photo credit: Bo Honoré | Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve
Dear Friend,
We hope this finds you well and safe in your homes.
Like so many other organizations, FOPOS has sadly been forced to cancel many events scheduled for the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve in the interest of public health, which is paramount. Other community events we were going to participate in, such as Princeton GreenFest and walks organized through the Princeton Public Library, have also been canceled or postponed. We have made the decision to postpone our own annual meeting until the fall, when we hope we can safely gather in person at the Mountain Lakes House.
The good news is that through the dedication of our Natural Resources Manager, Anna Corichi, and many volunteers, we have been able to make great progress on our forest restoration project while following all local and federal guidelines and the Governor’s orders. Of 2,000 bare-root trees and shrubs we intended to plant this month, nearly 1,700 are in the ground!
Of course, small-group planting sessions with gloves and social distancing were discontinued when Executive Order 107 was issued on March 21, 2020. However, Anna continues to work on her own with no company but her little dog, Alpha (a dedicated supporter of FOPOS).
Many of you have chosen to come to the greater Mountain Lakes Recreation Area for exercise and mental solace during this difficult time. We are happy that the park is here for you. We also want everyone to please be careful to maintain social distancing at all times, and to keep your dogs leashed. A six-foot minimum from other people is mandated by Executive Order 107. Please announce yourself if you are overtaking other walkers from behind so they can move out of your way. Allowing dogs off-leash is not only contrary to Princeton ordinance and the conservation easement we hold, but can set up situations where it is impossible to maintain the appropriate separation. The same rules apply to other parks we help maintain such as Woodfield Reservation, or the Stony Brook Trail.
Most, if not all, of these other parks have trails of a width that makes appropriate social distancing difficult if not impossible, so they are best suited to solitary walks or runs. Please consider, though, that even if you are on your own, you will likely encounter other people on a nice day and may need to move off-trail to maintain the necessary distance. Again, if you are running, please stop and announce yourself to others you are overtaking or even approaching. We are a community that is pulling together and that cares about each other, and that needs to be true when we are enjoying the well-known benefits of being outdoors as well as at all other times. We look forward to better times to come when we can interact with you in person.
With kindest regards,
Wendy Mager, President