Here is the latest Take Five briefing from the July 7, 2026, meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council:
1) Parkstock Returns to Donaldson Park on July 16: Council Member Vargas reminded residents that the free Parkstock Outdoor Concert Series returns this summer with four Thursday evening concerts at Donaldson Park, Grove 1, from 6pm to 8pm. This year’s lineup includes Roadside Graves (Folk/Rock/Americana) on July 16, ERÁ (Latin Fusion) on July 30, the Ryan Gregg Trio (Blues, Rock & Soul) on August 13, and Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass (Bluegrass) on August 27. Bring the whole family and a lawn chair, enjoy great live music, and grab a bite from on-site food vendors for a perfect summer evening in the park.
2) World Cup Final Watch Party on July 19: Council Member Hale encouraged residents to join their neighbors and experience the excitement of the World Cup Final right here in downtown Highland Park! On Sunday, July 19, from 2pm–6pm there will be a World Cup Watch Party at the Farmers Market Parking Lot for a free outdoor watch party of the World Cup Final on a large mobile LED screen. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, grab takeout from one of Highland Park's many downtown restaurants, and enjoy family-friendly activities as neighbors come together to cheer on the world's best teams in a fun, festive atmosphere.
3) 400-440 Raritan Avenue Redevelopment Plan Amendment: Borough Council introduced Ordinance 26-2133 which adopts the 400–440 Raritan Avenue Redevelopment Plan to amend and supersede the 420-440 Raritan Avenue Redevelopment Plan. The amended plan expands the redevelopment area to include all of the properties that front Raritan Avenue between So. 5th and So. 4th Avenues and updates development standards to support the next phase of revitalization along the corridor. By taking a broader look at the entire block, not just the grocery store site, the amended plan creates a framework to encourage reinvestment, support adaptive reuse and future development opportunities. Council also approved a resolution referring the plan to the Planning Board for review and comment. A public hearing on this ordinance is scheduled for September 1.
4) 308 Raritan Ave Conditional Redeveloper Extension: Borough Council approved an extension of the conditional redeveloper designation for the proposed mixed-use redevelopment at 308 Raritan Avenue, allowing additional time for the Borough and the developer to complete pre-development work, including negotiating redevelopment and financial agreements, as the project moves forward.
5) NJDOT Grant Submission: Borough Council authorized the submission of a grant application to the New Jersey Department of Transportation's FY2027 Municipal Aid Program to help fund roadway improvements on Karsey Street, North 9th Avenue, and South 11th Avenue. If awarded, the grant would support needed infrastructure upgrades while reducing the financial burden of those upgrades on local taxpayers. Click here to learn more about upcoming roadway improvement projects.
If you’re interested in watching the July 7th 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, August 11th at 7 p.m.
