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Happy Wednesday, Maplewood. The lovely September weather is upon us, and fall is officially in the air. Lots to cover this week, so let's get right to it.
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INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND
Maplewood’s new all-access, Inclusive Playground at Maplecrest Park is open!
The new playground focuses on inclusivity & accessibility, with elements to address physical, cognitive, social, sensory and emotional needs. Take a tour with our Township Committee as they show off their favorite spots on the new playground.
This playground was funded with the help of a $750,000 grant from New Jersey’s Green Acres Program and funding from Maplewood‘s Open Space Trust Fund.
(Pictured, L to R: Mayor Vic De Luca, Community Services Director Melissa Mancuso, TC Member Dean Dafis, Deputy Mayor Malia Herman, TC Member Jane Collins-Colding & TC Member Nancy Adams)
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MAPSO FOLLIES
The 4th Annual MAPSO Family Follies Variety Show is looking for performers, and auditions are tonight: Wednesday, September 23, 6-8 p.m., at Columbia High School (17 Parker Ave.).
Sing, dance, tell jokes, perform magic, recite poetry, hula hoop, act out a scene, play music, twirl a baton… if it’s fun, quirky, upbeat, or unexpected, we want to see it.
Open to ages 9–99 in Maplewood, South Orange, and surrounding communities. Acts should be 3 minutes or less. Video auditions may be submitted online through September 30.
Find out more at www.maplewoodartsandculture.org/follies.
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2026 ELECTION SEASON
The 2026 Election Season is here & September is National Voter Registration Month!
Our Clerks Office has whipped us this handy cheat sheet to guide you through some important dates & key elections to follow.
As of last week, Maplewood's Ballot Box is officially open - located along Springfield Avenue, in front of the Hilton Branch Library (1688 Springfield Ave.).
Head to maplewoodnj.gov/election for more local details.
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MVA PARKING SURVEY & LIVE Q-AND-A SESSION
The Maplewood Village Alliance (MVA) is seeking community feedback as they explore parking management ideas, which may include paid parking, in Maplewood Village. Here’s how to get the info & let your voice be heard:
1) Take the Maplewood Village Alliance (MVA) Parking Survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSejixvEXI-LMMDRwBuhRSHbbpRYNJHRUXRtJCfKIz8bhr9oiQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102040105648696744182
2) Check Out MVA’s FAQ Page:
MVA explains the thought process behind their paid parking proposal & answers some frequently asked questions: https://maplewoodvillagenj.com/parking-optimization-in-the-village
3) Talk It Through In Person:
Residents are invited to stop by Maplewood Village to learn more about the proposed parking changes, ask questions, and share feedback. Township Committee member Dean Dafis and MVA representatives will be on hand to discuss the proposal & answer questions on two dates.
Dates: Sunday, September 27 & Sunday, October 4
Time: 12:30–2:30pm Location: Outside Wells Fargo, corner of Maplewood Ave. and Baker St.
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SHRED IT DAY
Maplewood's biannual Shred It Day is an opportunity for Maplewood residents to shred any personal paper items such as legal documents, private records, personal files, etc.
Our second Shred-It Day of 2026 is coming up on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (or until the two trucks are full), at the Dept. of Public Works Recycling Center (359 Boyden Ave.).
This service is strictly for Maplewood residents only - be prepared to show a government issued photo ID and proof of residency.
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SUMMER STREETS
There's nothing quite like September weather, and Maplewood Village Alliance plans to make the most of it with their annual Summer Streets.
Join your friends & neighbors down in the village on Saturday nights until October 3, when we shut the streets to traffic to eat al fresco, listen to live music (bands usually go on between 5:30-8:00 p.m.), and enjoy some extended shopping hours.
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TALK TO THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE
Join us Saturday, October 10, for our final Talk to the Township Committee meetup of 2026!
Oct. 10, 2026 • 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. • Dept. of Public Works Recycling Center • 359 Boyden Avenue
These casual Saturday meetups offer residents a chance to speak to their local elected officials in person, ask questions, share ideas and catch up on all the latest Township news.
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TOWNSHIP 101
Within a township or municipality, Community Development typically oversees how a community grows, develops and uses its land. Think of it as the department that helps answer the question: “What can be built here, and under what rules?”
In Maplewood, our Department of Community Development (DCD) includes the Zoning, Construction, Property Maintenance, Land Use and Fire Prevention Divisions. Together, these divisions handle a wide range of property and development-related matters.
Putting on an addition? That’s DCD. Want to know if your prospective business is a permitted use in the location you’re considering? That’s DCD. Received a Notice of Violation about an issue on your property? That’s DCD.
Not sure where to start, what to expect or how to navigate one of these processes? The department recently created a series of new flow charts to help applicants understand how these municipal processes work and figure out where to go for help. You’ll find them linked at maplewoodnj.gov, within DCD’s division pages (Zoning, et al), linked under RESOURCES.
Still have questions? DCD is always happy to answer questions by phone or email. Head to maplewoodnj.gov for division-specific numbers & emails.
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HEAD UP, PHONES DOWN
Our favorite little (and not so little) humans are out & about on our town's sidewalks & streets - riding bikes, walking and getting lifts to school. It take a village to ensure everyone's safety during these busy drop-off and pick-up windows. Take a minute to check out this year's back-to-school message & safety reminders from our new Maplewood Police Chief Niheema Malloy, and see below for a list of our 34 crossing guard locations & times.
 CALLING ALL BUSINESS OWNERS: Bill Carlson from Data Axle is going to be at the Memorial Library on September 30, 10:30-11:30 a.m. to host a one-hour workshop to show businesses and nonprofits how to use the library’s free business database, Reference Solutions, to identify sales leads, analyze marketing intelligence, and build a business plan.
FALL FARMERS MARKET: Just a reminder our Maplewood Farmers Market is open every Monday, 2 p.m. - 7 p.m, by the Springfield Avenue Gazebo; and it will be open well into the fall! Join us for farm-fresh veggies, fruits, pies & fun local vendors!
MVC COMES TO MAPLEWOOD: The Office of Assemblyman Chigozie Onyema will be hosting the MVC Mobile Unit on October 2nd from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the Maplewood Community Center at DeHart Park located at 120 Burnett Ave, Maplewood NJ. Residents can get help with their REAL ID, Registration Renewal, Non-Driver ID, Duplicate/Replacement Title. Register today at telegov.njportal.com/njmvcmobileunit.
To stay connected to Maplewood Township, follow us on Instagram and Facebook & sign up for Official Township News here. On our town website, you'll find a running list of our Township's resolutions & ordinances, as well as agendas, minutes, upcoming meetings and more.
Our Division of Arts & Culture is always humming with events. To stay up to date on their lineup of events, head to their website to sign up their newsletter & follow them on Instagram.
Interested in youth sports, recreation, the Maplewood Pool & senior services? You'll want to sign up for the Community Services newsletter to stay up to date on this department's many fun offerings for seniors, kids and adults. Their website is here & you can follow them on Instagram.
Want to follow Maplewood Library? Head to their website where you can sign up for their newsletter & follow them on Instagram here.
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