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Fall 2003 Edition
A Wonder of Fair Lawn: Parks and Recreation Programs
It's really a wonder when you add up all the recreational facilities and activities in Fair Lawn. There are so many, it's a bit hard to sort them out.
A local realtor, Teri Ingala, told Fair Lawn News that many people choose to move to Fair Lawn because of all its recreational programs. She said "When Fair Lawn opened up Walsh Pool to residents of other towns, many people learned about all that Fair Lawn has to offer. Fair Lawn's recreational programs bring people together and that fosters a strong sense of community.
Like every other community, there are programs and facilities associated with the public schools. But on top of those, the Fair Lawn's Recreation and Parks Department coordinates scores of programs including concerts, fitness programs, roller hockey league, tennis lessons, basketball camp, gymnastics programs, softball leagues, street hockey, and a table tennis club.
The borough maintains the 12 parks, 23 playgrounds, 18 softball/baseball fields, 10 tennis courts (including 3 with lights), 10 basketball courts, 3 walkways, 2 swimming lakes/pools, 2 handball courts, soccer, football fields, and hockey rink. That doesn't even include the school facilities owned and maintained by the Board of Education and the Radburn Association.
Fair Lawn is also in the middle of a wonderful 10 mile path for bicyclists, pedestrians and joggers along the Saddle River. It's part of the 596 acre Saddle River County Park with five recreation areas.
George Frey, Superintendent of Fair Lawn's Recreation and Parks Department says that Fair Lawn is very special because all these facilities are scattered throughout town, in every neighborhood. He says "a lot of communities just have one general site with a few ballfields, courts and a pool all in one location." He says our facilities are also special "because the borough has pretty much something for everyone -- passive, physical, and leisure." The town, he says "watches out for new trends and then adds new programs, accordingly."
In the summer, Fair Lawn's number one recreation attraction is Memorial Pool. Its 300 foot wide sand bottom pool is surrounded by beach sand and includes slides and a raft. There are swimming lessons, swim team, beach volleyball area, billiard and ping pong tables. The most amazing part of Memorial Pool is that was built by volunteers. Fifty years ago, residents volunteered their time and local businesses donated equipment and materials to build the pool and landscape the area.
(Fair Lawn News spotted these two pool sharks at Memorial Pool this past summer.)
Near the High School, there's a Fair Lawn Youth Recreation Center, where kids can play video games, shuffleboard, air hockey, ping pong, bumper pool, billiards, foosball, board games, and table hockey. The shabby looking facility is slated for a major expansion. Local realtor, Amy Sprechman-DeBellis, says that the new Recreation Center will help attract people to Fair Lawn.
At the heart of nearly all the programs are volunteers. They are in the field, at the senior center, and on organizing committees. (In the photo above, a group of volunteer baseball coaches are learning how to teach children the art of hitting a baseball.)
Several organizations offer programs, including:
· The All-Sports Association (working in cooperation with the Recreation Department) offers softball, soccer, basketball, track and field, and lacrosse. The programs are designed to teach the children about sportsmanship and teamwork.
· The inspiration for Fair Lawn's recreational programs initially came from Radburn. Radburn's property owners pay annual dues to the Radburn Association. In return, they enjoy 149 acres of parks, three playgrounds, two swimming pools, tennis courts, baseball fields, basketball courts and walking paths. Radburn offers free classes all year and a popular summer camp for the kids.
· The Fair Lawn Art Association offers classes and workshops, the Old Library Theater puts on productions, and the Recreation Department has clubs for bridge players, hunters, fishermen, and calorie counters.
· Fair Lawn Football Association runs football and cheerleading programs for grades 1 through 8.
· The Fair Lawn Senior Center, a block from the library, offers activities events, programs, and services -- seven days a week.
· The Fair Lawn Community School (a non-profit enterprise sponsored and administered by the Fair Lawn Board of Education) offers several summer camps, and all sorts of classes including ones in gymnastics, arts, photography, music, and knitting.
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