Courtesy of Oakland’s Future Park Website. Click here to read all about Great Oak Park
A lot is on hold due to the weather, but here is where we stand…
1) Erik Kozak’s Boy Scout project will begin once the ground thaws. His project will open up walking trails that take hikers from the Doty Road entrance, past the great white oak tree and towards the river for a new “River Walk”. Erik will be placing wood markers and map board which outline the various trails.
2) Will Fern’s Boy Scout project is also on hold until the ground thaws. Will’s project will clean up the area around Doty Road, remove the invasive vines that are choking the many trees within the park and create a rust finish entrance sign.
3) The old FRG sign has been taken down behind Portobello’s restaurant and a new sign will be erected (the old sign was spray painted orange). This project is waiting for the snow to fully melt so the remaining sign posts can be painted. The new sign will welcome people to the park as well as let everyone know that the park is becoming a reality.
4) A tree service company is ready to remove dead trees, dangling branches and wood debris found on the ground. They were ready to start in January, but…you guessed it – snow has put things on hold. The ground will have to be fully thawed before they can get their machines on the property.
5) A second landscaping company has offered their help to prune all the trees found along the old Muller’s Park driveway, prune around the afore-mentioned Great Oak Park sign and prune along the RVR sidewalk, to allow people to once again use the walkway. They too are waiting for the snow to melt.
6) The DEP will be making a visit to Great Oak Park once the snow has melted. A dialogue has opened up between the committee and the DEP. An outline of the master plan has been created and once the DEP completes their visit a full master plan will be developed. This DEP will guide the committee as to what Phase II projects will be permitted, and which ones will not.
7) A local company needing a highlands mitigation project has offered to repair and restore the C-1 stream, Little Pond Brook at no cost. This company will be working with the Highlands Commission and the DEP. Once they receive direction and/or approvals they will come back to the borough to present their plan.
8) The Sports Association of Oakland has officially signed on as the as the 501(c)(3) fundraising arm for the committee. Fundraising efforts are already underway, and once approved will be announced.
9) April 26th will be a park clean-up day. The timing of this event is in sync with Earth Day, which is 4 days earlier. Look for flyers announcing the clean-up and a way you can register to help with the clean-up!
A lot has been going on and we look forward to seeing the park open later this spring or early summer – that’s if the snow ever melts……………..!
