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Message |
    
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 15
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 9, 2005 - 5:55 pm: | 
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Has anyone noticed that our parks seem to need some serious attention. The main park in town has lost some of the older trees along Ridgewood Road. I believe that our parks have some historic connection to Olmstead (not positive). (Olmstead's firm did design some private residence yards in South Orange.) Many towns would love to have that cache. The parks share some of his style elements in any event. As they are a principal assest of the town, they should be preserved. Has anyone tried to get the original plans and can something be done to try to restore them to what they once were, while trying to accommodate today's needs. I would like to see some comprehsenive approach to their preservation and restoration, and not just ad hoc adding a tree here and there. Even the walkways look shoddy with the asphalt. I doubt that was there originally. Any thoughts out there? |
kathleen
Citizen
Username: Symbolic
Post Number: 288
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 9, 2005 - 9:18 pm: |
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I live in Maplewood so I can't comment on South Orange specifically, but the connection to Olmstead in Maplewood's Memorial Park and to South Mountain reservation is that the Olmstead firm was hired to design them at a time when Frederick Law Olmstead was much older and in semi-retirement. I believe it was his relatives -- chiefly brothers and sons? -- who were carrying out his ideas at that point.
Still, the connection is quite meaningful. As many already know, the Essex County Parks system was the first (and therefore now the oldest) County parks system in America. Probably most and perhaps all of our local parks were created at a time when industrialization and mass immigration deeply threatened open spaces and watersheds of this region. We owe a great deal to the public-minded interests that set aside at least some land to become landscaped parks.
All that said, I think that absolute fidelity to Olmstead or any early 20th Century design may be a mistake. What people should strive for is the spirit of Olmstead, who believed parks should be places of reflection and respite, and a chance to re-connect with nature, even in the most densely populated areas.
The contemporary "problem" with many of the old landscaping designs is that they heavily favored non-native plantings and plantings that we now know are highly vulnerable to pollution and disease, and they attract and sustain deer. In looking to restore our parks, I think we have a license to do what the original designers would have done had they faced the gardening challenges we face today. These are, after all, landscaped parks, not virgin forests.
The kind of comprehensive, historical analysis that you suggest has yet to be done, as far as I know. But it surely should be done as a prelude to restoration, and I can't imagine people resisting such a sensible approach if you and others set about organizing it.
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jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 16
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 7:02 am: |
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If any council memebers read this post, can you please comment as to plans, if any, for the parks in town; and if there are none, how can we initiate a systematic approach to them. The river project is admirable, but let's not lose sight of what is staring us in the face. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1985
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 10:10 am: |
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The river project is part of the plan. There was a comprehensive plan for the parks presented a couple of years ago. There were public hearings and an overview was presented (at the Baird Center).
At this point, it is just a matter of money and priorities. Right now the focus is on the river project and the park areas closest to the river. A full overview of the river project is on the village website (www.southorange.org).
Each year some improvements are made to various parks. This year (as noted in another thread) there was much work done at memorial park on Valley road.
Also, there is always the debate about how best to use parks. Some want more ball fields (soccer, baseball, etc) and others just want open fields with trees that won't be used for sports.
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jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 17
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 12:46 pm: |
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Kathlenn- Thanks for your thoughtful response. I agree with what you;ve said.
Mr. ROsner-
I understnad the need for priorities, but can we engage some body (a landscape architectural firm or maybe even Rutgers Univ. as a project) to research the original park and try to come up with a comprehensive park blueprint to capture the spirit of the original park, but with today's needs in mind. Then the plan could be implemented when resources permit. I don't know what such a plan would cost, but much as we had Atlantic create a plan for the downtown, could'nt we engage an appropriate company/university to do the same. At the very least we could float a "request for Proposal" to several bodies and see what comes back.
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argon_smythe
Citizen
Username: Argon_smythe
Post Number: 597
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 12:50 pm: |
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Jayjay, I think you should go to the town web site and view the master plan documentation. I think the steps you're proposing have already been accomplished, judging by the material shown there, and we are currently in the "plan could be implemented when resources permit" phase you mention already.
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 1125
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 12:51 pm: |
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edited:
what argon_smythe said... |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 665
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 1:06 pm: |
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For curiosity, can anyone say more about Olmstead involvement in SO? I thought I had heard that the Olmstead firm designed Memorial Park in Mpl, but wasn't Meadowlands (?? name of the SO park with the duck pond, Baird Center etc.) formerly a golf course? When was it developed into a park? Was the Olmstead firm involved?
P.S. jayjay, if the asphalt path you're referring to is the one that goes up Floods Hill, I think a few years ago a dirt path was worn in the grass, and the town paved it ad hoc to avoid mud and runoff. Could be wrong, though. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1988
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 1:26 pm: |
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JayJay: A comprehensive plan was put together by a local architect. Several residents helped put it together. There were several different options that were shown. One was able to see the whole plan layed out on a wall display along with several smaller displays that were of each section of the park.
The first request for proposal was done for the river project which was how most wanted to proceed (not just the BOT, but several members of the Recreation committee, the environmental committee and a planning board member).
We are talking about many millions of dollars (well over ten million) in projects and repairs to the parks. We plan to use open space funds, grants (some of which have already been obtained for the river corridor project) and muncipal tax dollars.
Come to the river ramble tomorrow and meet some of the people who have been volunteering. I am sure they would love more volunteers to help out and offer positive input. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1989
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 1:27 pm: |
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"RAHWAY RIVER APPRECIATION DAY" IN SOUTH ORANGE
Saturday June 11. (Rain date June 18.)
10am-12pm: River clean-up in Meadowland Park and Waterlands Park. Wear
closed-toe shoes and long pants and sleeves. Bring gloves if you have
them.
12pm-2pm: "Rahway River Ramble" with child-oriented environmental
educational stations along the River. Each station will have staffed table
where there will be a environmental exhibit or demonstration. Small prizes given at each station
with a bonus prize for visiting all stations!
Meet by the pool behind the Middle School at South Orange Ave. at
Ridgewood Rd. for both events.
For more information, call 973-313-1218, email kirk.barrett@montclair.edu
or visit www.greenwaypartnership.org or www.southorange.org
Primary Sponsors:
Village of South Orange,
Greenway Partnership of South Orange
Supporting organizations (to date):
Passaic River Institute at Montclair State University,
Seton Hall University,
Montrose Park Historic District Association,
Essex County Group-Sierra Club,
Main Street South Orange,
South Orange Advocates for Redevelopment
Essex County Environment Center |
Pizzaz
Citizen
Username: Pizzaz
Post Number: 1914
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 1:35 pm: |
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Mark: I'm familar with SOAR, but who is South Orange Advocates for Redevelopment? |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1990
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 1:49 pm: |
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Pizzaz: I have no idea. I just did a cut and paste from what had been posted. Will just have to see who is there on Saturday. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 670
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 1:59 pm: |
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Really sorry to be missing the event on Sat, since the river in SO is one of my favorite places. I hope someone will post what happened. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1204
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 2:17 pm: |
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Should be at least some Cub Scouts from South Orange Pack 20 helping with the clean up tomorrow as well!
Pete |
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