Friends of Brightwood Park
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  • Home
  • PRESERVE & RESTORE
    • Ecology >
      • RutgersSiteVisit
      • Ponds
      • Reforestation
    • Invasive Species
    • NativePlants
    • Trails Maintenance
    • Clean Ups
    • ScoutProjects
    • noelTaylor
  • ENJOY
    • Calendar
    • Photos
    • GreenHerons
    • Birding
    • Trail Maps
    • coyotes
  • B W Kids
    • Nature Detectives - the latest news
  • History
    • neighborhood
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Chuan-Chu Chou Blog
    • Perspectives on the Park
    • MemberInfo >
      • archive
    • presidentReport-Jan-21
    • Volunteer Spotlight
    • newsletters
    • PastEvents >
      • Halloween-24
      • brightwoodDay-24
      • Halloween-23
      • halloween-22
      • PleinAirPainting
      • brightwoodDay-23
  • Shop
  • JOIN
  • JPL blog

Friends of Brightwood Past Events

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it's back!

Dr. Seuss Day
​Read Across America

Friends of Brightwood Park and community families celebrated Read Across America Day with a storywalk in our beautiful Brightwood Park. Each page of the Dr. Seuss book, The Lorax, was displayed along the Brightwood Park trail for a guided story time and related craft activity. This unique outdoor stroll was a crowd pleaser for all ages this year with 40 families registered and dozens of children enjoying the outdoors and an environmental lesson from The Lorax. Families were greeted by FOBP volunteers and received hats and Dr. Seuss bookmarks and stickers. Multiple reading sessions were scheduled throughout the day, led by teacher volunteers of the FOBP education committee. The Storywalk will remain in place all week for families to enjoy independently. 
$10 per Family
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Brightwood Park Day - thanks for coming!

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Many people came by the park to sample
​all that Brightwood Park has to offer!
BRIGHTWOOD DAY PICS
  • Bird Walk, Children's Programs, Free Trees!, Forest Bathing!, Yoga in the Park, Native Plant Walks & Planting in the Park, History Tours
  • Fairy House Scavenger Hunt!
  • Meet the Westfield Green Team

Plein Air Painting was a colorful Day! 

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In Partnership with the Westfield Art Association and the Westfield Recreation Department
Fourth Annual Plein Air/ Art in the Park was held May 18, 2024 
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Once again, the kids’ program was led by the much loved experienced former Westfield elementary school 
Teacher Donna Stein.

THANK YOU!​
Gratitude and praise is extended to former Westfield teacher Donna Stein for developing and teaching the program!

Heavy lifting was done by FOBP board members and volunteers.  They include  Leslie, Rob, Karrie,  Denise , Trudy, Cheryl, Stella, Judy, Lisa, Ellen, Stan, Bobby,  & Craig, and the whole Board oversaw the event. Janice Siegel  coordinated it all. 


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Volunteer to Help Out
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 4TH
More Infomation & Catalog

The 2023 batch of Green Heron Chicks have Hatched and are thriving!

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

​More on Green Herons at Brightwood Park



​Congratulations to Greg O'Neill on his Retirement!

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Congratulations to Greg O’Neill, Westfield Director of Public Works, on his retirement!  We appreciate all that he, and the Public Works employees, have done to help restore Brightwood Park. Best wishes to Greg from all of us.  
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Congratulations to Craig Gibson on his promotion!

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and...thank you to the
Westfield DPW  "Paul Bunyan"  Team
​for clearing the downed tree!
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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 May.
March 13 @7pm
Pollinator Conservation: Creating and Protecting Habitat for NJ’s Bees, Butterflies, and Biodiversity
Pollinators and other beneficial insects are experiencing drastic and widespread declines making pollinator conservation a national and New Jersey priority. However, we can all play a role in protecting pollinators and beneficial insects and the important ecological services they provide. Join the Xerces Society’s Kelly Gill to learn how you can best support pollinators in your NJ yard, garden, and local landscapes by planting native flowering plants, enhancing nesting and overwintering habitat, and reducing pesticide risk. Kelly will include case studies on pollinators included in our plant kits, focusing on pollinator needs throughout the seasons. 
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
Register at:
https://www.greatswamp.org/event/plants-for-pollinators-webinar-series/
Register
Basic Training for  Preservation 

Preservation Education & Skills

 The Friends of Brightwood Park have taken on the challenge of restoring the park to a healthy, stable, native woodlands.  We are all learning along the way!  Here are some of the programs - both online and key educational programs that we have worked with and have inspired us. Consider taking the challenge with us!

