Brightwood Park Ecology

Brightwood Park has a number of different habitats which provide for a wide variety of bird, fauna and flora life.  These include:
  • 5 acre man-made pond
  • hardwood swamp
  • hardwood forest
  • grassy field
  • vernal ponds
  • shrub/scrub habitat
There are a number of studies that provide insight into these inter-connected ecosystems.

Noel Taylor 

In 1981, shortly after the two ponds were created, Noel Taylor, a biology teacher at Westfield High School, published a detailed book about the ecology at Brightwood Park.   The full text is available HERE.  He begins with this description of Brightwood Park:
A quiet sanctuary for all lovers of nature where one can relax and listen to the sounds of nature, enjoy its beauty or begin to understand the lesson that man depends on wildlife for survival. 
The book described the geology and early history of the park, delinenated the forest areas from the disturbed areas, described the remains of homesites and outlined the ecology of the park in detail.  

The book also provides a trail guide to the trees, vines, ferns and flora in the park, identifying over 350 species of plants and providing a trail guide to the birds and other fauna.

It includes a discussion of the ecology of the pond, which was new at the time, and the ecology of the undisturbed forested areas. 

He concludes with this warning: 
The worst thing that can happen - will happen in the 1980s - is not the energy depletion, economic collapse, limited nuclear war, or conquest by a totalitarian government.  As terrible as these catastrophes would be for us, they can be repaired within a few generations.  The one process ongoing in the 1980s that will take millions of years to correct is loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats.  This is the folly our descendants are least likely to forgive us.  - O.E. Wilson, Harvard Magazine, January-February 1980

Partnership with the Rahway River Association

In 2008, Michael Van Clef authored the 2008 Brightwood Park Stewardship Plan prepared for the town and the Rahway River Watershed Association.  
​ From the summary:
  • Brightwood Park is a natural oasis in a highly developed portion of New Jersey. The primary habitat conservation target is mature forest (upland and wetland), which supports multiple common species of our flora and fauna. All of the conservation targets are under immediate threat from overabundant white-tailed deer and invasive species.
  • White-tailed deer are a very significant problem at Brightwood Park and their removal of much of the native forest understory facilitates invasive species infestations. Numerous native trees, shrubs and herbs show severe deer browse damage (deer preferentially eat native species relative to invasive species). Deer browsing is eliminating growth of new trees -- if left unchecked, forest cover will ultimately be eliminated at the Park.
  • The extent of invasive species infestation at Brightwood Park is significant. A total of 28 non-native species were mapped with a combined infestation area of 23 acres (55% of the Park).  The size of this infestation requires a strategic vision coupled with a continuing allocation of resources.
  • The two lakes at Brightwood Park require restoration to become more suitable for aquatic plants and wildlife. The smaller pond is heavily silted and filling in with vegetation. This pond will cease to exist without restoration efforts. The main Lake has heavy algal blooms that foul the water and make it an unpleasant site for park visitors and uninhabitable for many plants and animals.
​
That report laid out a blueprint of how to restore the park’s health. Unfortunately, due to the 2008 financial crisis, the town did not implement the recommended action plan. FOBP has been using that Plan as a blueprint for ecological restoration of the park.

A Powerpoint presentation describing this study is available for download HERE
Ecological Mapping - Entire Park

2021 - Ecology Assessments

Michael Van Clef, Ph.D,  of Ecological Solutions, LLC, returns

In the  summer of 2021, Van Clef returned to the park to re-evaluate the ecological conditions of the park with an eye to its current restoration potential and to comment on the potential plan for mountain bike use. The good news was Van Clef believes that the park can still be rehabilitated.

With respect to additional trails in the park, Van Clef wrote:
​
It is recommended that any new trails (regardless of use) not be placed within the two high-quality areas [See map below] to minimize disturbance/destruction of native plant communities and minimize the spread of invasive species such as Japanese Stiltgrass. Additionally, any new trails within the Park should avoid wetlands and stream crossings as these areas are sensitive to disturbance that would degrade wetland and stream health. The publicly available NJDEP GIS wetlands layer is only approximate (not determined through a formal wetlands delineation) - for example, there is a large unmapped wetland area (potentially a vernal pool) located just south of a mapped wetland patch along the eastern boundary of the Park. 4
Van Clef shaded the high-quality areas in green stripes on a NJDEP GIS map. He specifically noted that the wetlands depicted on that map were only approximate and not a formal delineation. He recommended that the town contact the NJDEP with respect to the need for a permit if new trails are to be developed.

Full Report

Van Clef commented that the intensity of trail use dictates the trail maintenance required. Pedestrian use requires little trail maintenance. With respect to Mountain Bike use, he recommends:
  •   Minimize dual use (pedestrian/bike) to the extent possible – biking can reduce the quality of experience for hikers, dog walkers and nature enthusiasts
  • Minimize new trail creation to the extent possible – the creation of trails inevitably reduces natural habitat. For example, utilize existing gravel road that traverses the southern portion of Park as opposed to creating new trails
  •  Avoid creating or utilizing existing trails with steep slopes to reduce erosion
  • Avoid creating or utilizing existing trails with poor drainage to reduce rutting
  • Avoid stream crossings without bridges to reduce rutting and impacting
    stream banks
  • Monitor regularly and often for unofficial trail creation and modifications
    and remove as they occur. Several already exist at the Park and more might be expected if the Park is known for bike trails.6
 Emile DeVito, Ph.D., Manager of Science and Stewardship, New Jersey Conservation Foundation and Member of Board of Directors of the Rahway River Watershed Association

​Like Van Clef, Devito also found gem areas of the park that should be preserved. In particular, pristine forest areas have old soil that has not yet been infiltrated by invasive plants. Its carbon content and density are protective – provided it is not disturbed by land use.

DeVito recommends that active recreation be limited in the park to previously disturbed areas where invasive plants are already present. However, DeVito also noted that areas undergoing ecological restoration should not be used for active recreation. Such areas should be off limits except for very limited passive recreation on trails.

DeVito also suggested that streams only be crossed by NJDEP permitted bridges.
​Finally, he noted that the town should consider the small overall area of the park as it considers further trail development.
FOBP looks forward to a “bright” future collaborating with the town to develop a sustainable nature park.