Through generous donations and grants we have restored our Quarry Pond Patio, which was in need of repair and removal of an adjacent sensory garden overrun with invasive species. It is located through the back entrance of our nature center building with a beautiful view of our pond. The new space includes an extended blue stone patio with an overhead retractable awning. There is an expanded seating area including cedar benches with planters, a new memorial bench, and a picnic table for visitors to enjoy breakfast or lunch while viewing Quarry Pond and its wildlife. Little explorers will stay shaded during the heat of summer outdoor education programs as will hikers and other visitors to our preserve. The patio is easily accessed from our parking lot and meets ADA requirements.
The result is a beautiful and welcoming area for all to enjoy. It’s already grown popular as a meeting space for field trips, a lunch spot for volunteer groups, a relaxing stop for hikers and even a stage for a bluegrass band. We look forward to many years of enjoyment by our educational programming participants, various groups and individual hikers.
Flat Rock Brook wishes to recognize The Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund, Cynthia Sumner, George & Carolyn Milne and The Oram Family for their very generous donations to this project. We thank everyone that made a contribution to make this restoration possible.
We’d also like to recognize our land manager, Brian Dedeian and his assistant Shaeer Baksh for their expert skills in building our new cedar benches and volunteer John Blakely for his time and craftsmanship in constructing our new memorial bench.