First thing’s first: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Wishing you and your families a happy and healthier new year!

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO OF THE WEEK

9:30 a.m., Friday, New Year’s Day. I’m looking out my window at a cold (34 degrees), cloudy (rain in the forecast), damp, and dreary day.  Went out and got my coffee and my usual breakfast, a peanut butter on rye sandwich. No one is around. Guess everyone is sleeping in, catching some holiday ZZZs, or maybe recovering from New Year’s Eve!? 

I think I will just take one of my short local drives out and about, “looking for stuff.”

I’m kind of following one of my usual routes out through Johnsonburg, then Mill Road, Mott Road, and hit Route 94. I head south and quickly turn onto Lincoln Laurel Road, then a quick left and I am on Stillwater Road where I pass by Ridge & Valley Conservancy’s Gnome Hollow Preserve. 

My entire trip so far, I maybe saw three cars, but passing the little parking area I notice FOUR cars! I have to say, as an open space advocate, I was really happily impressed that this little out of the way site had almost a full parking lot!

Traveling on and am now approaching White Lake. I drive by, noticing another FULL parking area! There were even cars parked outside the parking area. Wow, I will have to report this at the next Warren County Board of Recreation Commission meeting!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am now having flashes in my mind: GO BACK – TAKE A PHOTO!  Folks, I am not talking about a photo of beautiful White Lake. I am talking about a photo of the full parking lot! Following my heart/gut instinct, I turned around, headed back and took your photo of the week!

After the photo, I actually had to take a few moments quietly sitting in my car to allow myself to mull over my game plan. After some thought, it was becoming obvious to me that what started out as one of my standard looking for wildlife and nature trips had quickly morphed into a People and Their Parks story! I think I found my next Photo of the week article.

I set out again on a new mission: check out various sites/sights focusing on attendance!

OBSERVATION: While I realize most holidays are associated with our Open Space Lands, especially in giving people time off to visit, I must say, New Year’s Day just never seemed, for me, to be one of them—especially if you factor in my earlier physical description of the day!

PEOPLE AND THEIR PARKS TOUR

After leaving White Lake, I was on a mission! I went into Blairstown and then drove out Millbrook Road, heading towards Millbrook Village. Atop Millbrook Road, in the DWGNRA, the Appalachian Trail crosses the road.  There were about 10 cars parked by the trail in this area. Went down into Millbrook Village and observed eight more cars parked there. 

I drove back over Millbrook Road and turned right onto Gaisler Road, which took me to the entrance to Camp Mohican and Catfish Pond in the DWGNRA.  Driving along this road, there were multiple vehicles along the road by the Appalachian Trail; The Appalachian Mountain Club Center had several vehicles, too, and Black Oak Parking Area had about 15 cars in it!

Departing there, I made my way down to Route 94 and then to I-80 West heading towards the Delaware Water Gap.  In the Water Gap, the first parking lot I came to was full and the next parking area at Dunnfield Creek was also almost full.  I really must say, I was very pleasantly surprised by the amount of cars I saw at these various Open Space and Parkland sites!

I am going to refer to these photos as beautiful, not from an aesthetic point of view but from a people-putting-value-in-our parks view! Hope you agree.

RANDOM THOUGHTS & CONCEPTS

Utilizing old sayings and adages in my writing has always been fun and enjoyable for me. I’m hoping some of these will help highlight important concepts and events presented during this article.

From the movie “Field of Dreams,” remember the underlying theme that “If you build it, they will come”?  Well kudos to ALL of the park services, conservancies, and organizations that have spent so much time and effort over the years, creating park lands and sites for the public to visit and enjoy.

Here’s another: “Don’t believe me—believe them.”  In my articles, you take my word about how nice a place is. Well, look at these photos. These people are also sending you a message about these locations!

And “harvesting the fruits of our labors!’ The proof is in the photos!!  JOB WELL DONE! THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO!

Here’s a New Year’s Resolution that you can keep: Visit an Open Space parkland as often as possible.

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran

Charlie Fineran is Allamuchy’s Director of Open Space, Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission Chairman and Allamuchy Historical Society President.