A History of the Conservancy

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, all large gatherings in the park were canceled in 2020 except for the fall park clean-up day in October, which enlisted over 20 socially distanced volunteers.

Used the generous $10k donation from the Rotary Club of Caldwell, complemented with an additional $5k from Essex County, to replace the iron bridge railings on the bridge connecting the Runnymede Parking Lot to the Pond with timber beam railings that resembled the original Olmsted Bros. wood rail design.

A GCPC committee assisted Essex County with a redesign of the Playground. The County refurbished the tennis courts and installed a new playground at a cost of $1.2 million. Over 175 corporate volunteers donated a day at the park including Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Becton Dickinson, Coldwell Banker of Caldwell, Crowe Horwath, Jersey Cares, Master Gardeners of Essex County, Prudential Insurance, Red Bull Soccer, Caldwell University Women’s Basketball and Lacrosse teams, Caldwell Wrestling, local pre-schools, Seeing Eye, JCHS Ecology Club, Caldwell Public Library, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America.

EC Renovated the bocce court and horseshoe pits. GCPC rehabilitated the walking trails through the upper woods and planting native ferns, trees and bushes along the baseball backstop and picnic grove. The Conservancy purchased and planted 15 new trees, 12 new bushes as well as over 750 perennials for the park. A significant additional cost to the purchase of trees is their delivery and planting.

5 Black Tupelo trees, New picnic tables installed by Children’s House, Eradication of invasive plant species from the woodland areas, Identified and tagged native saplings including Tulip, Sycamore, and Elm trees  Purchased and planted seven Redbud and five Black Tupelo trees, Maidenhair ferns and Goodies Woodferns. Purchased and installed three children’s picnic tables.

Richard Cummings and Warren Marchioni release book: Illustrated Highlights of a Century: Grover Cleveland Park, 1913-2013.  EC replaced the Bocce Court grass with stone dust (to prevent weed growth) and regraded.

New perennials added to the Triangle Garden. Drainage issues on the Ball Field fixed by EC with new catch basins installed. Two new ADA compliant picnic tables added to the picnic area on Buttonwood Road.

ADA accessible Picnic Area (Buttonwood Road). Two picnic tables installed near the playground; entrance sign planters planted. 5 Zelkova trees planted.

5 new trees planted. Leucothoe shrubs around Gould St. Triangle Garden.

11 trees planted in picnic grove & pond. 3 new cherry trees planted. EC performed pond dam & weir repairs caused by Hurricane Irene in August and established a handicapped entrance and parking on Buttonwood Road.

6 Hybrid Dogwood trees planted along Brookside Avenue. Rich Darke assisted with the creation of a GC Park planting plan which identified 5 areas to be planted with groupings of trees.  Essex County installed a pond fountain and new park entrance signs.

Rehabilitated the Picnic Grove. Planted 4 trees and Gould St. triangle garden. Completed brick paver fundraiser.

Planted 45 cherry trees along Pine Brook between Pond and Westville Entrance. 2 Japanese Bloodgood Maples planted. Daffodils from WC Women’s Club.

GCPC Provided Essex County with a map and Work-Scope for park improvements.  A new flagpole was installed.  2 commemorative trees planted in honor of Johnathan Forsell and Dr. David Frisch.

Renovate Pond House, install new benches, light stanchions, upgrade ball field, new bleachers. GCPC contracted to have over 100 dead, dying and dangerous trees and limbs pruned or removed.

$400,000 Green Acres grant award. Landscape, picnic grove, benches. Playground Gate purchased using Starbucks Community Grant. 4 new bubblers added to the pond. The Conservancy also won a grant to design and install the squirrel weathervane on the top of the Pond House.

$500,000 Green Acres Grant award. Lower level; installation of paver walkway into the playground; resurfaced all pathways; remedied erosion issues behind the baseball field and along hill paths. Refurbish Pond House; landscape; field upgrades; pond refurbishment; Planted emergent and sub-emergent plants along banks of pond to provide bank stabilization and filter water.

$400,000 Green Acres Grant award.  New playground installed, Refurbish Children’s House; add window grates, refurbish tennis courts & storage house by tennis courts; add light stanchions, benches, water fountains & trash receptacles; some landscaping & address drainage issues, paved pond path.

Horseshoe pits refurbished.