a couple of alerts:  
-the tree down near the Prospect Street entrance has been cleared.  Thank you DPW!  jpl, 11/28
​
-Westfield has DPW 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

Happy Holidays!

​Hope to see you in the park!

3rd Annual
​Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Trail
it's a wrap!

​Witches, black cats, and ghosts, oh my!  
​What better place to haunt than a forest?  Brightwood Park was decked out in spookiness on Saturday, October 28 in celebration of Halloween. 
​Thank you for coming!!
More Pictures
NEW for the holidays!  ​

Friends of Brightwood Park Gear

Hats in many colors!  

Hats for Kids!

New  Toddler & Youth Tees!  

New  Adult long-sleeve Tees!​
Get your Brightwood Park Gear today!
UPDATE
Tree Planting and Shrub Planting Project

​With an eager and efficient crew, FOBP planted 160 trees and shrubs in Brightwood Park over three days in October.  Though small now, these plants will help ensure the forest will be healthy for many years to come.

We will keep you posted on progress!  

 Thanks to all who volunteered! 

If you would like to help, there is still time.  These young plants will need some tending to in the upcoming months and again in the spring and summer 2024.  Let us know if you would like to adopt a few to tend.

  • October  19, 21:  plant tubelings.

New Fall Nature Classes & Programs for Kids

Picture
A Nature Detective at Work
Our educational monthly classes are each a different theme and encourage children to explore the natural setting at Brightwood Park
For more information and to sign up, see
Westfield Recreation Page
2-4 Year Olds with Adult  10:00 to 10:45 am
5-8 Year Olds 3:45 to 4:45 pm

Thankful for Nature
November 16
It’s Thanksgiving Time! Come to Brightwood to explore the many ways to be thankful for nature! Let’s make festive walking sticks and go for a “Gratitude Scavenger Hunt!”

Winter Wonderland
November 30
Come to Brightwood Park to experience a new season, a cold season. What will freeze? How does the park look different than it did in Autumn? What will the animals eat when it snows? Join us for a winter walk and find the answers in the Brightwood Park woods.
​

Field Notes:  Fall in Brightwood Park​


It's fungi season at Brightwood Park!  No those are not hamburgers....  Plus baby green herons, a beautiful set of native plant display gardens.

Kids!  Check out the June Issue of Nature Detectives!

History Tours of Brightwood​
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...
​the Gambrell Family

 2023 Dates
November 4
10 AM to Noon

Register Here
Samuel Jarvis, 76, of Fanwood Ave (now part of Brightwood Park).
of recent interest....

Green Heron Chicks have Hatched and are thriving!

Keep an eye out for 3 newly hatched Green Heron chicks.

​More on Green Herons at Brightwood Park

 Coyote Sighting

Thank you to ​Josh Adler for contributing the picture!
Brightwood Park was temporarily closed in July 2023, following a precautionary measure to close it for several days due to unusual coyote behavior reported by several residents.

​More on Coyote Safety

Conservation Projects - Scouts and Local Students

Scouts 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 Garden

Edison Intermediate School students Mahie Panjwani, Madeline Schlitzer and Kayla Yip ​are spreading the word about native plant gardens.
“Manicured lawns are this neat, pretty, very stereotypical suburban lawn and they don't leave a lot of room for native plants -that have been in this ecosystem for hundreds and hundreds of years. "
Newly discovered Brightwood Park History!

40 Year Old TV Interview with Noel Taylor Discovered

"A park in Westfield is being threatened.  Vandals break the picnic tables and leave behind rubbish.  Some local residents would like to change the character of the park completely.  But one local resident is trying to preserve it's natural beauty...."  - from the TV Clip, 1983
NOEL TAYLOR AND BRIGHTWOOD PARK

Volunteers Needed!

​
  • Help with posting  Friends of Brightwood Park activities on Social Media
  • Help with our pollinator and native plant gardens
I​f you are interested in helping with our programs, please email FriendsOfBrightwoodPark@gmail.com..

viewpoints

Daily Reflections on Nature

After the recent rainfall and the change of temperature, the leaves started to turn colorful.  Autumn is here!
-Chaun-Chu Chou 
​-more-

New Life and new purpose...Join FOBP for  love of nature and comaraderie!

We are coming up on our second year anniversary!  We have accomplished much in the past two years but have a long way to go to fulfill our mission of a restored and biodiverse nature park.
​-Denise Ricci
  -more-
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​​​
General Membership is Free and includes a quarterly newsletter
​Become a Member!