2026 BPC Board of Trustees Candidate Statements
Don McLoughlin, Candidate for Chairperson
My wife Sue and I have lived in Montclair for 25 years and have long enjoyed Brookdale Park. In our crowded and busy corner of the world, Brookdale Park is a local jewel and a wonderful place that has something for everyone to enjoy. I began volunteering in the Rose Garden in 2016 and in addition to that have since served as BPC Vice Chair (2018-2020) and three terms as BPC Chair (2020-2022, 2022-2024, and 2024-2026).
I’m seeking a fourth (and final!) term as BPC Chair. We have made great progress with our projects in the park over the past several years and have also made great progress building our organization. Our volunteer programs are bigger and more numerous than ever. We are gratified that so many people notice the work we do and that so many are willing to come help out! And we are also very grateful for our strong partnership with Essex County and the Parks department, for their great work managing the park system in general and for working with us so we can have a role to play in Brookdale.
There remains work to be done! We need to continue to build our group of core volunteers who can help us manage Conservancy activities and help manage our project teams. We also need to expand our efforts into securing grants as another source of funding beyond donations. And we need to think about our next generation of park projects. With many years of experience now, I feel that I can lead the organization into this next phase before turning over the reins in a couple of years.
Gregory Babula, Candidate for Treasurer
I am pleased to be considered for another term as Treasurer for the Brookdale Park Conservancy. I have served as Treasurer for the past four years and previously as Assistant Treasurer for two years. During this time, I have ensured that our bookkeeping is completed diligently and accurately, and I have prepared detailed monthly financial reports to keep the board fully informed about the organization’s financial position.
I would like to continue in this role because I value the work our organization does to protect, preserve, and promote Brookdale Park and I believe consistent financial oversight is essential to supporting that mission. My experience in this position allows me to provide continuity, stability, and transparency as we move forward with our goals.
Greg currently serves as Vice President of the Bloomfield Center Alliance, the non-profit organization that administers and promotes the downtown Bloomfield business improvement district. He previously served as Chair of the Bloomfield Historic Preservation Commission and was a member of the Bloomfield Planning Board and the Bloomfield Environmental Commission.
He is a graduate of Rutgers University, New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, and holds a Master of Science in Information Systems from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and he currently works as a software developer for a small New Jersey-based technology firm.
Karen Mahrous, Candidate for Secretary
When moving from NYC years ago, my family and I made Brookdale Park our beacon and, as we hoped, landed in a home just a few feet from the park. You can find our family in the park almost every day walking, riding bikes, at the playground or playing sports. Professionally, I am in sustainability in commercial real estate company. I have a masters in Sustainability Management and I also have previous career experience in events and hospitality, including owning a catering company.
In my role as Secretary, I am responsible for logistics, communications and administration behind the scenes. I have also led the Membership Committee which manages member outreach and engagement. I have a passion for and have been working on expanding the community element of the park. My ultimate goal is to build a large group of passionate and engaged stakeholders in the park that do show up at the volunteer events, meetings, donate, and have a voice in park initiatives.
Nicole Bouchard, Candidate for At-Large Trustee
Gardening and spending time in parks were a big part of my life growing up and so when I was considering a move to NJ a few years ago after years of living in big cities, I knew that finding a good local park would be a critical factor. The moment I walked through Brookdale Park, I knew I had found the area I wanted to call home. Fast forward a few years, and I’m finding great joy in having such an amazing multi-use green space at my doorstep and giving back to my local community through my work with the Brookdale Park Conservancy has been a large part of that.
I regularly participate in the volunteer days and for the past couple of years I’ve been a member of the project committee, helping to plan, organize, and lead various planting projects around the park. I’d like to be considered for another term on the board as an At-large Trustee to continue my work making these volunteer opportunities interesting and accessible for all members of our community.
Tara Kender, Candidate for At-Large Trustee
Tara Kender has lived in the Brookdale Park section of Bloomfield for the last fourteen years. Brookdale Park has served as a backyard for her family and they use it almost daily. Walking, running, bike riding, scootering, tree climbing, kite flying, tennis, picnics and sometimes, just laying on a blanket and enjoying the beauty that surrounds them.
Tara has been a member of the Conservancy for eight years and manages the Conservancy’s social media outreach. She strongly believes that keeping the community informed about the conservancy's activities, whether it is event announcements, new plantings, park clean-up, restoration, etc., allows everyone the opportunity to enjoy the park’s many offerings and to be more involved.