  skate park or BMX park) to know what their needs will be; i.e.  permits, environmental issues and any other variables.

pleasurelandtrailOver the next few weeks the committee will be performing a GPS outline  of all the “pseudo-trails” that presently exist on the property.    Trimming and grooming of these trails and possible parking areas will  be defined.  There has been a lot of interest by local boy scouts to  open up these pseudo-trails and parking so they can be made safe to  the public. Although this is a positive and uplifting first step,  everyone is still very cautious that everything must fit with the strict DEP guidelines.

Included in the GPS outline will be reviewing and making sure entry  and exit points are safe and usable by emergency services.  Presently there are many downed trees blocking entrances.  This is another  critical and important step before we allow the park to be open.

Lastly the committee is working on a “Name the Park” election/vote. With so many people wanting different names for the park, the  committee decided to let the people name it.  Over the next few  meetings the mechanics for an election will be discussed which will be  fair, fun and transparent.  As a point of reference those old enough  to remember, think back to 1981 when the state of NJ created a “Name  the Hockey Team” election/vote; this is how the NJ Devils were named.

The meeting schedule for the rest of 2013 is as follows: Sept 4, Oct  2, Nov 13, Dec 4; all 8:00pm in the Danny D’Elia building.  If you  have any interest to help out , have suggestions or any concerns,  please come to a meeting.  There are two Open Sessions where the  audience addresses the full committee; and please buy a Pleasureland  shirt.  There are a few left and 100% of the proceeds go toward the  park’s rebirth.

Enjoy the rest of your summer,

Mike Guadagnino

Chairman

Park Committee

Please follow the parks progress at http://futureparkoaklandnj.wordpress.com.

Are you on Twitter? After Labor Day Mike will be tweeting the park’s  progress as well as all Oakland Recreation information on his twitter  account: @MGuad27, follow him for the most p to date information.