This Piliated Woodpecker picture was captured by Kevin Redden
Crested Flycatcher and Eastern Kingbird

Bring your Binoculars to Brightwood!

Brightwood Park is a great place to spot some interesting birds these days.  
No binoculars?  No problem!  Look down for more striking beauty.
White schizophyllaceae seen close to the area of the Swing Slope, ​flowering dewberry near the dam, yellow auriscalpiaceae on the right side of the trail near the Prospect Street entrance
Photos by Chuan-Chu Chou ​
thank you for attending!

Young Nature Artists Emerge at Plein Air
Art for Kids


The weather forecast threatened rain and indeed rain, more than a drizzle, came down during registration.  But that didn’t deter the kids and their parents from coming to the park to create art.  And when everyone was settled in under the tents the sun came out, remaining the rest of the day.  The stage was set  to allow kids to learn from the art teachers, concentrate on their work, share what they were doing with each other, and, in the end be happy and proud of their creations.   
Friends of Brightwood Park are gratified that once again we brought Plein Air – Art for Kids to the park.  We are grateful that two new teachers for the program, Alexandra Loop, last year’s winner of the adult art program, and Stacy Plummer, creator of many window paintings in downtown Westfield, fully engaged the kids.  The photos on this page tell the story.  
May 17th 2025

Brightwood Day 2025 - it's a wrap!

A wonderful crowd showed up to enjoy our fairy house hunt, yoga, forest bathing, birding, photography and meeting other nature-curious neighbors and and making new friends.

​A celebration of May by Four Celebrities

Photos by Chuan-Chu Chou 


​Greetings from the Turtles at Brightwood

2025 Sustaining Members Meeting

Friends of Brightwood Park came together over 5 years ago to nurture the natural treasure they had enjoyed for many years. The park needed so much help with invasive species; trash;  reforestation; and pond loop trail maintenance.  Since 2020, the Friends have worked hard to restore the park.  
The work continues, and we are excited to announce new members to our Board of Directors:  Brian Duggan, Cheryl Katz, Peter Kraus, and Sapeksm Madan.

Nature Detectives - Classes for Kids - 2024  Classes

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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
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
4-8 Year Olds 3:45 to 4:45 pm
For more information and sign ups, see
Westfield Recreation Page
Spring Class Schedule


May 15- Wild Art in the Park
Identify natural art in Brightwood Park. We will observe and create art and beauty in Brightwood Park. Using our senses we will discover how nature has created unique artistic expressions. Then using natural objects we will make our own works of art. Our art will be part of the Plein Air Art Walk on May 17, 2025.

June 12 - Dirt + Water = Mud
It is Hot! Let’s get wet! We are in the woods. Let’s play in the dirt or MAYBE we should make MUD! Join us in our mud kitchen. Join us on our mud raceway. Join us making mud nests. Let’s make mud potions. We are going to get wet and dirty so wear your grungy clothes.
Newsflash!

Beautiful Olive Green Sweatshirts for Adults Now with Embroidered Green Heron Logo

Our new dark olive green sweatshirt is made with Champion Powerblend fabric, offering the best of warmth and durability without the extra weight. 

Unlike the previous sweatshirts with a printed logo, the logo in this one is embroidered.

New Sweatshirts, Tees & Hats ​for kids

Our new forest green children’s sweatshirt features our logo printed front and center on a soft, comfortable poly/cotton blend ​

Brightwood Hats Now  Available Downtown at the Town Bookstore!

If you need a cute, colorful gift, or pick-me-up for yourself, pop into the Town Bookstore in downtown Westfield to see the full color assortment of our signature hats.  The price is the same as on our website, but of course no shipping and no waiting.
www.townbookstore.com

Native Planting Project

The Pollinator Garden in the parking lot is bigger and better this year.  Thanks to hard work by volunteer Bianca Wright and many others, this garden has been extended along the length of the parking lot and many new plants have been added.  

The goal is to introduce native plants to increase the biodiversity of the flora in Brightwood, and by extension, the biodiversity of the bugs, butterflies and fauna that are characteristic of a healthy ecosystem.

Look for these demonstration gardens and plantings when you visit Brightwood Park.

Photos by Denise Ricci and Chuan-Chu Chou

​The Brightwood Park Bird Hats are Everywhere!  

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Bird spotting in the City!
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Bird Hats in Beloit, Wisconsin!! Upal, Tracy, Joy and Jordy
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The Bird Hat has been spotted in Germany!
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Oliver, sporting his Orange Bird Hat.
Thanks for your support!!  And send us your pictures!

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!
History Tours of Brightwood​

 2025 Dates
Stay Tuned for Future History Walk Dates

10 AM 
Register Here

Tour hours are 10:00am to 11:45am. We will meet at the Parking Lot for Brightwood Park. If rain is predicted and the scheduled tour is cancelled, rain dates will be the next day Sunday at 1:00pm to 2:45pm.
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...
​the Gambrell Family

Brightwood Park Restoration Report: Assessment & Guidance
​Rutgers University Extension

A fascinating report from Fall 2023 is now available.

Volunteer Spotlight:  Bianca Wright

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Bianca Wright, Landscape Architect
Friends of Brightwood Park is a grass roots volunteer organization on a mission to restore the park and to educate about the environmental benefits of biodiversity.  The work we do would not be possible but for the generous contributions of time and talents by our many volunteers. In appreciation, we offer a spotlight on volunteers in the park.  This edition:  Bianca Wright.
Bianca Wright has volunteered her time and talents to restore Brightwood Park for the past 4 years.  A landscape architect, she has shared her expertise and knowledge on a variety of issues in the park.  She has guided FOBP on the repopulation of native plants in the park, planned and executed our pollinator gardens, researched erosion solutions, and worked with Rutgers extension on protection of saplings and other high value plants.  She has tirelessly weeded, seeded, and watered.  Significantly, she has led environmental tours and taught native plant gardening to promote a healthy environment both in and outside of the park's borders.  With heartfelt thanks, we salute Bianca's dedication to Westfield's nature preserve and beyond.
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!

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 [email protected]..
2024 Review & 2025 Preview
The 2025 Annual Meeting will be held January 25 for Sustaining Members - look here for the updates from that meeting!