From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., members of the Oradell and New Milford communities are invited to attend the design charette, a workshop to explore design options and concerns for the rehabilitation of the old Oradell waterworks site. The workshop will take place at the New Milford Knights of Columbus Hall. The invited participants will also have a chance to tour the historic waterworks buildings. From 5 to 7 p.m., a public meeting will be held at Oradell Borough Hall, where a panel of experts from Rutgers University, Mark B. Thompson Associates, the Water Works Conservancy and the Hackensack Riverkeeper will respond to questions and comments.
The main goal of the meetings is to discuss options for the rehabilitation of the Van Buskirk Island site and buildings, which are located in the Hackensack River in the Borough of Oradell, adjacent to the Borough of New Milford. Van Buskirk Island houses the original waterworks treatment plant that was built by the Hackensack Water Company (now known as United Water). The island itself was created from an original peninsula formation in the middle of the Hackensack River in order to allow water to flow into the waterworks treatment facility. The pumping station dates back to 1882 and supplied water to Hackensack and the surrounding areas until 1990, when it ceased operations. In 1993, the land was transferred to Bergen County. The buildings are listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, but have sat vacant since the plant closed.
Through the efforts of Rutgers landscape architecture students, faculty members Wolfram Hoefer and Beth Ravit and local officials, the island may find new life as a unique part of the Bergen County Parks system. Students and faculty have considered options for the site’s historical architecture, while protecting the sensitive ecosystem of the Hackensack River riparian zone. They have also kept in mind the goals of local environmentalists and historical preservationists, as well as Bergen County’s ongoing financial responsibilities related to the island’s upkeep and maintenance.
On November 14, all stakeholders and officials will turn their ear to listen to the opinions of local community members. With the active support of Rutgers students, preservationists and environmentalists, invited members of the public will develop concepts over the day. At the 5 pm. Oradell Borough Hall, meeting those outcomes will be presented to the general public. These ideas and discussions are expected to have a strong impact on the ongoing design process.
Media Contact: Beth Ravit
732-932-9800, ext. 6210
E-mail: ravit@aesop.rutgers.edu