Wayne Magazine Fall 2015 | Page 15

THE BUZZ HAPPY TRAILS The POMPTON AQUATIC PARK TRAIL is the newest addition to the Passaic County park system in the Borough of Pompton Lakes. This pedestrian walking trail along the Pequannock River is interconnected for a total length of 2.5 miles of wildlife sanctuary and undeveloped woods. Bird watchers and fishing enthusiasts should take note the Red Trail entrance is near WGHT Radio at Lincoln Avenue, while access to the Yellow Trail is at Willow Avenue by Joe Grill Field and the Blue Trail entrance is at Woodlawn Avenue. Pompton Aquatic Park Trail will ultimately be part of a bigger trail that will enable people to walk from Pompton Lakes to Jersey City. “It’s quiet and serene, and is a mostly shaded wooded nature trail that runs along the river. It’s great for wildlife, bird watching and fishing,” says Lloyd Kent, councilman and liaison to the Pompton Lakes Open Space Committee, which blazed the trail. Pompton Lakes’ environmental officer, Ed Merrill mapped out the trail for the county and the Passaic County Planning Department cut the trail path, laid down stone, built wooden bridges over wet areas and set up informational kiosks with trail maps POMPTON AQUATIC PARK TRAIL TOP: THINKSTOCK; RIGHT: PHOTO & ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS COURTESY OF WILLOWBROOK MALL MALL MAKEOVER Renovations are in motion for the WILLOWBROOK shopping mall (www.willowbrook-mall.com) in Wayne. The 1.5 million square foot property is undergoing a multi-million dollar makeover inside and out. Designed to refresh the property and redefine the shopping and dining experience for guests, plans include a redesigned food court, refreshed exterior and main entrances, a twostory streetscape, architectural enhancements in the Bloomingdale’s wing and new floors and ceilings in each wing of the center. The coin fountain in center court will be replaced by new kiosks and more food options. Aesthetic upgrades and LED lighting will be installed throughout the mall and parking area, and a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is being added. “Our renovation is focused on today’s multi-tasking consumer and will introduce highly desired amenities, such as comfortable seating areas and ample phone charging stations,” promises Gilbert Bankston, Willowbrook senior general manager. Construction, which is expected to be completed by late fall 2016, will be suspended during the holidays. WILLOWBROOK GILBERT BANKSTON FALL 2015 WAYNE MAGAZINE 13