Presentation about Graydon Park and Pool for the 2011 New Jersey Historic Preservation Conference, Monmouth University, Long Branch, NJ, June 3, 2011

1. Functional Landscapes as Local Treasures Graydon Park and Pool New Jersey Historic Preservation Conference Monmouth University, West Long Branch, New Jersey, June 3, 2011

3. Ridgewood, NJ Ridgewood is in northwest Bergen County (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridgewood,_New_Jersey) Bergen County is in northeast NJ

4. Graydon Park is in geographic center of Ridgewood, accessible to all residents

5. Graydon is in center of developed community in flood plain

6. Swimming in adjacent brook (dammed for swimming) circa 1920s gave idea

7. Before Graydon Park, 1920s or earlier, with sycamore

8. Initial use of Graydon as a swimming pond from about 1925

9. Ice skating at Graydon Pool, February 1931

11. WPA Plans for skating shelter (2 views)

12. Cornerstone from WPA skating shelter (1936)

13. Painting by Ridgewood artist Dorothy Warren

14. Original bridge from parking log (now demolished and replaced)

15. Postcard with sycamore on island (date unknown)

16. Summer 1938

17. Graydon was a focal point of community activity

18. Memorial trees were planted with plaques commemorating important events

19. An oasis in suburbia

21. One family’s dedication to Graydon

22. Story Time in 1988, provided by librarians

23. Barbara McCullough Pattin, 1943

24. This idyllic landscape began to receive criticism in 2005-2006

29. January 2009: first presentation of concrete plans at Village Council meeting

30. January 2009: “Water park” design with $13.9 million estimated cost

31. July 2009: Second plan had 4 – foot deep pool with relatively small swimming area, concrete aprons, no sand (except for a sandbox far from the water). $10 million Some of pond would be saved for “nostalgia” (toy boats) — not swimming

32. This was serious: 2009 Village budget asked Parks and Recreation department to pursue design and construction of a “Graydon Aquatic Center”

33. Request for Proposals (draft), containing final construction documents, would have allowed fundraising for construction if approved

34. The Preserve Graydon Coalition was formed. We induced Village to instruct library to let us display this poster next to concrete plan drawings

35. Press reported on our group’s emergence and, in a sidebar, improvements to pool’s water quality

37. NY Times, Labor Day 2009, home page (online day before)

38. September 9, 2009: The Coalition made major presentation at Village Council meeting

39. Environmental/land use attorney Stuart Lieberman kept us focused and motivated

40. We reviewed public documents at NJ DEP in Trenton to learn what actions had been taken so far by our Village officials and state regulators

41. Spoke at almost every Council meeting for months

42. We used every available medium: letters to editor, blogs, website, e-newsletter, and the telephone (to reach those who didn’t own a computer)

43. Sold yard signs at events and http://graydonstore.org

44. Information table at “Downtown for the Holidays,” December 2009

45. Sold car magnets

46. Council election of May 2010, would decide Graydon’s fate

47. Joined forces with another grassroots group to support Council candidates

48. We won! Graydon Pool seen as a top issue in election

49. Preservation New Jersey’s list

50. The Record (Bergen County), May 21, 2010: “Preserve Graydon Pool”

51. Memberships increased in 2010, due, in part, to our collaboration with the Village to promote pool membership