Rutgers Environmental Steward program

This program designed to introduce volunteers to important environmental issues affecting NJ. Stewards then give back to their own communities by helping to tackle local environmental problems. If you have a passion for the environment, a desire to learn and a willingness to volunteer, then this program is for you! The class starts on Tuesday, January 23rd and runs through mid-May from 5:30- 8pm. Classes are mostly online with a few in-person field sessions. For more information contact Michele Bakacs at [email protected].

Info
Duke Farms Classes Master Ecologist Class
The Master Ecologist certification course is an adult education series designed for environmental educators, land managers and stewards, private landowners, natural resource professionals, and community members with a passion for our natural environment. This 8-month course provides the foundations for understanding ecological processes and concepts, survey methods, and management techniques.  Starts Feb 7th
Register

Halloween Trail - 2023

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REGISTER HERE

3rd Annual
​Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Trail

​Witches, black cats, and ghosts, oh my!  
​What better place to haunt than a forest?  Brightwood Park will be decked out in spookiness on Saturday, October 28 in celebration of Halloween. Jack-O-Lanterns will light the (tree) trunk or treat path for this family friendly event.  ​
Date: Saturday, Oct. 28th, rain date is Sunday, Oct. 29th 
Time:  3 PM - 6 PM 

Four sessions:  3:30-4:00      4:00-4:30     4:30-5:00      5:00-5:30
​Registration is open! 
Sign up early as space is limited!


​The cost per family is $20.

There is a rain date of the next day - Sunday, October 29 - just in case!
If you can help out with this event, please sign up HERE - it's a lot of fun!
Jack-o-Lantern Trail 2023
jack-o-lantern trail 2022

photo contest - 2023


Earth Day Brightwood Park Clean-Up - 2023

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Thanks to the Brightwood Clean Up Day Crew!

We accumulated 12 large bags of trash plus a large blue drum and 3 patio umbrellas!

And THANK YOU to the Westfield Green Team for sponsoring the event.


Art in the Park - 2023

Plein Air Painting

Brightwood Park is a perfect place to create art.   

If Monet and Van Gogh were alive today they surely would agree. 

The 2nd Plein Air Painting event was another great day in the park.


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Donna Stein did a terrific job guiding the 12 young artists in their own pastel artwork, all perfect gifts for Mother’s Day!

Thank you to Al Barksy, from the Farmhouse Store, for judging!




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This is the first prize painting by Heda Matiejunas of Clark, New Jersey from yesterday’s Art-in-the-Park event at Brightwood Park. ​

​We were delighted to partner with the Westfield Recreation Department and the Westfield Art Association. 



First Annual Brightwood Day - 2023

Recap:   Brightwood Park Day - it was a terrific day for all ages 

On May 6, Friends of Brightwood, teamed up with the Westfield Green Team and the Westfield Recreation Department, to pull out all the stops so visitors could experience all that the park has to offer.


Thanks to Lloyd Marks and Chuan-Chu Chou for the photographs.
 THANKS to the Westfield Green team and the Westfield Library for all their contributions!
​Olivia H (FOWGT) and Karen K. led bird watching, Alice helped with forest bathing, Tegan (Student Aux) was on hand for story telling, Bianca and Phil (FOWGT) educated residents about natives vs. invasives, we had WGT and Student Auxiliary tables to focused on native plants, pollinators, Adopt-A-Drain and mosquito control with a Doug Tallamy's "Bucket of Doom".  Activities for kids included making paper pots for native seeds or signing up for the Pollinator Pathway (Alice, Victoria, Aubree, Eden, Anna and Hannah (all Student Aux), Mahie (Student Aux) and members from her troop had an incredible display about pollinators as part of their Girl Scout Silver award. Heather (FOWGT) educated residents about recycling.  Janette donated and built a rain barrel that will be used by the park near the pollinator garden. Also helping in various ways was Donna P. (FOWGT), Audrey, Walter, Hal and Lois.

