Great Oak Park - Moving Along

Great Oak Park - Moving Along
Great Lawn as it looked in 1985

It’s been 7-LONG years, during which time meetings have been held with the DEP, environmental studies have been collected, consultations taken place with engineers, over a half a million dollars of donations, volunteerism, fundraising and labor contributed…and the infrastructure of Great Oak Park is getting close to being complete.

During the early part of this summer Vanderbeck Tree Experts cleaned up the great lawn area; some of the Vanderbeck’s credentials may be found here. Remaining are boundary trees along the bowling alley, the cemetery and the driveway. Also left were 4 majestic Maple Trees adjacent to the bowling alley border as well as assorted trees within the great lawn area. Plans remain to plant some other trees, shrubs and memorial oaks once the lawn is completed. 

The next step is to clear some of the debris left behind from this summer’s work. The Potash family who owns James Construction has volunteered their services to help ready the great lawn area for the spring. The Potash family has always been a huge help for Oakland as they have quietly offered their services when needed and once again we Thank them!

Assuming all goes well this winter, the spring planting of the new lawn will take place creating an area for people to congregate, have fun and enjoy the arts. Installation of a new band shell for Oakland is planned to take place later in the summer; monies have been collect for the band shell without asking the Oakland taxpayers to foot the bill.

The last part of the infrastructure will be refurbishing the old Muller’s Park driveways. A grant has been tentatively approved to cover much of the cost estimates. Over the 7+ years of planning the driveway and parking lot capacities have been reduced as to further protect the natural habitat.

When the Great Oak Park committee was formed in 2012, promises were made to the town which included no Oakland tax payers dollars be used for the park’s development, the environment would be protected and this would become a place where nature and people could enjoy 40 acres together. The committee still has approximately 50 bird and bat houses they would like installed in the park, as well as grants are presently being applied to further protect the C-1 steam. As the years move on the environment will be further protected, while residents will enjoy the arts from the band shell and hopefully a dog park in the near future.

Keep an eye on the park’s progress and please like and follow the Great Oak Park page and group on Facebook. Enjoy your Holidays!