The meeting room at Township Hall was filled on Thursday evening, January 11, with Livingston residents and artists from the Riker Hill Art Park who wanted to express their opinions about the future of the county park. The park, a former federal Nike base, was purchased by the county for one dollar in 1973 and turned into an artists’ park. Little has been done to upgrade the park since the artists moved in.
Most of the speakers during the evening agreed with Harvey Meltzer, a resident of Drummond Terrace, who said, “A gem of this nature should be polished and enhanced… but not destroyed.” Noting the park's beauty, Thursday'sspeakers cited the historical significance and the possibility of using the park for educational purposes. Drainage, noise, and light pollution were among the concerns expressed.
County executive Joseph N. Divencenzo presented a brief introduction and recalled a previous contentious presentation about the park some ten years ago. This current meeting, he said, was being held in response to a request from the Township Council to improve the park.
Joseph D. Perello, vice president of Suburban Consulting Engineers, moderated the forum. He stressed that no plans had been made for the site and that Thursday’s meeting was strictly to seek input from the public and to determine priorities. Following a slide presentation showing the existing site, which he noted was the highest point in the county, the microphone was turned over to members of the audience.
Residents and Artists Speak
Walter LeVine, a member of the township’s Open Space Committee, suggested that infrastructure and signage improvements are needed on the site. He suggested that the park be expanded into a sculpture park, similar to one on Old Short Hills Road in Millburn. LeVine noted that the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton have a lend-lease program for some of the sculptures that it owns.
He also suggested reopening the trail from the existing buildings to the quarry and the Kidde Dinosaur Park, which is also located on the 23 acre site. School programs were formerly held at the Dinosaur Park and have been discontinued, he said, suggesting that they could be resumed.
LeVine’s final suggestion involved moving the apple press from the defunct Nettie Ochs Cider Mill to the Art Park as an historical addition to the site. He added that the planting of apple trees might allow cider to be made there in the future.
Hugh Mahon, a retired teacher of art in the Livingston schools ...
