Save Paramus Clean the Dump on Soldier Hill Rd.

~Save Paramus~

As a concerned resident of Paramus, I would like to make other members of my community aware of the great health/environmental hazard that is present in many of our backyards. The specific site that I am speaking of is located on Soldier Hill Rd adjacent to the Reid Park nature preserve. The Musquapsink Brook flows through the site and through many of our backyards and into our drinking water via the Passaic Brook which in turn flows into the Oradell Reservoir (all Category One Water ways). The site is being contaminated by the dumping that took place years ago and has never been cleaned.

As a community and as concerned individuals we must all join forces and request that this land fill be cleaned immediately, so the contamination does not persist. Children, adults walk through this preserve, and could get injured from all the debris that has been dumped throughout the years. There is evidence that many people traverse through the site. Reid Park is located immediately to the south, with a nature walk created in the east. There is evidence of trails that are created by ATVs and motor bikes, individuals have created tree houses and have been present on the property, and have been directly

Initially I was made aware of the site by the “Save Paramus Wetlands” signs that are prominent around town. Upon further evaluation and a walk through the nature path I discovered that this site was not only wetlands, but that it is and was, contaminated and a hazard to all wildlife. This very site was obviously utilized as a landfill and had endured years of dumping which is evident today. There are piles of concrete, glass and metals through out the site readily visible to anyone walking through.

Although there is much publicity with respect to the wetland issue, the most important element in my opinion, has been pushed to the back burner. No one has requested that the site be cleaned so that the contamination could stop. It makes me feel as though no one is truly concerned with the true issue at hand… our well being. “Save Paramus Wetlands” has become an agenda that has yet to resolve any environmental issues or contamination.

This is not the first time Paramus has turned their heads of contamination issues. Many of us can vividly remember the contamination issues that arose at the West Brook School. The contamination in West Brook received nationwide coverage and eventually, was cleaned up.

If we stick together as a community and recognize the evident danger we can also prevent further contamination of our water and our communities.

First thing is first…let’s clean the dump!