[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE BOROUGH OF WOODLAND PARK

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2014

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Borough of 
Woodland Park, located in Passaic County, New Jersey, as it celebrates 
its 100th Anniversary.
  The Borough of Woodland Park was created on May 1, 1914. The area 
which now encompasses the Borough began as a section of the Township of 
Little Falls, called ``West Park.'' In 1905, the residents of West 
Park, concerned that they were not being fairly represented within the 
township initiated a fight to create their own Borough.
  On January 7, 1913, the organization proposed the establishment of 
the ``Borough of West Paterson.'' The proposed name of the new town was 
chosen in recognition of its location next to the City of Paterson, 
America's first industrial center and the birthplace of the American 
silk industry.
  Little more than a year later, on March 25, 1914, New Jersey State 
Senator Peter J. McGinnis' bill, ``An Act to Incorporate the Borough of 
West Paterson,'' received final approval by Governor James F. Fielder. 
On May 1, 1914, a referendum was held, and the voters overwhelmingly 
approved the creation of the new Borough, by a vote of 194 to 20. 
Twenty four days later, the town elected its first Mayor, Councilmen, 
Tax Collector, Constables, and two Justices of the Peace.
  In its early years, West Paterson's major economic activity was 
agriculture. The rich, verdant farm lands produced an abundance of 
dairy products, fruits, and vegetables. The neighboring City of 
Paterson, which was home to numerous wealthy silk manufacturers, began 
to see many of its most prominent citizens move to West Paterson to 
take advantage of its bucolic, small town atmosphere.
  The presence of the Passaic River, which is a major natural resource 
for the region, helped attract many hotels, ball fields, amusement 
parks, and a racetrack to its banks in West Paterson. At the time, one 
of the leading amusement parks of the town was Idlewood Park. Other 
amusement parks also located themselves on Garrett Mountain, on the 
east side of the Borough, where the Garret Mountain Reservation is 
today.
  As the Borough grew, the population continuously rose. In 1920, the 
population was 1,858. By 1950, it had jumped to 3,931, and more than 
doubled over the following decade, to 7,602 by 1960. As of 2010, the 
Borough's population had grown to 11,819.
  As the Borough grew, the township's necessary municipal services did 
as well. Many of these services were and are made possible due to 
residents volunteering to carry them out. Woodland Park has a long 
history of active volunteer commitment to the community, reflecting the 
value that its citizens place on their town and their desire to 
continue to make it a great place in which to live and work. Over the 
past several decades, many townhouse and condominium units were built 
to accommodate the influx of people wishing to make this desirable 
community their home.
  In 2008, the Borough of West Paterson changed its name to the Borough 
of Woodland Park. Supporters had been attempting to change the town's 
name for 20 years, and were successful during the General Election of 
November 4, 2008. On December 17, 2008, the governing body approved 
Resolution R08- 253, making the town's official name the Borough of 
Woodland Park, effective January 1, 2009.
  Today, the Borough consists of a mixture of retail, office, 
residential, and industrial properties. A significant portion of the 
Borough consists of municipal parkland, county parks, and two 
reservoirs.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the Borough of Woodland Park as it celebrates its 100th Anniversary.

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