Don't Cut Our Park's Grasses, Lacey Residents Plead

LACEY, NJ — Forked River Beach sits on the Barnegat Bay, and has some truly stunning views. Part of this view, residents say, is due to the native grasses and wildflowers that grow at the Bayfront Park.

But the township mowed down those grasses recently, and residents of Beach Boulevard and nearby want answers.

The debate kicked off with a recent post in the public Facebook group "Lacey Township Chatter," where a concerned resident mentioned the mowing of the grasses.

It continued at the most recent Township Committee meeting, where several residents came to voice their disapproval of the cutting, while others shared their support.

Laura Schetelich, who made the group's original post, was the first one to bring up the mowing at the meeting.

"I honestly felt like I was punched in the gut," Schetelich recalled seeing the park after it was mowed. "Like I just wanted to cry on the spot."

She described the native plants that were there before, such as asters, goldenrods and more. Native plants are important for their areas because they are specifically suited for where they grow. This is especially true at the Barnegat Bay, according to Save Barnegat Bay, where they play a critical role in protecting the waters.

"They provide a host of beneficial resources to the local environment, including the filtration of polluted runoff using their root systems," the environmental organization explained.

The park had apparently been mowed after some residents complained of mosquitos, possums, mice and that the grasses were simply unsightly.

Schetelich refuted each of these points, saying that mosquitos are gone this time of year and that they are inevitable when you live on the water, that possums are beneficial and not harmful, that mice would run into houses after their homes were cut down and that now you see a rock wall at the park instead of wildflowers and grasses.

"I don't know why anyone would rather look at a wall, a rock wall, than wildflowers," Schetelich said. She presented the Committee with signatures from 13 people she spoke with at the park who did not want the grasses cut down or at least asked to postpone mowing for another four weeks.

Mayor Mark Dykoff explained that the township was trying to balance the residents who live there and the visitors who visit the park.

"I think that by mowing once a year, keeps it a little manageable," Dykoff said.

"As a municipality, we're caught in the middle," said Committeeman Peter Curatolo. He said that the Department of Environmental Protection said that the township cannot cut the grass for about 26 weeks, but the Health Department put out a PSA saying to keep grass cut to prevent West Nile virus.

"We get dictated to by, now this time, two different state agencies giving conflicting advice," Curatolo said.

Many other residents spoke in support of keeping the grass, including a woman who said she was a 53-year Lacey resident.

She said that although walking is difficult for her, she walks at the Bayfront Park as often as she can.

"It's a beautiful park. It's used. It should be continued to be used at the beautiful conditions. And you've cut down the beautiful conditions this time of year," she said.

Pat Doyle said that a comprehensive plan was needed in order to make the best decision possible.

"Sometimes we need to start rethinking the way we do things and adjust to the times," Doyle said. "The pollinators are dying. That is a fact. The monarch butterflies are now on the endangered list, listed very threatened."

She suggested engaging the community and doing gardening at the park, so that the people there got a say in what plants are there.

"Hopefully we will continue to gather the facts as we go forward and incorporate the facts into a comprehensive plan. And I think it could be something that's very pleasing to everyone," Doyle said.

However, some were in favor of cutting the grass.

Donna Brophy shared some concerns about the park, as the walking path is right behind her home. She said a neighbor shared a video of a person walking on the path holding what appeared to be a fireball in his hand, which if it got into the grasses, could catch her home ablaze, she said.

Brophy also cited bugs attacking people on the path, rodents and geese and their droppings in the area.

"I moved here to have those views and enjoy the area," Brophy said. "And I really am in favor of keeping the grass cut."

The main issue, resident Robert Schickling said, was that the grass causes allergies and brings bugs.

After an hour of discussion, the meeting concluded, with the township only saying that they needed to balance the needs of everybody.

"Let's practice more humanity," Schetelich said. "If you really have to cut it down, please just wait and wait until after Thanksgiving."