New Jersey’s new 364 acre wildlife recreation area and hiking park
June 7, 2009 by Phil Stilton
Filed under Feature, Jackson Activities, Jackson News
Jackson, NJ – Today, Jackson Township, home of Six Flags Great Adventure and the northeastern most border of the Pinelands National Reserve, the Pine Barrens as New Jersey residents affectionately call it, officially preserved 364 acres of forest and wetlands. The Bunker Hill Bogs Wildlife Recreation Area was officially christened today by Mayor Michael Reina as local residents and volunteers of the Jackson Pathfinders were on hand to witness the occasion.
The huge parcel of land that encompasses a large section of eastern Jackson Township was rescued several years ago from becoming the southern entrance to an extension of the Westlake Village retirement community. Years of legal and political maneuvering by concerned conservationists eventually forced the Westlake developer to cede the property to Jackson Township according Art Rosky, the local site manager for the Jackson Pathfinders. The Jackson Pathfinders, through grants from the State of New Jersey and with the approval from the township, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and JCP&L, which maintains rights of way on the land eventually turned this once forgotten tract of land into a clean and pristine ecological park with over 5 miles of trails around two large lakes and 9 defunct cranberry bogs. Through the dedicated effort of Pathfinders’ Treasurer Tom Stevens, Chairperson Karen Borga and the Pathfinders organization, a $25,000 grant from the New Jersey Conservation Fund, the group was able to clean up years of trash left behind which included items such as discarded metal swingsets, construction debris, tires, automotive parts and various other illegally dumped items forgotten by years of neglect.
Joining Mayor Reina at today’s ribbon cutting ceremony was township Councilman Scott Martin and Councilwoman Bobby Rivere. Other special guests included Jackson Girl Scout troop 110 who worked hard the previous morning on a community flower garden in preparation for today’s ceremony, led by troop leader Kathleen Malmstrom, of the Dogwood Service Unit of the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore.
Jackson Township Councilman Scott Martin said “It’s a beautful site. There’s no doubt the residents of Jackson will enjoy themselves here.” about the new park and it’s stunning natural beauty and hidden wildlife treasures as the children in attendance followed a turtle as it crept along the shore of the lake.
“Today is all about the Jackson Pathfinders and they deserve it” said Mayor Reina “This isn’t about politics, it’s about what ordinary people in the community have accomplished. It makes me proud to be the mayor of Jackson when I see things like this.” as he pointed around at the kids playing by the water and the results of many years of hard work by the Pathfinders, a 100% volunteer organization and branch of the Jackson Township municipal government. He continued “This project has had absolutely zero cost to the taxpayer and that’s the beauty of it”.
It was just a few months ago that Mayor Reina proposed to expand Jackson’s volunteer corps by reinstating an all volunteer community advisory board for the township to tackle projects and iniatives that might have otherwise carried a burden on taxpayers, similar to the Bunker Hill Bogs reclamation project. Mayor Reina then spent time with the children in attendance including his grandson and the kindergarten daisy scouts from the Lucy N. Holman Elementary School who created the community garden at the site. Mr. Reina will be joining the children at their school as a special “Mystery Guest” to read an unspecified Dr. Seuss classic to the children later in the week and answer questions they may have about being mayor of their town.
After the ceremony, Tony Santamaria, a local ecological expert took the group of children and the mayor on a short hike through the bog trails and detailed the vast and diverse range of wildlife that could be found in the preserve from deer to snakes to fish to the local beaver population. Along the way, Mr. Santa Maria showed the children the effects already being felt by the project such as a resurgence in wildlife and growth of auquatic plants that haven’t been seen in recent memory at the Bogs because of damage caused by off road vehicles which has been all but eliminated. The Pathfinders have also built dozens of bird and owl shelters on the property which have lured back local exotic bird species including woodpeckers and owls.
Along the hike, the group was joined by Customized Dickens, a horse owned by Karen Borga, being ridden here by Pathfinder member Keith Sawyer. Dickens is a neiiigh-bor of the bogs who calls the adjacent horse ranch owned by Site Manager Art Rosky home.
