LACEY – Amidst strong opinions both for and against regular maintenance of the path by Bayfront Park, Lacey officials have devised a plan they admit could be just a temporary fix.
Residents living alongside the Bayfront Park path can now express their choices regarding the maintenance of vegetation on township-owned property. Homeowners who wish for the grass to be cut in the area will need to erect signs indicating their preferences. They are also expected to send emails to township authorities to ensure their addresses are included on a list.
Mayor Timothy McDonald warned homeowners about cutting the grass on their own. At least one resident has already done so and has been admonished by Code Enforcement.
Bayfront Park is located at the end of Beach Boulevard and has a walking path that extends in front of waterfront homes. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
“The next time it happens, there’s going to be a fine,” said McDonald. “Let the Public Works people do their job as far as cutting. You want to cut your own property in your own boundaries, have at it. On the Lacey Township property, please don’t do it because you’ll get fined.”
The initiative comes after residents on both sides of the issue spoke out at a recent Township Committee meeting. Some believe that regular maintenance is necessary to prevent the growth of overgrown vegetation that can attract unwanted pests like mosquitoes and geese. Others argue that preserving the existing plant life is important for maintaining the park’s natural ecosystem and providing habitat for wildlife.
For newcomers like Sandra Arnold, who moved to Lacey with her husband just a year ago, this issue has surfaced as an important aspect of their new life in the region.
In expressing her concerns about the failure to clear the path, Arnold opined that the overgrowth adversely affected the turtle habitats.
“I don’t feel that what is currently happening makes a lot of sense to protect the terrapins,” said Arnold. “As was stipulated in the CAFRA permit.”
CAFRA stands for Coastal Area Facilities Review Act, and it governs how the State Department of Environmental Protection enforces rules for land near bodies of water.
Signs around Bayfront Park state the date restrictions for mowing to protect turtles. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Arnold referenced her receipt of a code enforcement letter stating that mowing was allowed after October 15, yet the grass remained uncut, contrary to prior practices.
“I am speaking on behalf of eight to ten neighbors who live directly on the path and would like to see the mowing and the clearing of the gabion wall,” Arnold added.
One of the other issues addressed at the meeting was that the overgrowth has impinged on the walkway, which is really not that wide. A number of residents said it is difficult to move to the side when walking a dog with someone approaching from the opposite direction.
A homeowner whose property borders on the path cited problems he said were created by salt marshes on both sides of the entrance asphalt. Robert Schickling noted the importance of mosquito control and his feeling that the grasslands between the residential homes tend to accumulate goose feces.
“I live on the water, and I’m right around the corner from you guys,” shared Committeewoman PeggySue Juliano. “I have 30-40 of them every day on my front lawn. I don’t know what we can do about this; it has been a fight for a few years.”
Juliano argued that the geese had a preference for the green lawn. Arnold countered that the geese enjoyed the high fluffy grass as short-term protection while they’re in flight.
Lacey resident Laura Schetelich challenged some of the concerns raised in the meeting, emphasizing the value of preserving the park’s natural features.
Schetelich addressed the issue of turtles and their migration to the water, explaining that turtles instinctively know how to navigate through the environment to reach the water. She refuted the notion that the presence of native plants was hindering the turtles’ journey.
As an environmentally conscious resident, Schetelich pointed out that the park’s native plants were crucial for various wildlife, including butterflies and migrating birds. She highlighted the importance of plants such as goldenrods and asters, which served as essential food sources for butterflies before they migrated south. She expressed concern for the endangered monarch butterfly and the need to protect their habitats and food sources.
Bayfront Park faces the Barnegat Bay and offers recreational opportunities for children and adults. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Regarding the issue of geese feces, Schetelich suggested that allowing certain areas of the grass to grow could deter geese from landing and congregating in those lower-lying spots. She encouraged the committee to consider the ecological impact of mowing and recommended timing mowing to minimize disruption to wildlife and their habitats.
Dr. Stan Hales, Director of the Barnegat Bay Partnership National Estuary Program pointed out that misinformation had been shared during the meeting. He highlighted the interconnectedness of various issues discussed during the meeting, such as the role of vegetation in protecting soil and the importance of plants in supporting wildlife.
Hales spoke about the significance of vegetation for migrating birds, butterflies, and insect populations, noting that many baby birds rely on insects for food. He suggested a compromise where vegetation could be cut but with careful consideration of the timing to minimize the impact on wildlife.
“You’re actually harming bird populations by not helping them migrate,” shared Hales. “You can cut the vegetation down, but the critical thing becomes the timing of that.”
“I’ll be honest, birds don’t read signs very well,” he continued. “They don’t know that on October 16th, they’re supposed to be down south. So I’d give them a chance, and I’d wait a little later in the year before you start the cutting.”
McDonald acknowledged that the township is permitted to trim in the area from October 15th until May or June. However, the authorities are under no obligation to do so if they decide it would be best to leave it in its natural state.
“My opinion is that we cut this thing as the New Jersey permit allows us to do so,” said McDonald. “The question is how many times do with do it. Do we do it in October and then do it again in May? Or do we just do it in May and let it go for that whole year.”
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