Brightwood Day was also the informal "kickoff" of the Westfield Native Seed Library that is a collaboration between the Westfield Memorial Library and WGT.  Thanks for help from Katie, Audrey, Bianca and Lois on getting the message out, packing and labeling seeds and creating a Pollinator Pathway sign that will be permanently displayed in the library.   The formal kickoff is this Wednesday, May 10th @7:00 pm when Michele Bakacs, Rutgers Cooperative Extension will give a talk about native plants.   Registration is required.  
If you didn't get a chance to stop by, keep in mind that many of the walks and activities will be available this summer, including nature walks, bird walks, classes, history tours and discussions of invasive species and the importance of native plants. 

But, so far...the fairy house hunters will have to wait until next year.  

​Stop by any time to experience the transformation of Brightwood Park!
CHECKOUT: The TAP into Westfield Article about Brightwood Day

100 Year Old Visits the Park - 2023

100 year-old Nature Lover Visits the Park 

The refurbished trails got a test drive last Sunday when Angie Munson, a local resident from Sunrise Assisted Living in Westfield got a tour from her daughter, Trudy.

She was delighted to find two deer, a turtle, several squabbling geese and some ducks.

Her review:  
" This park looks better than ever!"  
and
​"How far are we going??" 
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Junteenth - 2023

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The trolley tours, which will run rain or shine, begin at the Westfield Community Center, 558 West Broad Street. Seats are limited and registration is required. Please register by June 12. The fee is $15 for adults and $5 for children (recommended for third graders and up).  Since a section of Palsted Avenue in front of the Community Center will be closed, please park on a neighboring street (following all parking signs) and walk to catch the trolley.

Following the trolley tours, MLK Westfield invites all to join in the Juneteenth street party, from 12:00 - 4:00 PM at the Westfield Community Center, as we celebrate freedom, work towards an inclusive community, and reflect on where we are today. There will be a DJ, line dance lessons, games, face painting, food trucks, a reading of the 1865 decree finally enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, and a few words by The Rev. Jeremy Jinkins of The Presbyterian Church in Westfield. Visitors will be able to  view a portion of the MLK pop-up museum in the Community Room.  

Juneteenth is one of the longest-running celebrations of the end of slavery in the United States, though its place in popular culture was obscured by segregationist policies during the 20th century. In the last few years, interest in Juneteenth surged as a way to celebrate the achievements of African Americans and recognize their foundational role in the nation’s history from the arrival of the first slave ship from Africa in America in 1619, up to the present day.
This Juneteenth Celebration is sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners and the history tours specifically are made possible in part by a 2023 HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant.

Juneteenth Celebration - Ride the Trolley to Brightwood Park!

June 17th noon to 4 PM

For the third consecutive year, The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Westfield is celebrating  Juneteenth with an African American History Trolley Tour through Westfield, followed by an afternoon street party celebration at the Westfield Community Center. The event will be on Saturday, June 17, and this year’s theme is Freedom-Inclusion-Community.
Start your day by experiencing the African American History Trolley Tour at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. This 90-minute guided tour is narrated by knowledgeable tour guides from the African American History Project. The trolley will visit sites that anchor 300 years of African American history in town, including the Burial Grounds of The Presbyterian Church in Westfield, Fairview Cemetery, Brightwood Park, and Westfield’s Black Professional Zone, including the homes of Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, and Paul Robeson.
REGISTER

Classes for Kids

Celebrating Dr. Suess and Read Across America with 
The Lorax

Children and parents joined together with Friends of Brightwood Park volunteers  on March 2nd  to participate in The Lorax Storywalk in Brightwood Park. The Westfield Recreation Department and FOBP created this fun activity for two to eight year olds and their families.