In the above photo, Mayor Reina, no stranger to horses, walks along some of the 5.1 miles of reclaimed trails first hand, accompanied by Customized Dickens and Keith Sawyer.
After such an accomplishment, the Pathfinders intend to remain busy and keep informing residents about the untold natural treasures right here in their own backyards. “Next up is a full moon hike at the New Jersey Forest Resource Education Center in August” Ms. Borga said. The Forest Resource Education Center is just a few miles west of the Bunker Hill Bogs on East Veterans Highway.
“We have fishing, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding and canoeing right now at the bogs” explains Art Rosky, site manager “In the future, we’ll have lots of activities for children and seniors. Just yesterday morning, two fisherman spent all afternoon in a boat out here and didn’t catch anything. As they were leaving, a young kid on the banks caught a huge bass!”. Rosky says there are plenty of bass already in the lakes and the waters will eventually be stocked with fish by the state.
Bunker Hill Bogs is the most unique of Jackson Township’s parks as it has no swing sets, no ball fields and no stadium lights. In fact, it doesn’t even have electricity, but it’s one of the most diverse and well maintained ecosystems in the town and it’s open from dawn till dusk every day. You won’t find Bunker Hill Bogs on any Google Map or State Wildlife guides because it just officially opened today, but it’s located on East Veteran’s Highway (Route 527), west of the intersection of Whitesville Road on the westbound side of the highway. It’s a makes for a perfect eco-day trip for the entire family.
The Jersey Shore is the place to be this weekend
| Go Kids NJ – This is a great weekend to visit the Jersey Shore, which is hosting another action packed blockbuster weekend, to kick off the early summer season. The NJ State Chili & Salsa Cookoff returns this weekend to the Jersey Shore as hundreds of the area’s spiciest chefs compete for the title of best chili and best salsa in New Jersey. This is the only chili contest officially sanctioned by the International Chili Society.The event happens in downtown Toms River, located just a mile from exit 82 on the Garden State Parkway.
Just down the road, in Jackson Township, one of the shore’s largest and most successful carnivals returns at the 2009 St. Aloysius Summer Carnival which will include carnival rides, food, live music and tons of family entertainment Wednesday through Saturday night. While you’re in Jackson, be sure to check out the Ronald McDonald Walk with Ronald at Six Flags Great Adventure. Wall Township will be host on Saturday to the Wall Township Festival held at the Wall Township municipal complex. eanwhile, further down the shore in Wildwood, N.J., the Jersey Shore Girl Scout Council is hosting their annual meet by the sea.
Here is a complete list of events this weekend in New Jersey, provided by GoKidsNJ, New Jersey’s #1 Family Entertaintment & Event website. Want to know What to do in New Jersey? Visit GoKidsNJ.Com |
| Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest Event Information Sussex County Fairgrounds Date: May 29,2009 Location: 37 Plains Rd., Augusta, NJ 07822 Get More Information: Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest |
| Sweeney Todd Event Information The Kelsey Theatre at Mercer Date: May 29,2009 Location: 1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor, NJ 08550 Get More Information: Sweeney Todd |
| Schola Reprises ‘Space, Light and Discovery’ Program Event Information First Presbyterian Church Date: May 29,2009 Location: 15 Shuart Ln., Ramsey, NJ 07446 Get More Information: Schola Reprises ‘Space, Light and Discovery’ Program |
| Two Rivers Arts/Antique Show & Garden Tour Event Information Red Bank Armory Ice Complex Date: May 29,2009 Location: Chestnut St., Red Bank, NJ 07701 Get More Information: Two Rivers Arts/Antique Show & Garden Tour |
| Concert: Tom Rush Event Information Grounds For Sculpture Date: May 29,2009 Location: 18 Fairgrounds Rd., Hamilton, NJ 08619 Get More Information: Concert: Tom Rush |
| Antique Show and Sale at Historic Lambert Castle Event Information Lambert Castle Date: May 29,2009 Location: Valley Road, Paterson, NJ 07503 Get More Information: Antique Show and Sale at Historic Lambert Castle |
| SOUNDPartnerships Event Information Westfield Symphony Orchestra Date: May 30,2009 Location: The Presbyterian Church in Westfield, NJ Get More Information: SOUNDPartnerships |
