Despite a COVID pause, the proposed over-development of Dam Site 21 by the Mercer County Park Commission is still concerning. However, there's STILL TIME to minimize this development.
The site sits on the border of three townships: Robbinsville, West Windsor, and Hamilton. Hamilton Township has the potential to take a hard stance against the current proposal in order to Preserve the Passive Existence, Utilization, and unique Natural Habitat of Dam Site 21 by way of limited disturbance in order to maintain the character of the site. Although the Mercer County Park Commission approved [their own proposal], the Hamilton Township Planning Board still has to approve it for anything to actually move forward.
The next hearing takes place at the Hamilton Township Planning Board meeting on May 12, 2022. This is where YOU come in. This meeting will most likely be the tipping point between the Mercer County Park Commission's plan going into effect, and our more viable, passive alternative. Come to the meeting. Voice your thoughts and concerns. Play a role in the development of your community. We can stop this unnecessary development and duplication of Mercer County Park (i.e. Mercer County Park 2.0) with your engagement.
This is an issue of both environmental preservation and wasteful spending. Development of Dam Site 21 will have a catastrophic impact on the wildlife. We support the conservation of this massive ecosystem of wetlands and marshes, a habitat that gives life to species like bald eagles, great blue herons, owls, hawks, foxes, turtles, and plenty of other rare and/or endangered species of flora and fauna. And we’re not alone:
Non-profit Save Hamilton Open Space has also condemned the Mercer County Park Commission’s invasive, $22 million plan, citing “serious concerns” about the impact on the environment and current ecosystems. (Rest assured, they'll be at the May 12th meeting, speaking up against this development as currently proposed.)
A 2021 study conducted by Rutgers University’s Center for Urban Sustainability (CUES) referred specifically to Dam Site 21, saying (on pg. 140) that “As the entire park provides valuable habitat for threatened and endangered species and is in generally good ecological condition, it is a conservation priority as a whole.” Let that sink in. This is the exact site MCPC wants to spend $22 million to develop. Five separate parking lots, plus roads, ranger stations, and a "canopy tree walk" that will dig deep into this biodiverse wetland, ruining the habitats of countless species.
The landscape architect, Peter Simone (of Simone Collins Landscape Architecture) assured residents that Dam Site 21 was “unique” and “only going to be used for passive recreation that requires a soft touch, a light hand.” Cut to present day, and the Mercer County Park Commission aims to spend upwards of $20 million of taxpayer money (roughly $70,863 per acre) for an existing public space, not including future maintenance. Up until now, MCPC has never maintained the site, and has even acknowledged that they’ve been "poor stewards" of the public land. Rather than simply beginning to maintain current trails, they’re now trying to implement a $20 million plan that will then require even more money to maintain.
This is local government left unchecked. The only solution is resident engagement. You have a voice. Together we can minimize this unnecessary development and maintain the uniqueness of the site. But we have to act now.
We support: Dedicated Public open space to be utilized by the general public, improved access, enhancements to existing core trails and better stewardship, wildlife preservation and environmental conservation similar to D&R Greenway Land Trust .
We oppose: Unnecessary Development and wasteful spending that will cause the displacement of wildlife (including bald eagles, owls, hawks, great blue heron and 100 other bird sightings, as well as fox, deer, beavers, etc.), destruction of wildlife habitat; and the unjustifiable utilization of residential neighborhoods for a ranger station, maintenance facility, nursery stock yard, canopy bridge, deer fences, parking lots, restrooms (in light of available alternatives).
Join 1620 digital and over 900 handwritten signees (and counting) in opposing the unnecessary development of Dam Site 21, and supporting environmental conservation. Every single signature counts. Please help us in fighting back against wasteful spending, park sprawl, and more needless development in Hamilton Township.
Come to the Hamilton Township Planning Board meeting on Thursday, May 12, 2022. This may very well be the last chance we have to minimize this development. Every single person who shows up makes a difference.
If you oppose park sprawl and a needless $22 million project that will drill into environmentally sensitive areas, ruin a thriving wildlife ecosystem, introduce traffic congestion, roads, and parking lots, and contribute to a massive, completely unnecessary neighborhood disturbance … COME TO THE MEETING. Simply by showing up and being involved, you are helping to stop the MCPC's catastrophic plan from going into effect.
There is no need to spend $22 MILLION of taxpayer money to UNNECESSARILY develop this beautiful public land right NEXT to (2600-acre, 4 square mile) Mercer County Park! And there IS an alternative: a clearly defined passive recreation plan that will save taxpayers $10 million, prevent forest destruction, and preserve wildlife and current public-use open space.
This meeting is your opportunity to participate in local government and shape the future of your community for generations to come. If you care about this issue, please attend!
MEETING DETAILS:
Thursday, May 12, 2022 - 6 PM
Hamilton Township Municipal Building
2090 Greenwood Avenue
Hamilton, NJ
08609
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