If you missed the introductory class you can enjoy the Storywalk on your own.
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Just one small seed, or one small child, can make a difference….come and find out how we can make a difference in our world. Walk through our very own forest and read The Lorax with us. Let’s celebrate reading, nature and Dr. Seuss in Brightwood Park.
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Rutgers Community Steward Program - 2023

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RUTGERS Environmental Steward Program

The program brings in lots of guest speakers from Rutgers, government, and other sectors who are experts in their fields - it's highly recommended from FOBP members and friends who have completed the program.

For more information go to: 

https://envirostewards.rutgers.edu/



Native Plant Sale - 2023

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2023 NATIVE PLANT SALE is on!!
...start planning your piece of the network of yards...
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 .

Next Webinar:
Evening Briefing: Wasps – The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect
Date: February 21 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Zoom Webinar

in partnership with the Westfield Green Team
MORE INFORMATION


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Duke Farms Master Ecology Program

This program is highly recommended by members of the Green Team, who took the course last year.
The Master Ecologist certification course is an adult education series designed for environmental educators, land managers and stewards, private landowners, natural resource professionals, and community members with a passion for our natural environment.
Starts Feb 2
MORE INFORMATION

Forest Bathing Program - 2022

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NEW!
An Immersive Experience in the Brightwood Forest

Forest Bathing - November 13th

Forest Bathing is a sensory experience which is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku which translates to mean “ taking in the forest atmosphere .”  

​When we Forest Bath, we walk slowly in the woods with the intention to commune with the trees, the birds and the landscape that surrounds us. We stop along the way and are given opportunities to connect more deeply with nature, ourselves and each other. ​
The event will start at 11:00 am.  There is nothing that participants need to bring except a willingness to participate. Dress comfortably, with shoes for trail walking, to be outside for an hour or a little longer if we run a bit over and people linger...

REGISTER HERE

Halloween - 2022

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See More Pictures!

A Wonderful Goblin-filled Day at the Park

The trails at Brightwood Park were lit with over 65 carved jack-o-lanterns as the park welcomed over 400 people for the Trunk or Treat party at the park.

THANK YOU to all the participants, volunteers and new members!

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Nature Classes - 2022

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Live Greener Fair -2022

  meet us at the
Live Greener Fair! 

Northside Train Station, Westfield
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April 2022 - Native Plant Information and Sale

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The 2022 “Plants for Pollinators” Online Sale begins, running from April 1 – April 22. GSWA and Community Partners will be offering over 22,000 native perennial and grass deep plugs  - 28 species - at attractively prices. Plus six Garden Kits to suit a variety of typical garden conditions. The CATALOG IS at greatswamp.org/native-plant-sale/plant-catalog. All products show “Out of Stock” (not orderable) during this preview period. Order Entry will open April 1st and we encourage you to decide early and order as soon as you can as quantities are limited and last year's stock sold out quickly. Contact [email protected] to be get on the email list.

​
URL/Signup Link: https://www.greatswamp.org/event/landscaping-for-a-healthy-environment/
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Join Hazel England, GSWA Director, on Zoom for a view of the native plants  available at our 2nd annual online Native Pollinator Plant Sale. Choose from 28 individual species to enhance your own garden. To simplify garden design and provide some additional savings, 20 of the species are also sold in 6 different garden kits of 5 species each. Each kit is designed for specific garden sizes and conditions.

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Februray 22, 2022

Title: Native Pollinators, What's the Buzz?
Date/Time: Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 7 p.m. 
Cost: Free. Zoom link with Sign up

Your yard, whatever the size, can provide essential habitat for valuable pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. Join GSWA for this free, one-hour webinar as we take a closer look at our native pollinators and the important roles they play in our gardens and in supporting healthy ecosystems.  More than 75% of all flowering plants need pollinators to reproduce – and your garden veggies need their help too!  Native pollinators have fascinating life histories, so knowing about gardening for pollinators from the insects’ perspective will enable you to truly welcome them to your yard. Our host, an all-round cool bug guy, Dr. Stephen Mason Ph.D. is an entomologist and faculty at Immaculata University, and a research associate at Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. He will shed some light on insect life histories to make your yard a hive of activity this summer.  Registration is required for this free Zoom webinar. You will receive your Zoom link prior to the program. This is the second of GSWA’s free, three-part native pollinator plant webinar series in preparation of our Native Plants for Pollinators Sale taking place online April 1-22.
 