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| Pastel Artists Show Event Information Guild of Creative Art Date: May 30,2009 Location: 620 Broad St. (Rte. 35), Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 Get More Information: Pastel Artists Show |
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| Ocean Grove Giant Spring Flea Market Event Information Ocean Grove Date: May 30,2009 Location: Ocean Pathway, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756 Get More Information: Ocean Grove Giant Spring Flea Market |
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| SOUNDPartnerships Event Information SOUNDPartnerships Date: May 30,2009 Location: Mountain Ave., Westfield, NJ 07090 Get More Information: SOUNDPartnerships |
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| Antiques at Ramapo College Event Information Antiques Date: May 30,2009 Location: 505 Ramapo Valley Rd., Mahwah, NJ 07430 Get More Information: Antiques at Ramapo College |
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| 20th NJ State Chili & Salsa Cook Off Event Information 20th NJ State Chili Date: May 30,2009 Location: Washington St., Toms River, NJ 08753 Get More Information: 20th NJ State Chili & Salsa Cook Off |
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| Junie B. Jones Event Information Junie B. Jones Date: May 30,2009 Location: 1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor, NJ 08550 Get More Information: Junie B. Jones |
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| Forbidden Broadway: 25th Anniversary Tour Event Information Forbidden Broadway Date: May 30,2009 Location: 173 Main St., Manasquan, NJ 08736 Get More Information: Forbidden Broadway: 25th Anniversary Tour |
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| Girl Scout Council of Southern New Jersey Event Information Girl Scout Council Date: May 30,2009 Location: 3501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260 Get More Information: Girl Scout Council of Southern New Jersey |
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| Raising Moths and Butterflies – a Family Workshop Event Information a Family Workshop Date: May 30,2009 Location: 80 Route 206 South, Hillsborough, NJ 08844 Get More Information: Raising Moths and Butterflies – a Family Workshop |
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| Adult Workshops: Sculptural Ceramics Event Information Adult Workshops Date: May 30,2009 Location: 18 Fairgrounds Rd., Hamilton, NJ 08619 Get More Information: Adult Workshops: Sculptural Ceramics |
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| Chandlers Apprentice – Candlemaking Event Information Chandlers Apprentice Date: May 30,2009 Location: 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960 Get More Information: Chandlers Apprentice – Candlemaking |
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| Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters Event Information Nature Unleashed Date: May 30,2009 Location: 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07305 Get More Information: Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters |
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| Spring Fine Art & Crafts at Nomahegan Park Event Information Spring Fine Art Date: May 30,2009 Location: Springfield Ave., Cranford, NJ 07016 Get More Information: Spring Fine Art & Crafts at Nomahegan Park |
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| Suningive’s Gardens in Bloom Tour Event Information Suningive’s Gardens Date: May 30,2009 Location: 120 Whites Bogs Rd., Browns Mills, NJ 08015 Get More Information: Suningive’s Gardens in Bloom Tour |
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| Memorial Day Arts & Crafts Spectacular Event Information Memorial Day Arts Date: May 30,2009 Location: 6th St. & Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226 Get More Information: Memorial Day Arts & Crafts Spectacular |
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| Wall Township Festival 2009 Event Information Wall Township Date: May 30,2009 Location: 2205 Rt. 35, Sea Girt, NJ 07719 Get More Information: Wall Township Festival 2009 |
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| Somerset County 5K Walk for Life and Breath on 5/30 Event Information American Lung Association Date: May 30,2009 Location: Duke Island Park, Old York Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Get More Information: Somerset County 5K Walk for Life and Breath on 5/30
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