Woodland Park officials have unveiled a preliminary design for a long-discussed community center at 8 Memorial Drive, one that would pair a 300-seat performance stage and a nearly full-size basketball court with automatic floodgates meant to hold back the nearby Peckman River. The plan is still a work in progress, with borough leaders cautioning that its scale and scope could shift depending on how state environmental regulators respond.
According to TAPinto, the preliminary design also calls for a security vestibule, multiple rooms for community programs, a cafe and a full kitchen. Borough officials say the facility is meant to serve residents of all ages, including children, seniors, veterans and participants in the borough's special needs programs, and could accommodate athletic activities, arts programming and other community events. Indoor facilities could also double as an alternative summer camp location during extreme heat or rainy weather, per the same report.
Why Flooding Shapes Every Design Choice
The site's location near the Peckman River has driven much of the planning. Mike Ramaglia, project executive of ONS Associates, who is helping oversee the project, said flooding is a major design consideration because of the property's proximity to the river, the station's report notes. The Peckman River flows northeasterly from West Orange through Verona, Cedar Grove and Little Falls before reaching its confluence with the Passaic River in Woodland Park, according to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, which has previously worked to clear debris from the waterway that could contribute to flooding.
Under the proposal, the existing building would remain at its current elevation, while a new addition would be raised roughly four feet. Elevating the addition would allow floodwater to pass underneath rather than get redirected toward neighboring properties, per the same account. The plan also includes 18-inch-thick reinforced concrete walls built around the existing building's foundation and waterproofed on the exterior, standing approximately four feet, six inches high, subject to approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Automatic Gates Would Replace Manual Storm Prep
Perhaps the most practical upgrade is how the floodgates would work. Borough employees currently install manual floodgates ahead of anticipated storms, sometimes several hours before expected flooding, the article notes. The proposed system would replace those manual barriers with automatic floodgates equipped with sensors that raise the gates during a flash flood, allowing the building to protect itself without borough employees needing to respond before a storm hits.
Mayor Tracy Kallert said the borough would not pursue the project without significant flood protection measures built in, according to the same report. Kallert added that Woodland Park has discussed building a community center for years and is now ready to share its vision with residents. The borough's broader flood exposure is also reflected in state data: the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's flood-risk mapping identifies areas at risk from waters three feet above FEMA's 1% annual-chance flood level to account for increased flood risk tied to climate change, and the agency is responsible for implementing the state's Flood Hazard Area Control Act, according to a New Jersey Legislature budget document.
More Reviews Still Ahead Before Any Shovels Move
The project still requires additional steps before construction can move forward. Borough officials are preparing a hardship letter seeking waivers from certain environmental restrictions, and the proposed community center may change in scale and scope depending on how the DEP review unfolds. Ramaglia said initial discussions with the DEP have gone better than expected, per the same source, though construction cost and timeline remain unfinalized.
Borough Administrator Sam Yodice compared the proposal to the borough's library redevelopment project, noting that Woodland Park has limited potential building sites because much of the borough is already developed, with other available properties either steep or flood-prone. Kallert said the borough plans to gather additional resident feedback as the approval process continues. This is not the first time the borough has tried to get a community center off the ground — officials have considered several versions over the years, including four designs across five mayoral administrations, with the current plan representing the latest attempt to transform the former West Paterson Boys and Girls Club property into a community hub.
