Thanks to Freeholder Adrian Mapp and April Stefel, the city's point person on Cedar Brook and Green Brook Parks, for updating me on the situation regarding both parks in response to my rant in last week's H.I.T.S. (see here - item 5).
At Cedar Brook, both the Brook and the Lake are being renovated this year. Bids for the work were opened on October 11, 2005, and the preconstruction meeting was held November 14th. This project was briefly reported in the Courier, Sunday, October 30, 2005.
The Freeholders have funded a project which includes the complete draining and dredging of the Cedar Brook Lake, and work to clear out sediment and overgrowth along the Brook where it winds through the Park.
Lowering the water level in the Lake began in October. A permit has been issued by the DEP for the removal of the fish from the Lake and their restocking into Lake Surprise. This is scheduled for April, 2006, according to the permit.
Once the fish are removed, work will proceed apace, and includes work on both the Brook and the Lake. April points out that the work will also include stabilizing the slopes of the Brook within the Park.
The Lake will be fitted with an aeration system as in other Union County Parks, which will provide sufficient oxygen in the water that the fish don't die in the August hot spells.
April also points out that the little metal-covered crossing of Mathewson Drive over the Brook is a design feature, a ford.
That makes perfect sense, but who knew?
As a farm boy, I am familiar with fords -- which are shallow spots in streams, where it is easy to cross without necessity of a bridge -- as we regularly forded a branch of the Canadaway Creek which passed through our property with tractor and implements on the way to tend oat fields at the far end of the farm.
People are probably most familiar with fords from their appearance as a stock visual setting in Westerns, where the protagonists are seen making use of them to either chase or escape from some bad guys.
But I must say this is a rather citified ford, what with its metal grating and all.
Since there is a foot bridge adjacent to the ford, I wonder whether the original plan for the park (which I am told did not include the playing fields and active use accoutrements we are so used to today) was meant to provide walkers a way to cross the stream without getting their feet wet. Too bad that April and you and I will be the only ones who understand this design feature.
Too bad also that the Park has lost the splendid Iris gardens which made it a tourist attraction in the Spring and were planted on a rise above the Brook where the Park abuts the rear of Kenyon Avenue properties.
In any event, I shall watch the progress of the project with interest and post updates to Plainfield Today as the work proceeds.
We will all enjoy this improvement to one of Plainfield's favorite recreation spots.
And thanks again to Freeholder Mapp and April Stefel for sharing their information.
I was probably colicky from all the crabgrass......;-)
-- Dan Damon
Keywords: Cedar Brook Park
No comments:
Post a Comment