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Borough of Oakland Awarded State Local Recreation Improvement Grant for Great Oak Park Band Shell

For Immediate Assistance Contact: Michael Carelli, assistadmin@oakland-nj.org
Posted on: February 10, 2022 - 3:02pm
Press Release - 2022

OAKLAND, N.J. – February 10, 2022 –  The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has awarded the Borough of Oakland a Recreation Improvement Grant in the amount of $40,000.00.

“The Borough of Oakland would like to thank Governor Murphy, Lt. Governor Oliver, and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for this generous grant,” Mayor Linda H. Schwager said. “The funding will be used to complete the Great Oak Park Band Shell Project.”

The grant to the Borough of Oakland, one of 162 announced by the Department of Community Affairs, is a Local Recreation Improvement Grant. Counties, municipalities, and school districts were all eligible to apply for these grants, which are competitive.

“The Borough of Oakland is truly appreciate of this grant funding”, said Councilman and Great Oak Park Liaison Kevin Slasinski. “The Band Shell will be located in the ‘Great Lawn’ section of the park, and will feature community events such as musical concerts, performing arts, and much more fun and exciting activities.”

This grant funding, in addition to a grant from the Bergen County Municipal Park Improvement Fund and private donations, now covers the anticipated total project costs for the Band Shell, which is expected to move forward this year.

“As we complete the park's development, we have raised close to $1 million dollars through donations, grants, fundraising and volunteer efforts, keeping the promise we made a decade ago to minimize the amount of local tax dollars that would be needed", said Great Oak Park Committee Chairman Mike Guadagnino.

DCA awarded a total of $10 million of funding in this round of grants. Parks, recreation centers, and stadiums are among the facilities that will benefit across New Jersey.

“The Division of Local Government Services developed this program, in part, to provide quality outdoor recreational space for the residents of underserved communities,” said Jacquelyn Suarez, the Director of the New Jersey Division of Local Services. “This need has been especially heightened over the last couple of years as people searched for outdoor spaces to help alleviate the significant stress and anxiety brought on by the pandemic.”