A.T. boardwalk too popular

I attended the Vernon council meeting of May 9 and listened to the problems and concerns of the residents who reside near the Appalachian Trail’s boardwalk on Rt. 517. This segment of the Trail has become so popular that it has caused safety and quality of life issues for the residents nearby. The residents voiced their concerns for traffic and loss of privacy due to the numbers of hikers that park on the streets near their homes. Vernon’s police have responded to the problems and are doing their best to address the parking issues. Mayor Shortway plans to meet with officials from the state of New Jersey and Appalachian Trail Conference to enlighten them to these issues and get them on board to solve the problems. As a Vernon taxpayer, I encourage our elected officials to petition the appropriate agencies to assist in solving the problems and funding all costs related to the solutions for a safe parking situation for the attraction they created.
Mayor Shortway ran for office on a platform that included expanding the use of our natural resources. He appointed the Greenway Action Advisory Committee (GAAC), of which I am a member, to accomplish completion of the Greenway Corridor, part of Vernon’s Master Plan. This 8-member committee, chaired by Mike Furrey, is working earnestly to connect four-season trail systems throughout the township for walking, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, bird watching, etc. With council support, our accomplishments will offer long term solutions that will undoubtedly relieve the pressure at the boardwalk and offer more choices for everyone. As we present our plans to the council, we hope you will attend the meetings and support our efforts.
Sally Rinker
Secretary of GAAC