Work Started on County Parks in Barnegat
County Freeholder presented update at Township Committee meeting Monday.
Work is currently under way at both the Lochiel Creek and Cloverdale Farm county parks, according to Freeholder John Bartlett, who presented an update on the work at Barnegat Township's regular committee meeting on Monday night.
Bartlett said that although the county has encountered some barriers in getting the work under way, in the form of lack of finances and ecological challenges, they expect that the work should be completed in the next several months.
"I apologize we have taken so long," Bartlett told the audience. "It is not that it got forgotten, the money just wasn't there. We have now stretched it out a little longer. Whatever we do we're going to do it right, rather than do it half way."
At Lochiel, Bartlett said that the county has had some "problems with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service" because of the indigenous swamp pinks in the area. According to the Service's website, swamp pinks are "threatened." The website continues: "supporting over half of the known populations, New Jersey is the stronghold for swamp pink. An obligate wetland species, swamp pink occurs in a variety of palustrine forested wetlands including swampy forested wetlands bordering meandering streamlets, headwater wetlands, sphagnous Atlantic white-cedar swamps, and spring seepage areas."
"Beause of the swamp pinks, we need permission with boardwalks, gravel, anything," Barlett said. "We, can do nothing that might effect the quality of the swamp pinks."
Despite these barriers, Bartlett said the county plans for a "gorgeous park" that will feature restroom facilities, and access to the Barnegat Rail Trail through a neighboring, township-owned park.
"This is a gorgeous site, it will help you in the township make access out of the ballfields easier than it was before," Bartlett said.
Discussing Cloverdale farm, Bartlett noted that the house that once was located at the farm, has been removed, the foundation exposed and expanded to pave the way for restroom facilities at the site. He showed plans for the craftsman-style house, which will house the restrooms. The house features a "fake" chimney which will actually be the exhaust system for the bathrooms.
The site will also feature parking for about 35 cars, and two of the bogs will be maintained as workig cranberry bogs.
"I would've liked to keep them all flooded because it's so beautiful. but if we maintain it as a farm, we will have a much easier job with the DEP of getting the water rights to flood the bog." The Freeholder added that they are hoping to purchase some land, once a bidder is found for the nearby Shoreline property, to screen the road "from whatever they put" on the site.
Mayor Al Cirulli thanked Bartlett for the update. The update came about two weeks after a township resient appeared at another committee meeting and called the lack of progress on the park an "insult to the people of Barnegat."
Once a working cranberry farm, the 80-acre area now has become a haven for nature lovers, featuring wildflowers, cranberries and more.
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot
9:51 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Lochiel Creek County Park. Wow.
Larry Cataldo
8:54 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
18 yrs ago,,,
Pineshiker
9:51 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Personally I am not happy about it being turned into an active cranberry farm, I think it is one of the only places to go in Barnegat that is serene and not taken over by the public and ruined. It is still a peaceful quiet wonderful place for bird watching. Now it will be full of people who will destroy it, leave garbage and scare all of the birds away. I just wish they would leave it the way it is so people who enjoy and need such a serene place can enjoy it. Barnegat is too populated and the ONLY place other than Clover dale park is the Rail Trail.
Larry Cataldo
8:54 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
that ship hassailed , get over it!
Larry Cataldo
8:54 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
another thing, this area is FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS not just the seniors of west barnegat,,,,,
RANDY
9:14 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
I MYSELF NOT A MEMBER OF THE FORMER OWNERS BUT GREW UP ON THIS FARM AS A TRUE FRIEND OF THE FAMILY AND THE LAND WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR KIDS LEARN AND ENJOY CLOVERDALE. I CALL CLOVERDALE MY FAMILY AND MY LOVING HOME. MY LOVE FOR CLOVERDALE IS STRONG LIGHT A JULY THUNDER STROM KNOWING WITH HARD WORK WE WILL BE A BETTER PERSON DOR OUR FUTURE. CLOVERDALE IS JUST TAKING A NAP RIGHT NOW AND SOON SHE WILL WAKE UP AND SHARE ALL SHE CAN GIVE WITH ALL . YOUR FAMILY UNDERSTAND AND WISH YOU THE BEST. LOVE A TRUE FRIEND OF THE WOODS.
Sal Sorce
12:28 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Sounds like a neat idea ... but doesn't Barnegat
have more important priorities?
Isn't Barnegat in need of a new elementary school?
Typical 'silly season" pandering for votes the Freeloaders
are raiding the bank in the county to help their buddies
in various townships ... the County -GOP connection ...
will it ever be a time where that connection is broken?
Time for a third party ...
Rick
8:13 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
New elementary school?
Is there someone in town we need to honor with a new Taj Mahal? Didn't we find out last year when Collins was closed most of the year with a mold problem that we have more schools than we need?
