NOTICE of LIMITED OPENINGS
DEP is accepting applications for a limited number of public events
at Waterloo Village during the warm weather months of 2008.
For inquiries, contact:
waterloovillagecomments@dep.state.nj.us
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officially terminated its lease of more than three decades with the Waterloo Foundation for the Arts, Inc. (the Foundation), effective December 31, 2006. The president of the Foundation had contacted DEP in late summer 2006, reporting the Foundation unable to continue operations.
Waterloo Village is one of the State’s great historic, recreational and tourism assets. While it is DEP’s intent to re-open the Village as soon as possible, it will be closed to the public while priority maintenance issues are addressed, as the State seeks new operational partners.
DEP’s immediate priorities for the village include stabilizing and preserving the historic buildings; re-establishing an educational program; and finding the means to operate the public Meeting House and an outlet to reconvene large-scale events.
UPDATE as of 08.20.2008
The Indian Village has been repaired, rebuilt and expanded by its original designer-builder, John Kraft. Structural repairs at the Grist Mill and Apothecary Shop are completed. Re-roofing and roof repairs have been completed at Jake’s House, the White Barn and the Comfort Station, with repairs totaling $142,500 being completed on the Canal House, Wellington House and The Homestead. Evaluations have been finished on the Ironmaster's House, Smith House and Meeting House. Re-roofing and roof repairs have been bid for the Smith House and Carriage Barn.
The firm of HJGA Consulting, Preservation and Historic Architecture, Inc., of Montclair, is leading an eight-month project (due date: late October) to create a preservation plan for Waterloo Village, to include historic documentation, documentation of current conditions of the landscape and structures, and recommendations for future use and interpretation. The State will use these recommendations in the Request for Proposals (RFP) for an operator of Waterloo Village.
To date, approximately $500,000 of the $750,000 DEP committed for FY08 has been spent. This funding is from DEP’s capital account ($250,000) and the portion of the Corporate Business Tax reallocated to capital projects in parks and wildlife areas through a constitutional amendment approved by New Jersey voters in November, 2006 ($500,000).
DEP is partnering once again with the Canal Society of New Jersey for Waterloo Heritage Days, a free series of warm weather Saturday openings of Waterloo Village from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about remaining dates, call 908-832-2888.
August 30
September 13 and 20
October 11 and 25
Waterloo Village will welcome the 12th biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival from Thursday, September 25 through Sunday, September 28. For details, see www.dodgepoetry.org.
To comment on the future of Waterloo, contact:
waterloovillagecomments@dep.state.nj.us
