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

Preserving Brightwood Park

The ecosystem in the park is not healthy.  It is threatened from
  • out-of-control growth of invasive species, which crowd out natives, and even bring down trees
  • the fragile state of native species, aggravatedby deer browsing 
  • erosion of the trails
  • and excessive nutrients in the lake and wetlands mostly from fertilizer use in the surrounding community

Friends of Brightwood Park is working in all these areas to strengthen and preserve the park.
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The Problem with Invasive Species
Restoring Native Plants
The Aquatic Ecosystem & Wetlands

2023 Outlook: The Plant Project

Why Does Brightwood Park Need Restoration Efforts?

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Just three years ago, Brightwood Park’s forest was facing significant challenges.  Where old growth trees once stood, wisteria vines carpeted the ground and snaked around fallen tree trunks. Sections of blue sky stretched where there had once been leafy canopy.  Eight foot tall knotweed spread over acres and obliterated sunlight choking out understory native shrubs and plants.  Over the past three years, volunteers with the Westfield Parks Invasive Plants strike force have diligently retaken the forest from these and other invasive plants.  

With the diminished threat from non-native invasive plants, there has been a resurgence of native plants including jack-in-the pulpits, pokeweed, white snakeroot, burnweed, dogbane, milkweed, and Wild Sarsaparilla in the park.  Black-eyed Susan and other pollinator plants have popped up from seeds spread though other FOBP initiatives.  

While this is a good sign, a key indicator of a healthy forest is a mix of saplings and trees of different sizes and age. Eagle Scout Adrian Gripp’s sapling survey showed that, throughout the forest, there was a dearth of saplings to ensure continued forest vitality.  

Another indicator of a healthy forest is a biodiverse habitat.  Biodiversity requires a variety of habitats and food.  Old growth trees can provide shade and cover for prey animals like the red-tailed hawks that sometimes visit Brightwood.  Downed logs and brush provide shelter for smaller rodents who need cavities and burrows.  Grassy meadows allow animals to forage and pollinators to find flowers.

With these indicators in mind and with town approval, FOBP has implemented a phase of forest restoration.

​

“The planting of a tree, especially one of the long-living hardwood trees, is a gift which you can make to posterity at almost no cost with almost no trouble, and if the tree takes root it will far outlive the visible effect of any of your other actions, good or evil.” 
​-
George Orwell

Have you noticed some recent changes in Brightwood Park?  Volunteers with the Friends of Brightwood Park (FOBP) have just planted 150 trees and shrubs in restoration efforts.  With thanks to the Westfield Recreation Commission for sanctioning this work, FOBP has undertaken this effort to ensure the future health of the forest and eco-system.   
​
The Planting Project

Invasive Species Abatement

Invasive species are usually plants and animals that have  been introduced into environments where they had never been before.
Some were accidental introductions; others were deliberate and thought to be useful additions to farmland or of horticultural interest. 

The problem with invasive species is that their new environment usually doesn’t have the natural enemies that exist in the environments from which they originate.

​Without diseases, predators or foragers, these species tend to dominate the new situation to the detriment of  native plants, animals and environment generally.


More on invasive species in Brightwood Park
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Park Clean-Up Events

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The Friends of Brightwood held a number of volunteer clean up days at Brightwood during the fall.  


Take a look at the the energy and progress!

Nature Trail Development 

Vickie Williams has found another interesting publication, Nature Trail Development on Small Acreages published  by University of Arkansas.  At page 8 there is a table of recommended design standards for different types of trails.  Interestingly, the recommended distance for a mountain bike trail is 5-20 miles (more than 2 times the length JORBA proposes).

The publication has other interesting discussion of trails’ impact on vegetation and habitat. 

Rahway River Association and Previous Restoration Efforts​

At one time, Brightwood Park was the subject of serious nature study with a publication by Noel Taylor in 1981 that described the natural history, geology and ecology of the site. The booklet described all the species of fauna and flora that lived at Brightwood Park at the time.    

In one of the most ambitious restoration effort thus far, the RRA retained the services of Ecological Solutions, LLC to develop a habitat restoration plan for Brightwood Park. Thanks to a generous grant by Conservation Resources, Inc., the RRA is planned to remove invasive plants, re-introduce native vegetation en masse, reconnect water bodies to reduce eutrophication and launch a public education initiative on site with local volunteers.  Unfortunately, this plan was not acted upon.


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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