Photo by Chuan-Chu Chou
Save the date!
Brightwood Park Day is
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More info coming soon!
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Spring at Brightwood Park
UPCOMING - see below for more information
MARCH 21 Nature Class for Kids: Spring Into Brightwood Park
Walks, stories and activities.
MARCH 21 Pollinators in Peril; Native Plants to the Rescue! 7PM at the Westfield Memorial Library
Native Gardening 101 and Native Plant Giveaway. Learn how to make your garden pollinator friendly with Deb Ellis, founder and leader of Essex County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of NJ.
APRIL 1- NOON Webinar on Planning your Native Plant Garden
The Great Swamp Watershed Association is hosting a webinar on Plants for Pollinators.
APRIL 1 TO APRIL 19 Great Swamp Watershed Association - Native Plant Sale
The GSWA is holding it's 4th annual native plant sale. Order early and pick up your plants on Brightwood Day - May 4th.
APRIL 13- Saturday HISTORY WALK
Rob Lombard will be presenting a presentation about the neighborhood that existed at Brightwood before it became a park.
Register
wmlnj.org/bhm24/
wmlnj.org/bhm24/
APRIL 18 Nature Class for Kids: Pollinator Gardens
Walks, stories and activities.
Nature Detectives - Classes for Kids - 2024 schedule
Our educational monthly classes are each a different theme and encourage children to explore the natural setting at Brightwood Park
For more information and sign ups, see
Westfield Recreation Page 4 Session - 11:00, 11:30 AM and 3:00, 3:30 PM
Limit 10 families per session 2-4 Year Olds with Adult 10:00 to 10:45 am
5-8 Year Olds 3:45 to 4:45 pm |
March 2Read Across America - The LoraxEach child will get their own Dr. Seuss hat and be invited to a story walk and fun craft session with volunteers from The Friends of Brightwood Park.
4 Session - 10:30, 11:00 AM and 3:00, 3:30 PM
Limit 10 families per session For more information and sign ups, see Westfield Recreation Page March 21Spring into Brightwood ParkWelcome Spring with stories and activities in the park. Discover the signs of Spring on the trails of Brightwood Park. Look for plants and animals that are enjoying the seasonal changes. Who and what will we find in our neighborhood natural park? April 18Pollinator GardensLearn about the pollinators in Brightwood Park. Explore the Brightwood Park gardens and learn about bees, our favorite pollinator. Through books and games, we will educate ourselves about pollination and learn how to create a haven for pollinators in Brightwood and in our own yards.
May 16Our Five Senses in the ParkWhat will our senses tell us about Brightwood Park? Can we see signs of the animals? Will we hear the critters or activity of the natural world? What will that feel like; smooth, bumpy, sticky? Join us in the park and use all your senses to explore and discover. June 13Woodland Obstacle Course Our Brightwood Park woods is the best playground in Westfield! We can jump, climb, run, and balance using nature’s own obstacle course. Find and use the rocks, logs, and paths of Brightwood Park as our playground. We will practice safe use of natural objects and how to use our bodies in nature while being good stewards of the park. |
It's not too early to plan your garden
🌸 Planning Your Garden with Native Plants
A great series of Webinars began on Thursday, January 18th, sponsored by the folks that bring us the Great Swamp Plant Sale in April.
April 1, @12noon
Plants for Pollinators: Plant Sale Overview and Kick off with Hazel England GSWA
To launch Day 1 of our 4th Annual Plants for our Pollinators sale, GSWAs’ Director of Education and Stewardship and resident pollinator expert will provide an in-depth look at each of the Thirty-Seven 2024 selections being offered as individual species and within six kits suitable for a range of garden conditions. They will review why native plants are important, cover the new species in this year’s sale, and delve into the pollinator species these native plants will particularly attract. Learn more about how to start, add, or amend your growing native pollinator garden. You’ll leave energized knowing the amazing benefits these 37 different native species can bring to your yard and you'll be ready to shop the sale
Plants for Pollinators: Plant Sale Overview and Kick off with Hazel England GSWA
To launch Day 1 of our 4th Annual Plants for our Pollinators sale, GSWAs’ Director of Education and Stewardship and resident pollinator expert will provide an in-depth look at each of the Thirty-Seven 2024 selections being offered as individual species and within six kits suitable for a range of garden conditions. They will review why native plants are important, cover the new species in this year’s sale, and delve into the pollinator species these native plants will particularly attract. Learn more about how to start, add, or amend your growing native pollinator garden. You’ll leave energized knowing the amazing benefits these 37 different native species can bring to your yard and you'll be ready to shop the sale
Register at:
https://www.greatswamp.org/event/plants-for-pollinators-webinar-series/
https://www.greatswamp.org/event/plants-for-pollinators-webinar-series/
2024 NATIVE PLANT SALE -April 1 to 19!
Our yards have the power to provide critical habitat for threatened bird and insect populations and also provide us with beautiful flowers. Create your own important part of the region-wide network of yards that support a sustainable ecosystem – a Homegrown National Park™.
Finding a good selection of appropriate native plants can be difficult., but we make it easier by providing a selection of native plants suited to our local soils and climate . In partnership with the Westfield Green Team
PICK UP YOUR PLANTS AT BRIGHTWOOD PARK ON MAY 5TH
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A view of Brightwood Park from the air - a Green OasisSurrounded by suburban development, Brightwood Park’s trees stand as an oasis. This patch of trees cleanses our air, provides oxygen to breathe, filters underground water, and provides shelter for all kinds of wildlife.
It is why we are so passionate about these 44 acres! |
Photograph by Lisa Cladis
NEW colors!
Friends of Brightwood Park GearHats in many colors!
Hats for Kids! New Toddler & Youth Tees! New Adult long-sleeve Tees! |
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History Tours of Brightwood
2024 Dates
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Samuel Jarvis, 76, of Fanwood Ave (now part of Brightwood Park).
The Brightwood area was once a center of African American society in NJ. The Friends of Brightwood, in an effort led by Rob Lombard, has begun to explore and document this history.
The latest addition to the set of stories...
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of recent interest....
Coyote Sighting
Conservation Projects - Scouts and Local StudentsScouts and student conservationists are tackling the hard tasks of documenting the effects of invasive species, working towards reforestation, pollinator gardens and protecting young trees from deer. Learn more at PERSPECTIVES ON THE PARK. and Brightwood Student Projects |
Edison Scouts Build Pollinator GardenEdison Intermediate School students Mahie Panjwani, Madeline Schlitzer and Kayla Yip are spreading the word about native plant gardens.
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Volunteers Needed!
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viewpoints
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a couple of notes:
-Westfield has installed a ~3 foot wide opening next to the existing gate at the Fanwood Avenue entrance, so that pedestrians can enter and leave. The gate was installed to prevent further illegal dumping which happened twice this fall. - rl 11/25
-the town has authorized a deer management program in approved areas in Brightwood Park that will start on or about December 1 and go through mid-February. -Opening Council Meeting remarks, 11/28
Friends of Brightwood Park are working to:
- preserve & restore the park as a nature sanctuary
- remove invasive species that threaten native plants & trees
- promote hiking, walking, fishing, birdwatching and activities in harmony with the habitat
- offer nature and art programs for all ages
LocationBrightwood Park is on the North end of Prospect Street. Go past Franklin School and look for the entrance on the left.
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