Here is the latest Take Five briefing from the May 19, 2026 meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council:
1) Downtown Planting Days on May 21 & 22: Main Street Highland Park’s annual Downtown Planting Days are back! Council Member Hale encouraged residents and business owners to come out on Thursday, May 21, from 3 to 7 PM, and on Friday, May 22, from 11 AM to 5 PM, to help bring fresh color and energy to the business district by filling the planters along Raritan and Woodbridge Avenues with beautiful flowers. Volunteers can stop by the Main Street office at 212 Raritan Avenue during event hours to pick up plants, receive a planter assignment, and enjoy some snacks. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just looking for a fun way to help beautify downtown, everyone is welcome to lend a hand!
2) Memorial Day Parade on May 25: Council Member Vargas encouraged residents to help remember and honor those who served our country by lining Raritan Avenue this Monday, May 25 for the Annual Memorial Day Parade. The parade begins at 11 AM, traveling up Raritan Avenue from New Brunswick, crossing the bridge around 11:30 AM, and concluding at the Doughboy Monument in Highland Park, where a brief ceremony will follow. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony may be moved to the Highland Park Community Center at 220 South 6th Avenue.
3) 2026 Budget Adoption: Following the public hearings, the Council adopted the 2026 Municipal Budget and the 2026 Main Street Highland Park Budget. For those who missed the budget presentation at the introduction, the Borough Administrator’s slides can be found here.
4) Buck Woods Settlement Agreement: The Borough authorized a settlement agreement with JSM at Highland Park, LLC to resolve long-standing litigation related to environmental contamination on the property known as Buck Woods. The terms of the settlement were discussed in detail at a community meeting on March 4, 2026; a summary of that meeting and the settlement terms are available on the Borough website. In addition to the settlement agreement, Council authorized a funding agreement whereby JSM at Highland Park will cover the costs associated with implementing the agreement, specifically the Borough’s legal, planning, and engineering costs related to the redevelopment of the site.
5) Safe Routes to School Construction Management/Inspection Contract Awarded: Borough Council authorized a professional services contract with Remington & Vernick Engineers for construction management and inspection services related to the Borough’s 2016 Safe Routes to School Project. The federally funded project will support Phase I intersection safety improvements at various locations throughout Highland Park, helping improve pedestrian and traffic safety for students and residents. The expectation is that the project will be complete before the end of the year.
If you’re interested in watching the May 19th Council meeting, go to HPTV’S Youtube channel where the meeting will be posted in its entirety. The next meeting of Council is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9th at 7 p.m.
