Township accepts Bergen County Open Space grant, staff outlines federal re‑submission for field project

The Township of Washington Council on April 7 approved acceptance of an $84,227 Bergen County Open Space Grant and authorized the mayor to sign contract documents for planning and preliminary construction at the former recreation-club property near Ridgewood Boulevard.

The award, presented to the council by Administrator “Mister Bueno,” will fund planning, design and site work but — he emphasized — cannot be used for demolition or remediation. “This grant is important, not in the immediate use of the funds, but once the demolition and remediation work is completed, this money would be used to develop the property for planning and construction purposes,” Bueno said, adding that demolition and remediation are explicitly ineligible uses under the grant terms.

Council members also heard that the township filed a declaration of intent for a 2025 Bergen County Open Space/Park Improvement Grant to fund Americans with Disabilities Act improvements at Memorial Field and ADA‑compliant gym equipment at Clark Field. The Memorial Field work described by administration includes ADA parking, accessible bleachers and an access ramp; the Clark Field request is for accessible gym equipment.

Administrator Bueno updated the council on a separate congressional funding process for a larger project (described in the meeting as the township’s prior federal appropriation request for a sink/stream project). He said the township’s original application for about $660,000 was cut to $600,000 during budget negotiations last year and that his office refiled the application at Congressman Josh Gottheimer’s request for the new congressional session. Bueno said the federal funding remains pending and likely will not be resolved until Congress finalizes its budget in October.

On the consent agenda the council approved Resolution 25-208, authorizing the mayor to execute the Bergen County Trust project contract for $84,227 for “former recreation club layout design and preliminary work for athletic fields” (Block 2301/2401, Ridgewood Boulevard North). The resolution passed on roll call with the council voting in favor.

Council members asked for clearer tracking of active, pending and closed grants in future administrator reports; one council member requested separation of closed or reimbursed items from current pending applications so members can see what to expect.

Why it matters: the grants move planning for athletic and park upgrades forward while the larger federal appropriation — if awarded and after remediation work — could fund more extensive field construction. The council and administration said they will return with updates as federal and county funding processes proceed.

Questions or next steps noted at the meeting included: the administration will pursue any required supplemental materials to accompany the congressional reapplication; the mayor is authorized to sign county contract documents for the $84,227 award; and staff will separate closed versus active grants on future reports for clearer tracking.