Dog Park for Oakland, N.J.

Leading the charge since Spring 2009, I have been advocating for a dog park in Oakland, NJ. The idea of a dog park started after we got our dog, Scooby. Our family learned that not only walks, but running around and socializing were good for a dog's health and well-being.

The project took a different turn however when my mom, Jill, the person who gave me inspiration to try and build the park, passed away in August 2012 due to cancer. Since then, I have decided to name the park in her memory.

Some major progress has occurred as the concept of a dog park has been added to a plan for a new park, Great Oak Park, which will be on the Pleasureland/Muller's Park property near the Shoprite. After public meetings occurred that gathered public input, a park committee has been formed to investigate what will be allowed on the property.
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From left to right, Oakland Councilman Eric Kulmala, Oakland Mayor Linda Schwager, Ryan Schwertfeger, and Oakland Councilwoman Sandra Coira.
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Park Chairman Mike Guadagnino, Ryan Schwertfeger, and Dirk Schwertfeger (Ryan's dad) at a park cleanup day where the proposed dog park area was being worked on.
In 2017, Ryan raised over $20,000 in monetary donations and over $20,000 in pledged donations for labor and trees on site.

Additional information can be found on the dog park website in addition to the dog park Facebook page. Those wishing to donate can do so here.
Major progress is currently ongoing with the Great Oak Park Committee and a local non-profit working with Ryan in order to secure the necessary funding and grants to pay for the proposed dog park. Once the necessary funds are raised for the dog park and other supplemental Great Oak Park Phase II projects, Ryan will just need council approval before starting construction.

Cleanups have taken place already in the proposed dog park area with dead trees, invasive species, and weeds removed and the unexposed asphalt already in the proposed area from decades prior exposed beneath years of neglect and erosion.

Many people have signed up to volunteer and/or to donate funds towards the cause as Ryan has spent much time reaching out to different organizations, businesses, and individuals to drum up support. Its no wonder why the Dog Park facebook page has over 1,000 likes in just a few years!
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The dog park logo

Public Opinion Polls for Oakland, N.J.

With a major mid-term election occurring in 2010, I watched the news and the polling information very carefully to see what the American populace was thinking ahead of the election. However, I was upset that nothing existed to really show the thoughts and opinions of more local people. So, I decided to create my own poll to ask Oakland residents their opinions about local and national issues. While it took about 4 days standing in front of the post office to get 100 people, I found polling to be fun, informative, and I decided to do it again after the initial run. Thus, Public Opinion Polls for Oakland, NJ was formed.

Ryan saw how much influence local polling has had on the town of Oakland with people commenting on the results and officials even referencing the work I had done to make their point or start a worthwhile discussion. Also, many of the candidates running for office were interviewed by Ryan, so local residents can get to know the people on the ballot to the best of their ability. Some videos have received several hundred views and one candidate said that, "It seems the release of Ryan Schwertfeger's candidate interviews has become the unofficial start of the campaign season in Oakland..."

Ryan originally tried getting the results in the local newspaper and the local/regional newspaper, but to no recent avail. Ryan instead relied mainly on Oakland residents willing to take my poll at the post office and those who decided to take the poll online.

You can check out the polling website here.
Ryan also frequently attends his town council meetings when he is free, and when he can't be there in person, he'll record the meetings in order to see what he missed.

Ryan is not afraid to speak his mind and has on many occasions, spoken at town council meetings or had lengthy conversations with elected officials about his point of view on a current issue going on in town. He enjoys learning what is going on and seeing how local officials make the decisions they make - with the goal of improving the lives for their residents, as opposed to their own self.