By Stephen Appezzato
RUMSON – Mature trees surrounding the Meadow Ridge Park parking lot were uprooted last month, disturbing some residents. But according to the borough, the tree removals are a necessary step in executing long-term improvements to the popular park.
The borough recently broke ground on its Meadow Ridge Park Improvement Project, which officials say will “enhance the park’s accessibility, safety and overall functionality for residents and visitors for years to come.”
The project, presented to the public at a hearing in July 2023, includes increasing parking space, installing new playground and exercise equipment and improving landscaping and stormwater management facilities. At the time, the playground equipment was described as “beyond repair” and the parking lot “undersized.”
With work now underway, the existing parking lot will be expanded to accommodate 50 additional cars and improve traffic flow, “enhance pedestrian safety” and “provide better access for individuals with mobility impairments.” A new LED crossing sign will also be installed on Ridge Road to better link Meadow Ridge with Fair Haven Fields and improve crossing safety.
But as work on the parking lot started, some residents who frequent the park were concerned about the removal of mature trees and felt the borough should have marked the impacted area further in advance to notify the public.
“The public had little to no time to notice and thereby respond,” one resident posted in an online neighbor group. “It’s possible they were marked close to when they were cut,” but “out of the five people I spoke to so far, all of which are in the park every day, not one noticed the trees were marked,” they said, garnering concerns among other residents. “I drive by the park daily and was shocked to see so many trees taken down,” another area resident said, echoing others.
In a statement to The Two River Times in March, the borough addressed the matter. As part of the park project, some trees around the parking lot and fitness area had to be removed. In the future, new trees will be planted within the impacted areas.
“This decision was made after a thorough assessment of tree health, species and longterm viability. The affected trees were planted in 1984 when the park was first developed, and many had outgrown their space, exhibited signs of decay or had exposed root systems,” officials wrote. “Efforts were made to adjust early design plans to preserve the healthy trees along Ridge Road.”
In Rumson’s original 2023 project application for county funding, the site conditions and natural features section describes the majority of the work area as “currently cleared for open field space,” and states, “Only a few trees, that are in decline, would need to be removed to make room for the expanded parking lot.” Following this application, the borough received $331,000 from a county Municipal Open Space Grant to offset the approximate $829,000 project cost.
According to the borough, after construction is complete, the impacted areas in the park will be re-landscaped “with more suitable native trees, shrubs, and plants.” Under the sample project budget in the application, 20 shade trees are listed as a line item.
While the improvements to Meadow Ridge are under construction, the park will remain open for athletic programs and recreation, and residents can expect occasional parking lot closures and temporary trail rerouting during different work phases.
The article originally appeared in the April 10 – 16, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