Title: Landscaping for a Healthy Environment – Jersey-Friendly Yards
Date/Time: Tuesday, January 25, 2022, 7 p.m. 
Cost: Free. Zoom link with Sign up

We believe that by helping you to have a healthy yard, we all are taking one more step towards a healthier environment. During this webinar you will learn how building a Jersey-Friendly Yard creates a healthy foundation of soil, conserves water, attracts and supports wildlife, and adds beauty and interest to your home landscape. Join GSWA and Becky Laboy – from the Ocean County Soil Conservation District and the Jersey-Friendly Yards initiative – for helpful information on how to put these ideas into practice to create a “Jersey-Friendly Yard”. Becky will also discuss great ways to prepare for creating new native beds this spring. 
Becky Laboy of Jersey Friendly Yards will describe how to landscape for a healthy environment and use the great capabilities of the Jersey Friendly Yards website to make it easy and successful-- whether you are a complete beginner or are pretty advanced.

Mark Your Calendar:
  • Webinar #3: Planting for Pollinators - The Store is Open! What’s on offer and why on Tuesday, April 1, 12-1 PM
  • GSWA Native Plant Pollinator Sale: April 1-22 (order online)


Our GSWA and partners Plants for Pollinators Sale will offer over 22,000 native perennial and grass deep plugs that are attractively priced and available single species or in carefully curated kits for different typical garden conditions.  We’ve added tons of simple guidance to ensure planting success for a delightfully alive pollinator garden that will thrive with minimal care. Our own Hazel England will talk about why native plants, how planting for pollinators benefits the watershed and biodiversity locally and dig deep on the details of which species the twenty-eight species offered for sale attract, and their characteristics and appearance. Contact[email protected]

The GSWA Native Plant Sale will offer a full selection of attractively priced native perennials and grasses with simple guidance for planting delightfully alive pollinator gardens that will thrive with minimal care. Contact [email protected] to request ongoing Native Plants Sale email updates and reminders.
 
URL/Signup Link: https://www.greatswamp.org/event/landscaping-for-a-healthy-environment/
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A healthier yard is a great New Year’s resolution!


Junteenth -2021

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IN WESTFIELD

TROLLEY TOUR TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH

In celebration of Juneteenth, the MLK Association of Westfield is presenting a trolley tour of notable sites of African American History in town.

June 19th 2021

Pre-registration is required for the tours which begin at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Westfield. 

Register at MLKWestfield.org. 
The fee is $10.  Rain or Shine. 

​Contact [email protected] for any questions.



WESTFIELD, NJ
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Association of Westfield plans to celebrate Juneteenth with a special African American history trolley ride through Westfield.   Juneteenth is the 19TH day in June, which marks the date in 1865,  when word finally reached the enslaved people of Texas that the slavery was over, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The trolley ride, with live narration, will stop at sites that anchor the three hundred years of African American history in the town.   The tour is the highlight of research, writing  and planning, begun by the African American History Committee, which was  part of the Westfield 300 celebration in 2020.  
 The trolley tour will include among other sites, the Burial Grounds of the Presbyterian Church, Fairview Cemetery, Westfield’s  Black professional zone, Brightwood Park  and sites where   Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes,  and Paul Robeson once lived.

The tour riders will board the trolley at the Presbyterian Church  (140 Mountain Avenue), which has generously offered  their parking lot for the event.    Spaces for the tour are limited and registration is required.   There is a $10 registration fee.  Proceeds will be used to further the MLK Association’s work, specifically its African American History Project.  There are three time slots on June 19, at  10 a.m., noon and 2pm.  

