News & Updates
The Great Pumpkin Carve Out! Saturday October 29th
Download the free registration form
HANSON PARK’S DUCKY DERBY POSTPONED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.
Hanson Park Conservancy’s very popular Ducky Derby which debuted in October of 2010 has been postponed from the October schedule due to repairs in progress at the Cranford Canoe Club. Along with the township’s Peddle Paddle Day events the ducky race will most likely be scheduled for sometime in April 2012.
HPC asks that everyone remain enthusiastically watchful for related news and advertising for the next race. A huge flock of young and newly hatched ducklings of various pastel colors has been purchased for just this purpose. Ticket holders of all ages will once again delight in the competition to the finish line— only postponed---not forgotten.
Wedding Vows in the Woodland Theatre
Deer Control Program
“The Secrets of Deer Control“
Thursday, May 5th, 2011, 7:00pm
Woodland Theater of Hanson Park or, in the event of inclement weather, at Hanson House, 38 Springfield Ave.
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet with Hanson Park’s own deer control specialist, wildlife biologist Christopher Markham, President of New Jersey Deer Control (NJDC). Using their own patented product, NJDC's all natural deer repellent spray has earned them a reputation of success throughout the state. While the environmentally safe product is harmless to pets and humans, they guarantee it will protect your valuable landscaping (trees, shrubs and flowers) from those pesky deer.
Topics to be discussed will include the evolution of deer in New Jersey, why they eat what they eat, the different seasonal problems that may arise, and various methods to protect your beloved landscape from deer. In additions, all questions from the audience will be answered. Please join us for this valuable program.
Everyone will receive a coupon for one FREE deer repellent spraying by New Jersey Deer Control compliments of HPC.
Register by phone at 908 709-7283 or in person at the Cranford Recreation and Parks Departmnt at the Cranford Community Center at 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford.
HPC 2011 Education Programs
Birds at Your Feeder
Friday February 11, 2011, 7:30-9:30pm
Hanson House
38 Springfield Ave., Cranford
Learn the ABC's of attracting birds to your backyard. Holly Hoffman, former director of the Trailside Nature & Science Center and member of the Greater Watchung Nature Club will speak on how to attract our feathered friends to your backyard. Holly will show slides and discuss the wonders of backyard birdwatching. All pre-registrants will receive a free bag of bird seed donated by Wild Birds Unlimited, Route 22, Scotch Plains, NJ.
Register by phone at 908 709-7283 or in person at the Cranford Recreation and Parks Departmnt at the Cranford Community Center at 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford.
Photos courtesy of Debbie Partesi of the Rahway River Association
BEGINNING BIRDING
Saturday, March 19, 9 – 11am, Hanson Park
Suggested donation - $2 at door
HPC continues the birding theme with a program for beginning birders conducted by avid birder Frank Budney of the “Friends of Lenape Park”.
WILD EDIBLES HIKE & MUNCH
Sunday April 10, 10-11:30am, Hanson Park
Suggested donation - $2 at door
Discover the wonderful world of wild edibles with naturalist Debbie Naha while exploring Hanson Park and beyond. Get to know the local wild and edible plants that can be found in your own backyard. Debbie is a Certified Master Gardener and a registered Dietician/Nutritionist.
STARGAZING PARTY
Wednesday April, 20 7-9pm, Hanson House & Park
Suggested donation - $2 at door
Come out and enjoy the stars, constellations & planets! Bring your own telescope or binoculars or take a look through Bill McClain’s professional scope. The program will begin indoors with a brief introduction followed by an outdoor star party. Possible good views of Saturn! Free star chart included!
SPRING WILDFLOWERS
Saturday, April 30, 10-11:30am, Hanson Park
Suggested donation - $2 at door
Take an early spring walk with a naturalist from the Trailside Nature & Science Center around Hanson Park and beyond in search of the earliest bloomers!
MAMMAL MANIA
Saturday, May 14, 10-11:30am, Hanson Park
Suggested donation - $2 at door
Learn about the mammals who call Hanson Park home. Participants will look for tracks, homes and hideouts during a presentation and walk with a Trailside Nature Center Naturalist.
POETRY, NATURALLY
Wednesday, May 25, 7:30-9-30pm, Hanson House
Suggested donation - $5 at door
Join us in a program featuring three area poets, Adele Kenny and Tom Plante, of Fanwood and Linda Radice of North
Plainfield. The poets will read a selection of their work. Participants can also read one of their own original works.
