Not mowing Black Creek a disgrace

For 10 years through many administrations of Vernon elected officials have supported the preservation of our archaeological treasure, the Black Creek Indian Site. This site is one of only seven statewide listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places. The Vernon Historical Society worked hard to get the site listed and has since held many free educational programs and events at the site to teach our students and all residents about the history of the Lenape Indians, New Jersey’s indigenous tribe.
For 10 years the DPW has mowed the trail and approximately one acre of the nearly fifty-acre site. Our elected officials allowed this in the spirit of cooperation and community and for the benefit of all township residents to enjoy the walking trail and the south field of Black Creek, where all of our programs are held. The Vernon Historical Society created an outdoor classroom with interpretive kiosk where thousands of students have come to learn about the Lenape Indians and our archaeological resource. But not anymore.
Vernon Mayor Harry Shortway, in a spiteful and arbitrary unilateral decision, has ordered the DPW to stop mowing the field. He did this by total surprise, never informing the society of his arbitrary plan. I discovered it just two weeks ago when I happened to be taking several state officials from Trenton on a tour of our scenic and historic valley for our scenic byway and we stopped at Black Creek. To my horror, I saw the three-foot high grass and the field gone to hay, which will eventually ruin the site as it becomes overgrown with invasive species. Nothing short of a brush hog would fix it. We don’t have one, nor do we have the funds to maintain it.
A full-time DPW employee is stationed at Maple Grange Park all week and maintains all the township fields, but he is no longer permitted to mow the Black Creek field just a few feet away. When I brought this to the council’s attention on June 26, the council voted 3-2 to direct the mayor to resume mowing the field again. Only council members Jean Murphy and Dan Kadish, a former historical society trustee, voted “no.” However, as I feared, the mayor is digging in his heels and refusing to follow the council’s wishes.
This is a disgrace for Vernon Township, and an injustice to all our district students who have not only benefited from learning about this site but have also helped the society create its many programs there. This spiteful act has ruined our treasured Black Creek Site and has put an end to the educational opportunities for our students. Shame on you, Mayor Harry Shortway!
Jessi Paladini
President
Vernon Historical Society