A New Jersey not-for-profit organization founded in 2001 dedicated to the maintenance, restoration and enhancement of the Grover Cleveland Park located in Caldwell and Essex Fells, New Jersey in partnership with the Essex County Park System.

Improving the park

Out with the old, in with the new! That’s the feeling one gets when strolling through the park.  Many  upgrades were financed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection  Green Acres grants in 2003 and 2004 and Essex County. Other projects were financed by private donations and grants from Starbucks and the NJ Deptartment of Community Affairs.  The upgrades were identified jointly by the Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy and Essex County with safety as the major driving factor. The two have worked closely on project details and are pleased with the results. 

Gate at Children's Playground

CALENDAR 2008

April 12, 9:00 - noon - Spring Clean Up- meet at the playground for assignment. Bring gloves and water and wear long pants.

April 17, 7:30 p.m. - Speaker - Barbara Nagy - Speaks on dog behavior and training - Pond House. Please do not bring dogs.

May 3, 8 - 9:00 a.m. - Fishing Derby registration. 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Derby open to children 15 and under. Prizes for largest, first caught and most caught. BYO bait. Sponsored by Essex County Park System. GCPC will be selling refreshments and food.

May 15, 7:30 p.m. - Business Meeting at the Caldwell Municipal Building, 2nd floor.

June 19, 7:30 p.m. - Open Meeging at the Caldwell Municipal Building, 2nd floor.

July 17, 7:30 p.m. - Business Meeting at the Caldwell Muncipal Building, 2nd floor.

August 19, 7:00 p.m. - SUMMER CONCERT - the Edmond Brothers Sponsored by Essex County Park System. GCPC to offer cool refreshments.

September 18, 7:30 p.m. - Business Meeting at the Caldwell Muncipal Building, 2nd floor.

October 16, 7:30 p.m. - Speaker Meeting at the Pond House. Topic TBA.

October 25, 10:00 a.m. - HALLOWEEN PARADE - meet in the field by the pond. Open to children 3rd grade and younger.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

2008 promises to be a year of improvements in the park!  At the Annual Meeting held on February 28th, initial plans were outlined for landscape renewal, and maintenance and enhancement projects using Green Acres grant dollars.  Specific projects are the planting of 50 cherry trees along the brook, renovating the picnic grove and fixing the brook bed and walls.  With these large projects lined up, the Board of Trustees elected not to hold May Fest this year.  Instead, we will spiffy the park on April 12 (all volunteers welcome),  welcome the Essex County Park System’s Fishing Derby on May 3rd, and offer some individual educational talks or demonstrations specific to age or interest.  We would be interested in partnering with other organizations to make this happen.

At the Annual Meeting, the three open Trustee positions were filled: Warren Marchioni, Caroline Mescia and Barbara Pucciarello will all serve until 2011.  All of the current Officers were re-elected for another year.  Also, the initial members of the newly forming Leadership Committee volunteered to define the role of this committee.  The Trustees’ hopes are that this committee will provide some fresh ideas, assist with the prioritization of projects and events, and identify volunteers, partners and future Trustees.  Members of this committee are: Wendy Callaghan, Kathleen Carrara, Roxanne Knott-Kuczborski, and Suzy von Lengerke.

Sadly the weather did not cooperate this year for ice skating, but we now have plenty of time to plan for next year!  We have been given a ride-on-lawn mower with plow capabilities.  If you would like to volunteer to help groom the ice, please contact the GCPC.

The GCPC is honored to have been chosen as the recipient of a generous birthday gift.  A local child’s family chose the GCPC to be the recipient of gifts in lieu of presents for their son’s 6th birthday.  This was such a generous and thoughtful gift!  A total of $445 was gifted.

Please let us know how you would like to be involved with the GCPC this year!