Kids & Family

New Park to be Named in Honor of Bill Grieder

Grieder was a lifelong Fair Lawn resident and active volunteer who served as fire chief, among other positions.

Fair Lawn officials are planning to name a new park in memory of William Grieder, a former borough fire chief who died last year.

Grieder was a lifelong resident of Heights Avenue, where the empty lot slated to become a new park is located. He was a member of the Fair Lawn Fire Department for 41 years, serving in various positions, including chief, and in 1981 winning the lifesaving award and being named fireman of the year. He also served as the borough fire clerk for 12 years, vice president and president of the Relief Association for 13 years total.

Grieder's daughter, Valerie, and son, Spud, have also served as firefighters with Company 2.

“Bill Grieder is one of the most respected fire chiefs in department history," Mayor John Cosgrove said. "His service and leadership made him an icon in the Fair Lawn Fire Department. He lived on Heights Ave for 73 years — his whole life — and I can think of no better place for a park bearing his name.”

The new park is planned to go up in an empty lot on the corner of Heights and Loretto Avenues, where Fire Company 2's building once stood. The park will be "passive" and just contain a path, some benches and plants, borough officials previously said. 

Officials have applied for a $20,000 grant from Bergen County to pay for the construction of the park.


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