Butterfly Park Could Break Ground in Fall

Bloomfield’s Butterfly Discovery Center may begin construction as early as  September.

This week, the Bloomfield Township Council approved the nature preserve and park proposed for a a six-acre tract of land on Lion Gate Drive that Bloomfield purchased from Copeck/Ruvio/DeSimone in 2012. 

Tim Delorm, an architect with Glen Ridge-based company TerraNoble Design, outlined the plans for the center, which is designed to emulate the shape of a butterfly when viewed from overhead.  

“I think it’s going to be a unique facility for the borough and it’s going to draw people from the rest of the state,” Delorm told officials. “There’s nothing like it that im aware of and I think it’s going to transform what’s been a horrible eyesore in town to a wonderful space over time.”

Delorm, who has been involved with the project for about two years, told Patch he was happy with the design plans.

The two butterfly “wings” of the space will be fields planted with vegetation and flowers known to attract native butterfly species such as the Monarch butterfly. The vegetation would take about a year to grow to the point where it can attract the butterflies and songbirds.

Plans call for the park’s center “butterfly body” to be an outdoor classroom with terrace seating made from inexpensive but durable materials.

Delorm said the space was ideal for its intended purpose.

“With the nearby third river, the site is nearly perfect for butterflies,” Delorm said.

Delorm explained that water is essential for butterflies.

“They suck minerals and nutrients out of the mud and use the pebbles for purchase because they don’t like getting their feet wet,” Delorm said, adding that the park will have Woodland edges where butterflies can find shelter in the wind.

Delorm also touted how the plans for trees and other plant life would counter flooding and filter out impurities in water before it hit the stream.

While the project was last year projected to have a $1 million plus price tag, Delorm said it plans call for it to cost $600,000 and that aid from local volunteers and cooperation with groups like the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission may bring savings on labor costs. 

The Council passed a motion to put out an ad for a construction contract.