Art of Brightwood Park: Ricardo Roig - great to see so many!

We enjoyed meeting so many Friends of Brightwood Park to celebrate the natural beauty and restoration work of Brightwood Park through the art of local artist, Ricardo Roig. 

Ricardo has recreated the photos of Brightwood Park by Chuan-Chu Chou, an ever present observer of the animals and beauty of  Brightwood Park, sharing his beautiful photos and descriptions throughout this site and on his blog.
​
Ricardo's new Art of Brightwood Park will be available for purchase to benefit the Friends of Brightwood Park and their restoration efforts. Many thanks to Chuan-Chu and Ricardo for their generous support of our community efforts.
To learn more about Ricardo, see this recent interview​.

Ricky Roig Collaboration with Chuan-Chu Chou and Friends of Brightwood Park
Thank you to Kevin Redden and Lloyd Marks for the photos!

Roig Collection at the Evalyn Dunn Gallery Annex
331 West Broad Street
Westfield, NJ 07090

Volunteers Needed for a Fun Yoga Class

We are looking for volunteers to help us with a fun movement and yoga class for 3-8 year olds. We will be breaking in to three groups with an instructor and 2 volunteers for each group of 10 children.
If you are able to help out for 90 minutes that morning please let me know. Hope you can join us.
Leslie 
908 347-9149​

Calling All Nature Detectives!

Join Friends of Brightwood Park and The Westfield Recreation Department for a kids fall class to learn about  the 🦋BUTTERFLY LIFE CYCLE 🦋

This Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022

Ages 2-3~10:00-10:45 am 
Ages 4-5 ~ 2:00-2:45 pm 
Ages 6-8 ~ 3:30-4:30 pm 
Fee: $10 per child

Register on line https://secure.rec1.com/NJ/westfield-nj/catalog/group 
#friendsofbrightwoodpark #westfieldrecreation #westfieldnj #westfieldnjmoms #unioncountynj #unioncountymoms #kidsclasses #kidsclassesnj #butterflylifecycle ​

https://secure.rec1.com/NJ/westfield-nj/catalog/group/6072/175389/2e8f54be6ae76f4e972519d0da09743b

A warm July day at Brightwood

Images by Chuan-Chu Chou  - check out his almost daily blog!

HAPPENINGS:   ​Summer Programs at Brightwood!

Recent rainfalls brought everything back to life.
​-Chuan-Chu Chou is back in the park

  make your own trap
Help Stop the Spotted Lantern Fly! 
Spotted Lantern Fly​
Learn about this newly arrived destructive fly that attacks trees and has no natural predators. 
 
How to spot those nasty Spotted Lantern Flies:
Lanternfly egg mass hunt and  how to make circle traps to catch adult lanternflies that will typically hatch in July.

More Information: Spotted Lantern Fly
CHECKOUT
Summer Programs for Families & Kids!
FOBP will offer programs for children ages 2 through 8 years old through the Westfield Recreation Department the 3rd Thursday of the month, weather permitting, as noted in the calendar below. 

Class  Schedule:
10-10:45 AM 2- 3 year olds with adult
11-11:45 AM 4 -5 year olds 
3:30-4:30 PM 6 - 8 year olds


More Details and Registration for classes at https://secure.rec1.com/NJ/westfield-nj/catalog.

October 29, 2022 Halloween Trunk (Tree Trunk, that Is)
November 17, 2022   Migrate, Hibernate, Stay - BP Birds and Animals
December 15, 2022, Winter/Seasons - Weather & Snow
noted.....

History 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.  Learn MORE.

mark your calendar!   
​July 16th, September 17th, October 15th, November 19th

History Tour of Brightwood​

Led by FOBP's own historian, Rob Lombard

Join Rob for a tour of Brightwood Park highlighting the history of the AfricanAmerican community that lived in what is now our beautiful nature preserve!
One hour walking tour.

Note:  We will be walking off trail at times.   Wear sturdy shoes.    Protect yourself from insects and poison ivy with long pants.

" Before It Became a Park, It Was A Neighborhood" 

Fee:  $5 per family donated that day to “Friends of Brightwood Park” .

The History Tour is offered through the Westfield Recreation Department.  Please sign up HERE

If you have trouble registering, contact us at FriendsOfBrightwoodPark@gmail.com
​

Hats! Tees!  Lawn signs!

Shop Brightwood
Back by popular demand!

​Beautiful hats and Tee Shirts - all emblazoned with our Green Heron logo - are  available for purchase. 

​ Send your orders ASAP!
See our new Brightwood Shop
 Picture
Hats are great for touring Parakeets!

You Can Make a Difference

Phil and JPL recommend this presentation on biodiversity and how you can make a difference in your own lawn.
Don't Miss Doug Tallamy's Presentation on Biodiversity and replacing Invasive Species
See a spotted Lantern Fly?  Squash it!!

​Alert:  Spotted Lantern Flies all already in Brightwood.  If you see one, kill it and report it to the State.

Science Friday podcast about the Lantern Fly
Help Stop the Spread of the Invasive Lantern Fly!
More Information

HISTORY

Brightwood Park was acquired by the town in the 1960's with Green Acres grants. Later, in the 1980's, Green Acres funding was used to dredge the pond and develop a picnic area and path system.   more

INVASIVE SPECIES

Browsing deer destroy native plants and allow invasive species to expand rapidly.  This "benign neglect" leads to a loss of biodiversity and habitat for native plants and animals.  The park is at a critical stage now.  more

VISIT BRIGHTWOOD PARK

Brightwood Park is on Prospect Street - just up the road from Franklin Elementary School.

Car and Bike parking are both available.

Preserve a Quiet Walk in the Park

The Friends of Brightwood Park Organization is working hard to preserve the park, and make it a lovely and interesting and peaceful destination for all.

See more information about the park ecology  

Make a Donation to Support the Work of the Friends of Brightwood Park