Longtime Verona Park Conservancy president retires

Jim McGregor’s 12 years of volunteering brought with it fresh air, the sun shining down on him, and flora and fauna nearby.

McGregor served the Verona Park Conservancy during that time, with the past five years as the organization’s president. Together with the other members and representatives from Essex County, McGregor worked to preserve the park for the benefit of the community and future generations, according to the group’s motto.

He decided to step away, though, and retire from the conservancy. 

“It’s been a wonderful adventure for me working with the conservancies and having fun in the park,” observed McGregor.

The longtime member of the conservancy acknowledged that it was not just him promoting the park’s needs. He thanked the other officers and trustees of the group as well as the many people who have visited Verona Park through the years.

“I’ve had so many nice discussions with elderly retired people asking me about flowers, and children wanting to know why the bees are flying from this flower to that flower,” McGregor said. “It was always a pleasure working with children in the park, trying to educate them.”

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He recalled telling kids that dragonflies won’t hurt them, and that not all bees sting. Many of the children were also interested in the butterflies and the birds they saw in the park, he noted.

Formed in 1995, the Verona Park Conservancy meets once a month and holds annual cleanups at the park. 

McGregor was honored for his service during a late June Verona Township Council meeting. Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and Freeholder Leonard Luciano praised McGregor’s devotion to the park. DiVincenzo said Verona was fortunate to have him.

“He was a working president and we counted on him a lot, and I think we did some great things together,” the county executive said. “There’s no question we’re going to miss you, and if you have some spare time we could always use you. You’ve been a big help to Essex County and a big help to the Township of Verona.

"Verona Park would not be what it is today if not for your leadership there.”

Luciano said he comes across many people through the county, but he distinctly remembered McGregor because of his hard work with the conservancy.

“I think we have probably the best county park system in the State of New Jersey,” Luciano said. “I hope you [McGregor] still participate and will be our eyes and ears.”

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com