INTRODUCTION

I realize that everyone is sick and tired of hearing about Covid-19 AND I know most of you have wanted to forget about 2020 before 2020 was even half over! When this whole situation began, I don’t believe at that time anyone would have foreseen where we are today. I don’t believe anyone would have foreseen the roller coaster ride we embarked on at the onset of Covid-19—a ride that has touched so many different aspects of one’s life.

Sadly and realistically, we are not out of this yet! As for 2021, I believe the early months are going to fall into that category mentioned above, in the sense of wanting to forget about them! However, I am going to be optimistic here—2021 should hopefully begin to have us going in the right direction! 

I am thankful, amid all this sadness and tragedy, that most have done a wonderful job HELPING others, along with ADAPTING our lives as circumstances demand! Plus, all our parks served as an important escape, or release valve, if you will, for a pent up public with almost no options at the time for activities!

OBSERVATION

This week’s photo of the week article is only one small location amid the vast Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWGNRA), but that tiny location experienced a huge change in visitation numbers this year, which demonstrates just how much our lives have been altered—and how we adapted to the circumstances. I believe you will find your journey to Kittatinny Point within the Delaware Water Gap, mentioned below, quite interesting and telling. I sure did!

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Last Thursday, Dec. 3, I virtually attended, from 9-11 a.m., the DWGNRA’s annual partnership meeting. This meeting was attended by partnership members and park staff as a review of 2020 and also as a guide for 2021 activities.  I serve as vice chairman on the executive board for the Friends of DWGNRA. 

The meeting was opened with greetings from Sula Jacobs, park superintendent.  She thanked all the partnership members for working with the park service, talked about this year’s record numbers of visitors, and discussed how park staff and partners have adapted with ever-changing challenges.

Throughout the meeting, various department supervisors gave their reports.  There were interesting facts mentioned about attendance and park usage.  One was that in 2020, the park had many visitors who had never been in a national park prior to the visit and some who didn’t know they were currently in a National Park Service (NPS) unit! 

With so many ways to enter the park—and so many diverse activities— accurate counts of visitors were difficult. However, it was determined that there were up to 10 times more visitors on weekends than previous years!  Peak times were between 11-2 p.m., but some locations stayed busy to late afternoon and into the evening! 

NOTE:  If the Kittatinny Point area (the New Jersey side of the park) was a national park by itself, the total number of visitors there, for the three summer months, would have made it the 123^rd most visited in the NPS (out of 419 units). BUT all those other unit statistics were based on an entire year’s attendance!  That fact was the beginning concept of this Photo of the Week article!

While this article really only reports on one park, focusing on a small area within that park (Kittatinny Point), I believe it depicts an important part of the overall COVID-19 experience throughout our nation.  Our open space and park lands were suddenly elevated in the hearts of individuals as an important and unique asset for millions of their family members.  The park gave an opportunity (really “the only show in town” at the time) to get out and go somewhere, to be active, AND ONCE AGAIN ENJOY LIFE! 

At this point, I would ask you to please refer back to and remember my earlier sentiments of being THANKFUL! Thankful that we have as many parks as we do. Thankful to all those who operate and maintain the parks, especially under the conditions of over-usage AND with no extra manpower or funding! 

THANK YOU & JOB WELL DONE!!

A PERSONAL NOTE

As an open space advocate for the last twenty years, I, along with many others, had always striven to get the public to get out and enjoy their open space and parks. Alas, at times, we had the feeling that we had not quite achieved our goals even with a lot of hard work and expense in promoting all these wonderful recreational, educational and cultural opportunities, often asking ourselves, “How do we get the public to come out?” 

I look back on that first weekend this year when the public DID COME OUT,  and I remember how HELPLESS I felt.  While I feared the consequences of that mad onslaught of the public into the parks, I understood the reasons behind same. 

For 2021, I am just hoping for better times for all and a return to some form of normal!

BE SAFE – BE WELL – BE THANKFUL

LAST NOTE: Let us also pause and reflect: These are not the only times we as a nation have had life-changing circumstances thrust upon us! Today is Pear; Harbor Remembrance Day. Dec. 7, 1941, marked the beginning of WWII for the U.S.

Charlie Fineran

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