PREVIOUS EVENTS - FALL 2010
On Sunday October 10th the banks of the Rahway River were lined with excited spectators to watch the first annual HPC Rubber Ducky Race. The event was part of Pedal, Paddle Fun Day sponsored by the Cranford Parks and Recreation Department and organized by Commissioner Martha Garcia. The cheering crowd watched over a thousand colorful rubber ducks swim over the falls and race to the finish line at the North Union Steet bridge. Please click here to view the list of prizes, generous donors and happy winners.
HPC would like to thank Trustee Deb Murphy who chaired the event and everyone who supported this event by donating prizes, selling ducks, purchasing ducks or volunteering on race day. The proceeds of the Race have been used to install a much needed irrigation system at Hanson Park.
On Saturday October 30, HPC teamed up with the Jersey Central Arts Studio to hold "The Great Pumpkin Carve Out". The paths of Hanson Park were lined with pumpkins carved by enthusiastic pumpkin carvers of all ages. Pumpkins were judged in three categories and then lit up and placed along the park paths.Hundreds of families strolled the paths to catch a glimpse of the awesome Halloween Display. Thanks to JCAS president Deb Leber and HPC Trustee, Geri Livelli who chaired this event. The event was free and lots of fun!
The award winners in each category were as follows.
Ages 4-8/ Devin Haughey won for funniest, Dempsey Bobbit won for scariest and Megan Cardona won for most original.
Ages 9-12/ Natalie Schindler won for funniest, Bobby Puhak won for scariest, and Rose Denommee won for most original
Ages13-17/ Beth Armstrong won for funniest, Victoria Herlocker won for scariest and Natalie Salinardo won for most original.
Ages 18-Adult/ June Brown won for funniest, Nicole Bobbit won for scariest, and Charles Robertson and Fran Labbate tied for most original.
A NIGHT OF POETRY AT HANSON HOUSE
To celebrate nation Poetry Month HPC hosted a Poetry reading program at Hanson House. On April 8, 2010, three local poets each read a selection of their favorite works. After a short break audience members were invited to read a poem of their own. The event was very well attended.
Hanson Park – Revisited
By Barbara Wirkus
While traveling pebbled paths
beneath sheltering trees,
this outdoor atrium
coaxes and cajoles us
into serenity.
Like a half forgotten lullaby
easing the burdens
that inhabit our days and dreams
it creates a comforting cocoon.
Songs of birds, in sharp contrast
to the clamor of nearby streets,
soothe our sore spirits,
as they fly unencumbered
throughout the park and beyond.
Sitting on giant boulders
sun gently warming shoulders,
a brief respite
before the inevitable
resumption of daily tasks.
Impatiently, we await
our return to Hanson Park.
SOWING A SEED
Cranford student, Jake Gallagher, found something very unusual about four years ago at Cleveland Plaza. Whatever these things were, Jake considered them, at best, very unusual. He and his mom, Cindy Dawley-Gallagher, solved the mystery once they realized these were acorns from the old Burr Oak tree at Cleveland Plaza.
Jake’s natural curiosity made him wonder if he should try to plant these seeds. Once the acorn seed pods had spent a season in the family refrigerator, Jake planted them in a pot. Magically one seed began to grow eventually reaching the height of eight ft.
Since a full size Burr (or Bur) Oak can grow to be about 100 ft. tall, the Gallagher Family began to search for a more likely home for this persistent seedling. As a full grown tree it would be too large for most Cranford backyards; Hanson Park seemed to be the logical choice. Trustees of Hanson Park Conservancy were very happy to accept this offspring of the old oak tree in Cleveland Plaza.
“Sowing a Seed” is the broader biblical term for a good work that grows and spreads from a small beginning. Jake, now fifteen years old, truly sowed a seed that will continue to grow, a good work for the pleasure of everyone in Cranford.
Here, Jake is being congratulated by Lynda Feder, President of Hanson Park Conservancy.
Cranford's Hanson Park Conservancy receives award for Woodland Theater
click here to learn more about this award
Please check back for our Spring 2010 Events Schedule!
Click here for a copy of our 2010 Newsletter.
Watch your mailbox!
Support Hanson Park and the Canoe Club
T- Shirts, Cards, hats are available for purchase at the Cranford Canoe Club and at Dovetails in downtown Cranford
Introducing our newest item the Canoe Club Magnet - $5.00
All proceeds from all items benefit the restoration work at Hanson Park and the
Cranford Canoe Club
The Woodland Theatre is finished!
It looks awesome! Please stop by to see it. A local parent sent us this video of their child playing in the theatre.
Remembering the River Jubilee October 6, 2007
Click here to see photos by Kevin Papa