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Pocket park may house memorial
(by Maggie Fazeli Fard - June 11, 2008)
A “pocket park” in the south end of River Vale may someday be the home of a long discussed memorial to the township’s emergency service volunteers.
Several years ago, said Council President Glen Jasionowski, there was talk at committee level of creating a memorial park in honor of River Vale’s fire, ambulance and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) personnel.
“We sort of let it slide,” said Jasionowski at the Monday, June 9 council meeting. “We had a lot of other things on our plate.”
The idea reemerged last week when plans for a “pocket park” adjoining the Jewish Home Assisted Living on Westwood Avenue were being discussed. According to Councilwoman Denise Sieg, who attended a meeting with Jewish Home residents and other community members, there is interest in creating a passive park suitable for adults to sit, enjoy nature, have a cup of coffee or read a book. Making this the site of an emergency services memorial, she said, was perfect.
“I think this is a wonderful idea,” said Sieg, “a wonderful reflection of our emergency services.”
The memorial park is still in its planning stages, but Administrator Bob Gallione revealed a conceptual rendering of a central monument surrounded by benches. Gallione said that each emergency service department would have a say in how its branch is represented. It is also possible that each department will help fund the project.
“You’ll be happy with what we put in that park,” said Gallione.
Also on June 9, the council unanimously passed a resolution endorsing a Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund application in the amount of $58,000 to help fund the project. The memorial park will continue to be discussed at committee.
Maggie Fazeli Fard's e-mail address is fazelifard@northjersey.com.
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