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.
Over 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.