A proposal by the Mercer County Parks Commission to develop a section of land known as Dam Site 21 has generated public controversy. The space, which includes wetlands and woodlands, is located less than a mile from the MCCC’s West Windsor campus, on a 280 plot of land adjacent to Hughes Drive.
According to documents, on Mercer County’s official website, the Parks Commission is seeking a firm to create a “unique passive recreational park with a focus on the lake and water activities and to provide the citizens of Mercer County the opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of this special property. Specifically, we would like to include water-based programming and activities that don’t presently exist at the County’s other lake facilities.”
While the Parks Commission says the development will have recreational and financial benefits, a vocal group of residents opposed to the plan says it will be bad for the environment, costly, and will cause traffic and noise on Hughes Drve.
At a Hamilton Town Council meeting on October 1, Hamilton residents showed up with lawyer Dino Spadaccini serving as their leader.
He asked the council: “Why is the county not answering us? Is the county being underserved in terms of parks? Where does this come from?”
Speaking on behalf of the group he said that nearby residents already have access to many other green spaces including Mercer County Park, Sayen Gardens, and Veterans Park.
He said that despite having public meetings the Park Commission has been “hiding behind Mr. Simone,” referring to the project leader from Simone Collins Landscape Architecture firm.
Anthony Cucchi, the chair of the Advisory Committee for the project said in a letter to Hamilton’s mayor that the goal “is to balance sustainable use of this beautiful site with the concerns of neighbors.”
The Mercer County Parks Commission posted a public survey online to gauge public opinion. Seventy-five percent of people taking the survey said they believed their recreational needs in the county are already being met.
The survey had an anonymous comment section which has received 288 comments so far ranging from emphatic responses like “NO NEED FOR DAM SITE 21!!!!!” to “Some great ideas, I’m particularly interested in seeing more environmentally conscious developments in the park.”
The issue has become so tense with residents that not only have they reached out to request support from the Town Council members to stop the project, but they are also organizing a protest on October 26, at Hughes Drive.
Not everyone is against the project, however, as shown in the survey. Residents from other townships have said they believe that the project will be good for the greater communities outside of just Hamilton Township.
Ted Pivovarnick, who owns property in both Robbinsville and Hamilton Township, says he wants to “keep [Dam Site 21],” but that he is not opposed to compromise and can accept “core trails” and other promised renovations.
The situation will remain in limbo until November 12, when the presentation of the Draft Master Plan will be revealed by Mercer County Park Commission in or after the third public meeting.
