Eagle Rock Reservation

I can walk to Eagle Rock pretty easily from my house. As a result it has a special place in my heart but there are some problems. One problem is that people are always speed upwards of 25 35 miles ABOVE the speed limit. This issue is exacerbated by insufficient walk ways and cross walks around the reservation. I think one part of the solution might be to start with speed bumps and making better pedestrian walkways.

The 9/11 memorial and look out is good but over the years I’ve been somewhat conflicted about how it has expanded. Some of the additions seem excessive or just plain ugly. The biggest offender is the guady golden statue of a goofy golden retriever perched above what we can only is real rubble that crushed people to death. It is one of the biggest statues at the memorial and all only to say that the search dogs failed to find a single living body but that they were still good boys. Maybe it’s just that I dont get it cause I’m not a dog person.

What I do get is the need for public restrooms. I would really like it if money could be spent on reopening the public restroom building. This building is some what near the Highlawn and recently had a water fountain installed on the exterior of the building(however the water doesnt taste very good). Another new addition is porta potties. These are positioned quite close to the gazebo and the memorial and are quite the eye sore, not to mention the smell. To me these are a subpar bathroom option but at least if they could be put somewhere more out of the way.

Perhaps the Highlawn could help with the bathroom situation by offering its bathrooms to the public or by agreeing to maintain the public bathrooms if they ever open again. As it is now I do not believe the highlawn does enough for the community to earn its place in a public park. If I had it my way perhaps a library or a local business with affordable food would take the Highlawn’s place. As it is not there is no affordable food in walking distance. There used to be a restaurant called the Eagle Rock Diner across the street, while not the fanciest it was affordable and suitable for a meal with family or firends. The Eagle Rock Diner went out of buisness some number of years ago and has bow been replaced by The Chit Chat Diner. The Chit Chat Diner seems almost universally hated with its high prices and creepy fun house aesthetic. Although people evidently still get food there cause it’s stuck around.

Across the street there is also a bowling alley. You can get food there but I think you need to be bowling. There is no good way to get to the other side of the street. Even if you walk all the way to intersection by the gas station and whole foods you are still required to cross the street three times because there isnt a direct way to cross. I think this harms our community.

If you go to Eagle Rock make sure to explore more than the just the memories and the lawn theres so much to see in eagle rock. Including many abandoned buildings, the jersey devil geo cash and more signs of human life(although soooo much of that is trash :(

I really hope they bring this park to life for the people of West Orange but I doubt it. They put a huge road through the middle of town and now they’re putting the public library in a strip mall that is only accessible by car. Someone also told star bucks who has promptly errected one of their establishments in the same area.