The tour is expected to take 90 minutes or a bit more and will be conducted rain or shine.  

​
 Please register at www.MLKWestfield.org. For further questions please email: [email protected]
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Spooky, Woodsy Halloween Fun - October 2021
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Join Friends of Brightwood Park for a fun forest Halloween event!
Come in costume.
  • Walk the trail through Brightwood Park and enjoy the Jack O Lanterns scattered through the woods.
  • Each family can search for the Halloween decorations amongst the Jack  O Lanterns, a Halloween scavenger hunt.
  • Decorate bags at the picnic tables, then...
  • Trunk n Treat along the trail, that is tree trunks.​
$15 donation per family at sign in.

Nature Classes
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  • ​November 18th:  Blow Wind Blow!  Make your Own Wind Chimes
  • December 9th:  Let it Snow:  Make paper Snowflakes and a Pine Cone Garland
​Source: Exploring Nature: Activity Book for Kids by Kim Andrews

Preservation/Restoration Events


info session
Spotted Lantern Fly

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EVENTS at Brightwood Park in 2021

Nature and Educational Programs

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Girl Scout Birthday Party

 May 14 
Friends of Brightwood Park hosted a Girl Scout Birthday Celebration at Brightwood. 
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co-sponsored with Westfield Girl Scouts

 Plein Air Painting in the Park 2021

Saturday May 1, 12:30-4 PM 
Artists brought  easels, brushes and paints, and set up in Brightwood Park. and enjoyed some scenic painting time with fellow artists.  Prizes were awarded!  Thanks to Jackie Civins of Evelyn Dunn Gallery for judging. 
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co-sponsored with Westfield Art Association
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Excerpts from Facebook Comments:

“Had a great time painting at Brightwood Park PaintOut very serene little park.  Thanks the event organizers and volunteers who were absolutely amazing and super friendly. ” 

William Martin, Glen Gardner

“So much fun at my first PleinAir Event at  Brightwood Park PaintOut. It was nice to meet several members of the group. And a big congratulations to Heda who took 1st place and William who took 2nd.  

Yes there really was a fire hydrant in the woods but I used my artistic license and made it red instead of the yellow it really was.  Lol I forgot to take a pic of my subject 🙃.” Jacquelyn Reid, Sussex County

“I went to the Brightwood Park in Westfield. I saw some of my friends that I haven’t saw seems the virus happened .Yesterday we talk even a little bit and feels so good. The park is so beautiful and has a very natural look , feeling so well to breath the out door breeze there. My Painting got the 3rd price award. Thanks to the Brightwood Park and the Westfield Art Association arrange this event.” Jocelyn Wong, Cherry Hill

Thank you to all of you who helped with our first Paint Out event.  Thank you to Paul Federico of the Westfield Art Association who graciously partnered with us!

The first place winner, Heda Matiejunas of Clark, a member of the Westfield Art Association, has graciously offered to donate her prize-winning painting to us to hang in our “headquarters” or to auction as a fund raiser.  She said “Today was fun.  I hope it is the beginning of a new tradition for Plein Air painting.” 

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Yoga in the Park


Nature Classes for Kids

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The Friends of Brightwood Park, in partnership with the Westfield Recreation Department, had their first nature class in the park for 2 to 5 year olds.  More events are in the works!

Location

Brightwood Park is on the North end of Prospect Street.  Go past Franklin School and look for the entrance on the left.

What Our Members Are Saying

"I love the work you are doing at Brightwood.  Your efforts have shone a light on the essential elements of the park that we all cherish: its natural beauty and tranquility."

"I have a deep fondness for Brightwood park and would like to see it restored, remain natural and continue to be a site of passive recreation."

"I loved growing up in Brightwood Park !"


"I found Brightwood a few years ago and it's a great place to find wildlife, fish, and enjoy nature. Nice and quiet; good place to un wind and relax. Love it!!!"

​"As a resident for almost thirty years in the Brightwood area of Westfield, I am thrilled to see what is happening to improve and preserve Brightwood park for today and future generations. "


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