Larry Cataldo
3:01 pm on Saturday, October 6, 2012
sal,,,this has nothing to do with barnegat twp... this was funded and promised 18 yrs ago,,,,from the county
Susan
9:06 am on Thursday, October 18, 2012
Another elementary school. Are you kidding me? The ones we now have are half empty. Didn't really need the Donahue School. Was McMahon's baby.
Pineshiker
1:11 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
"Once a working cranberry farm, the 80-acre area now has become a haven for nature lovers, featuring wildflowers, cranberries and more." Leave it the way it is so it can still be a haven and not a crowded demonstration place. If Barnegat had more places that could be havens of nature it might be ok, but Barnegat is over built, way too many neighborhoods and no land left for nature lovers. Leave it the way it is, I think it's an insult to make it into a demonstration farm and ruin the simple beauty of the place.
Rick
8:13 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
If it is turned into a demonstration cranberry farm it won't be crowded most of the year. The only 'demonstration' would be for a few days a year during harvest time.
I can't imagine large groups of people flocking there to watch cranberry bushes grow.
Larry Cataldo
8:54 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
SAL this was proposed 18 yrs ago, Bartlett said then the money was already set aside for this, he came here thumping his chest that he was gonna do this,,, he got hammered by the public and and got mad at barnegat and left,,,other towns got there area parks built, but not barnegat,,, this money has already been set aside,according to bartlett, look it up,,,,and its not barnegats priorites THIS WAS PROMISED 18 YRSAGO,,,
Rick
11:01 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
HOPEFULLY they won't put in a huge bus parking area like they did at Well Mills Park.
Pineshiker
8:19 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Larry, not a senior here! I am glad that area is for all the residents, but for the most part it is a calm and quiet place that is very peaceful to go and walk around and bird watch, having it turned into a demonstration farm will take away it's purity and just the awe that you feel being out there. If Barnegat had more places that there was land free to roam and soak in peaceful places that might not be so bad but Barnegat is horrible and over populated and every peace of land is being turned into something, another neighborhood, shopping plaza, anything it's just getting more and more ruined as time goes on.
Pineshiker
8:19 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Rick, some of what I put in the comment back to Larry was about that as well. I think that it will be more crowded with childrens groups, senior groups, people coming to see the demo's and that alone will be enough. It will also cause it to be turned into something more public worthy probably which I believe will take away from how it looks now, sort of over grown, old and pure. I love to go out there and just imagine how it was for the workers 100 years ago and breath in the peacefulness. Now it will be like a museum, and it will change it for sure.
BeyondReality
5:01 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Yea, Way to go Larry. You had to go complain and ruin it for everyone...
Larry Cataldo
9:40 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
you need a GRIP ON REALITY!!!!!
Mike Howard
9:06 am on Thursday, October 18, 2012
I like the idea of this two park system. Barnegat's history of hunting, fishing and farming is being lost every day in the memories of it's people. I think operating the old Collin's farm is a great way to maintain at least a little bit of the farming history. I would hope that the school system would use these parks so that the children growing up here will see in action, the way this area was before the building boom arrived. The second park will allow us to just walk in a more natural setting. No matter why the parks are being built at this time, I'm happy because it's good for Barngat and it's people.
it could be me
4:30 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
Mr Cataldo, I have some good news and bad news for you. The good news is the new county parks. The bad news, you stated "Im happy its just not for the seniors. Well Mr cataldo, it my mind serves me right---------you are a senior. Welcome to the club,
Larry Cataldo
11:01 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
YES, I AM A SENIOR AND I LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PARKWAY,,,,AND I LOVE IT! WAS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE ,,,,UNLIKE THE "TOWN OF WEST BARNEGAT" WHO SEEMS TO HAVE THE ILLUSION THAT THE TOWN BELONGS TO THEM, AND THEM ALONE! IT'S BELONGS TO ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE TWP. WE ALL PAY TAXES ON ONE HOUSE, AND ONE HOUSE ALONE!
Rick
11:01 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
If in fact Mr Cataldo is a senior, then he can enjoy the new parks and so can younger residents.
Bill Sierchio
4:30 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
It was a working cranberry farm; I think restoring the bogs to their former state is a great idea!
Larry Cataldo
11:01 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
BARTTLET ALSO PROMISED A CATCH AND RELEASE POND FOR YOUNG CHILDREN!!!!!
Rick
6:06 am on Sunday, October 21, 2012
I'm not sure how you can promise a catch.
Rick
11:01 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
Just one question.
Will the work continue after November 6th?
Larry Cataldo
12:04 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
GOOD POINT, THE LAST TIME BARTLET GOT ELECTED TOOK HIM 18 YEARS TO COME BACK!!!!