Greenway Path!

chopin

Mar 25, 2015 at 11:34am Edited

Wouldn't it be great if the greenway went all the way from West Orange to Baker St.? (I doubt it could go through the country club). The river's source is beyond Northfield, uphill from Gregory. But some sections in Orange and W.O. appear to be underground.

mrincredible

Mar 25, 2015 at 11:40am Edited

chopin said:
Wouldn't it be great if the greenway went all the way from West Orange to Baker St.? (I doubt it could go through the country club).

If you wanted to extend the Greenway north from where it ends now near floods Hill you would have to acquire some currently privately owned land from house owners on either side of the river. We have friends who live in a house which is separated from the river by the width of their driveway. I don't think that would be practical.

composerjohn

Mar 25, 2015 at 11:43am

I'm thinking this might be similar to the Cherry Creek Trail in downtown Denver. That would be AMAZING.

levisonh

Mar 25, 2015 at 12:36pm

Our plans call for beginning this summer with the demolition of the Pump House and the replacement of the railroad bridge. We have the plans ready for the path from the bridge to Parker currently being reviewed by the Maplewood council.

jersey_boy

Mar 25, 2015 at 12:58pm Edited

tom said:
Hasn't the existing decrepit bridge been closed? Or can you use it anyway?

Hmm. I don't know. Maybe it's only used those who flout THE LAW: drug addicts, spray paint artists, and me and my kids.

Either way, I'm glad it'll be opened to the general law abiding public now.

Edited to acknowledge that Elle Cee also may flout THE LAW.

Elle_Cee

Mar 25, 2015 at 1:12pm

Ha! No, this was months before it was closed, but it looked so scary, I turned around and went back the way I came. That was the first and last time I rode that path. Duke Farms is more my speed.

shh

Mar 25, 2015 at 1:18pm

Elle_Cee said:
This is so exciting. I hope Maplewood will step up to the plate and figure out a way to connect to this path. I've ridden on the current South Orange path from Third Street up to the decrepit, dysfunctional bridge, but it's a hassle to get down to the path entrance, either going via Maplewood Ave. or Valley. Being older and more trepidatious, I'm reluctant to share the road with cars, and I've long dreamed of a dedicated bike path connecting our two towns.

I'm the same way, won't ride on ridgewood or any other busy road. This is great news,

orzabelle

Mar 25, 2015 at 1:40pm

@levisonh

Was the Pump House to Nature Center bagged? Too expensive, perhaps?

A very cool building...

KarenMarlowe

Mar 25, 2015 at 2:46pm

orzabelle said:
@levisonh

Was the Pump House to Nature Center bagged? Too expensive, perhaps?

A very cool building...

From what I understand there is too much contamination in the building to repurpose it.

Komarovsky

Mar 25, 2015 at 3:09pm

That is a pity, perhaps someone could take pictures and measurements before it's demolished?

KarenMarlowe

Mar 25, 2015 at 3:21pm

I don't believe that anyone is allowed inside.

Trans_Parent

Mar 25, 2015 at 3:33pm

levisonh said:
Our plans call for beginning this summer with the demolition of the Pump House

Wouldn't it be more cost-effective to permanently seal that building, restore its exterior and put some educational signage near it about its historical role? Then, use the savings to complete more of the river greenway between W. South Orange Ave and New Waterlands Park.

seaweed

Mar 25, 2015 at 3:39pm Edited

is this the pump house you are referring to?
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MKOwp78iENY/UzhbZY6rvDI/AAAAAAAABR4/euySdC4gs0g/s1600/1725538_621322894583080_486957345_n.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9AFdL27aDBM/UzhbXbjo_1I/AAAAAAAABRY/8fbG1WGRTvc/s1600/1555396_621323014583068_1571226132_n.jpg

@marylago what is the building contaminated with?

tom

Mar 25, 2015 at 3:58pm

I understand there's a lot of asbestos.

mrincredible

Mar 26, 2015 at 12:52am

Trans_Parent said:
levisonh said:
Our plans call for beginning this summer with the demolition of the Pump House

Wouldn't it be more cost-effective to permanently seal that building, restore its exterior and put some educational signage near it about its historical role? Then, use the savings to complete more of the river greenway between W. South Orange Ave and New Waterlands Park.

It might be advantageous to reclaim that space ... It looks like a pretty big building and getting rid of it opens up some more recreational area.

Plus there may be costs associated with a long-term maintenance of a structure, even if it's sealed. And probably insurance considerations to having an abandoned building, sealed or not. Kids have a way of finding access into (or on top of) sealed buildings, and then you have safety problems.

It does seem like a shame to have to spend money to get rid of the building but it seems to me to be something we have to suck it up and do.

Trans_Parent

Mar 26, 2015 at 1:35am Edited

Or, adaptive re-use, like this:

http://tclf.org/landscapes/gas-works-park

http://baliga.systemsbiology.net/highschool/intern2006/Funky%20Fremont%20gasworks.html

http://www.seattlephotographs.com/photos/gasworks_park/Gasworks_Park_photo_gallery.htm

cali6buff2

Mar 27, 2015 at 5:21am

Great news!!

I wonder how the plans intend to get across South Orange Ave. To Me, that has always been the biggest hurdle to making it a true destination bike path.

composerjohn

Mar 27, 2015 at 5:28am

cali6buff2 said:
I wonder how the plans intend to get across South Orange Ave. To Me, that has always been the biggest hurdle to making it a true destination bike path.

Look both ways I guess. Not much can be done (outside a tunnel or bridge).

TrolleyDodger

Mar 27, 2015 at 5:41am

Will it ever extend into Maplewood and possibly Millburn?

composerjohn

Mar 27, 2015 at 5:57am

Maplewood maybe. Millburn, probably not - the river goes through the Golf Club. Private property.

mrincredible

Mar 27, 2015 at 6:31am

Will anyone's head explode if I say "eminent domain" regarding the river through the golf course? Just have Maplewood condemn and claim a 12' swath on one edge of the river.

tom

Mar 27, 2015 at 6:39am

Or alongside the fences of the properties that back up to it on Burnet and Pierson?

Or, so riders don't have to dodge errant tee shots, run it up Dunnell and continue it between the northwestern edge of the golf course and the train tracks.

composerjohn

Mar 27, 2015 at 6:39am

Hahahaha. Umm.... My head just exploded.

mrincredible

Mar 27, 2015 at 6:57am

I forgot to add a smiley to my post above. I personally only think eminent domain should be used in the most extreme of cases, and wasnt actually seriously suggesting taking away part of the riverfront from the golf club.

KarenMarlowe

Mar 27, 2015 at 7:01am

cali6buff2 said:
Great news!!

I wonder how the plans intend to get across South Orange Ave. To Me, that has always been the biggest hurdle to making it a true destination bike path.

I was at a BOT meeting where they were presenting this a couple of years ago. IIRC, that question was asked. The answer was that you'd have to walk your bike across South Orange Avenue.