Keith and Elizabeth Vannozzi, Hopewell Township
We moved to our home on Church Road more than 13 years ago. We are blessed to be surrounded by park property. We have the park grounds and all it has to offer not far from our front door. What a great place to raise a family. Who knew years later we’d be concerned abut the state building a “group cabin” yards from our house.
We met with Dave Donnelly, superintendent at Washington Crossing State Park. He shared what he’s been told about the project, which isn’t much. Anyone 18 and older with a driver’s license can rent this facility for seven-12 people. They can “live” there for up to 40 days. This “group cabin” will be open year round. Once started the project will be fast-tracked and completed within 18 months.
We have quite a few concerns regarding this “group cabin” being placed on our residential street.
• Safety issues — Unsupervised “renters will be within yards of our children as they wait for the school bus, kick a soccer ball, ride their bikes, etc.; who will patrol this property to ensure that park rules and regulations are being followed as it is not within the confines of the park?; how often will they patrol this property as it is not within the confines of the park; young adults may consider this “group cabin” a party house as there are no park rangers around to watch over them; unsupervised “renter children” wandering off and drowning in the pond; unsupervised “renter children playing on and in very close proximity to a residential road; increase in street traffic as the “renters” come and go at all hours of the day and night;
A major concern for both residents and “renters” is the intersection where this “group cabin” is being placed. Anyone not familiar with this crossroads could easily cause a serious accident.
• General concerns — Depending on where the “group cabin” and parking area is located, there will be more noise, such as vehicle traffic, radios, camp fire gatherings, door slamming, loud voices, perhaps even yelling and screaming, etc. at all hours of the day and night. Will the park have enough employees to maintain this property if more employees are cut as was threatened last spring? “Renters” will not be in a prime location to enjoy all the park amenities without getting in a car and driving 2 miles to the front entrance.
Washington Crossing State Park has tent sites located near hiking trails, the nature center, playgrounds, picnic areas, the open-air theatre and the museum. If the true intent of the state is to build a “group cabin” so people can enjoy the “wilderness, then the “group cabin” should be located in the wilderness of the park, not on Church Road. If this is a money-making idea to help sustain our state park to ensure it will still be here when our children have children, we support this idea wholeheartedly. Place it where it will make money — within the confines of the park in the vicinity of park facilities.
This “group cabin,” if built on Church Road, would have a negative effect on our neighborhood. We deserve answers to our questions. We thank Superintendent Donnelly for coming and meeting with us. Unfortunately he hasn’t been informed with enough information to help us. We have sent a copy of this letter to 115 of our neighbors informing them of this project and asking for their support. We have already heard back from some, who support us 100 percent. We have sent it to our township and state officials and have asked our 115 neighbors to do the same. Surprisingly some of our local officials have informed us they were unaware of this project. We feel it would be beneficial to all to consider changing the location of this “group cabin.”