A Plan Sponsored by the Rahway River Association

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A Wildlife Habitat Restoration Plan for
Brightwood Park

• A Plan Sponsored by the Rahway River Association

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Dedication to Noel A. Taylor
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Brightwood Park Overview
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• Mission Statement
• The purpose of the Rahway River Association
• is to protect and restore the Rahway River and
  its ecosystem.
• The Association recognizes that the Rahway River
  and its
• biological communities are an important link
  between the environment, communities, and the
  quality of life of the people of the Rahway
  Watershed.

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Celebrate the Rahway River
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Bioblitzes Counting Species One at a Time!
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• Neighborhood Biodiversity Project
• Identify underutilized parks and nature preserves
  in underserved areas.
• Develop a wildlife habitat restoration plan
• Create a beautification project like a rain or
  butterfly garden
• Partner with community groups, schools, scouts
  local government, etc.

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Brightwood Park History

• Brightwood Park was acquired by the Town of
  Westfield in the 1960s with NJ Green Acres
  grants
• The Pearsalls family called their land the Bright
  Woods before the Town purchased the tract
• In 1978, the two ponds were created along with a
  network of nature trails
• By 1980, Brightwood Park has a huge variety of
  plants and animals over 350 species of plants
  were identified

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Brightwood Park Varied Habitats

1. A five acre man-made pond
2. A hardwood Swamp
3. Freshwater marsh
4. Hardwood forest
5. Grassy fields
6. Vernal ponds
7. Shrub/scrub habitat

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Paradise Lost?

• Deer herbivory destroys native plants
• Exotic plants take root and expand rapidly,
  replacing native vegetation
• Benign neglect of natural resources equals loss
  of biodiversity in the long term
• Loss of habitat results in loss of species of
  plants and animals over time

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Yellow Lady Slipper
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Toadstool Trillium
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(No Transcript)
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Purple Trillium (white form)
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Celandine Poppy
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Wild Bergamot
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Ovenbird
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Black and White Warbler
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Willow Flycatcher
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Broad Winged Hawk
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Wood Turtle
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Rahway River Association Hires a Ecological
Solutions as a Consultant

• Map out the different types of wildlife habitats
• Assess the degree of environmental degradation
  and its causes
• Determine the extent of native plant loss versus
  invasives
• Develop a plan to restore the park
• Focus on 5 acre area surrounding parking lot for
  habitat improvement

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Brightwood Park in the Rahway River Watershed
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Overview of Habitat Types
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Mapping The Invasion
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Rate of Exotic Species
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Density of Exotic Plant Infestation
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The RRA Project Area for Habitat Restoration
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Eliminate Deer Browse

• Create a deer exclosure around the park
• Install pedestrian gates at the two primary
  entrances
• Install cattle grate at vehicle entry
• Cost 14,500
• Time line 2009

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Remove all Invasive Plants in Project Area

• Eradicate invasive plants such as Japanese
  Knotweed, Garlic Mustard etc. using mechanical
  and chemically organic methods
• Cost 10,000
• Timeline 2009 - 2013

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The Scourge of Japanese Knotweed
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Reduce Private Landowner Use of Invasive Species

• Provide an outreach educational brochure to
  residents surrounding the park that identifies
  species that are undesirable for local use.
• Example Japanese Barberry
• Cost 3000
• Time line 2009 - 2010

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Developing Grassroots Support for Brightwood Park

1. Encourage volunteer stewardship by local
   neighbors, community groups, garden clubs, scouts
   and volunteers
2. Partner with local schools and scouts to make
   Brightwood Park an outdoor lab for nature study
3. Develop strategic curricula to utilize park for
   No Child Left Inside programs
4. Organize guided nature walks throughout the year
   for the community

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Initiate Annual Effort to Remove Invasive Plants
Throughout the Park

• There are 23 acres of parkland that will require
  long term control.
• Enlist volunteers, residents, groups and and Town
  DPW to provide backbone of in the field effort
• Cost 5000
• Time line 2009 - 2013

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Foster Native Forest Regeneration

• Remove Norway Maple trees from canopy and
  saplings from the ground.
• Cost 3000
• Timeline 2014 - 2018

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Create Wildflower Meadow

• Remove heavy infestation of invasive plants
  around parking lot
• Plan and implement wildflower meadow adjacent to
  pond
• Cost 7000
• Time line 2009

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Create Wildflower Meadow
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Create Wildflower Meadow
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Restore Lake Shore Shrub Habitat

• Heavy infestation of Japanese Knotweed will be
  removed by contracted labor to eliminate plant
  over a growing season.
• Replacement shrubs and small trees can be planted
  in the fall.
• Cost 4500.00
• Time line 2009

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Restore lakes healthReversing eutrophication
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Fundraising Goal for 2009 is 50,000

• Pledged 5000
• Needed 45,000
• Grant Applications Outstanding 250,000

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Wanted Brightwood Park Committee

• An informal constituent group is needed
• To oversee the development of the park
• Develop a fundraising plan with short term and
  long term goals
• Enlist volunteers from the community to begin and
  train others to conduct stewardship tasks
• Create and maintain environmental education
  programs geared to community needs with eye on
  implementing No Child Left Indoors program

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Restore lakes healthReversing eutrophication

• With a price tag of nearly 200,000 the Rahway
  River Association will focus on the habitat
  restoration for land features first.

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A Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkYellow Crowned Night Heron
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A Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkOsprey
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A Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkEastern Bluebird
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A Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkBlue Lobelia
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A Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkCanada Lily Wood Lily
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A Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkVirginia Rose
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A Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkSwamp Milkweed
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Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkExbury Azalea
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A Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkEastern Newt
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Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkGreat Spangled Fritillary
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Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkTiger Swallowtail on Canada Thistle
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Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkRed Admiral
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Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkHackberry Emperor
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Bright Future for Biodiversity at Brightwood
ParkAmerican Lady
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RRA Extends Our Gratitude to the following
funders

• Westfield Foundation
• Westfield Rotary
• Conservation Resources, Inc.

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• It is good to realize that if love and peace can
  prevail on earth, and if we can teach our
  children to honour nature's gifts, the joys and
  beauties of the outdoors will be here forever.
• President Jimmy Carter, 1979

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Rahway River AssociationP.O. Box 1101337 East
Milton Ave.Rahway, New Jersey 07065Office
[phone]Fax [phone]rahwayriverasso
ciation_at_verizon.netwww.rahwayriver.org