BORDENTOWN – Mayor Stephen Benowitz, Deputy Mayor Eric Holliday, and Committeemen Eugene M. Fuzy, James Kostoplis and Ken Mason are responding to residents’ concerns about township officials closing walking and bike paths.
“We want to be clear that our determination is based on the health and safety of our residents and out of an abundance of caution. We also completely understand the frustration and different opinions surrounding this issue.
“Remember, we are all residents as well. Many of you are used to seeing us out and about in the community, walking our dogs, playing with our children, riding our bicycles, and enjoying our public spaces and events. Like everyone else, we have had to curb these actions as a result of the COVID-19 virus.
“One of the many things we need to focus on as a community is our collective mental and physical well-being during this stay-at-home period. We encourage everyone to call and check in on family, friends, and neighbors. Certainly, being outdoors and getting some fresh air is helpful too. And after all, dogs still need to go out.
“However, there is a certain distinction between self-care and the care of others and the full utilization of our park facilities and paths. We have seen and heard of situations where public places, including paths, have become crowded and therefore difficult to keep socially distant. As the weather gets better, this is our primary concern.
“We are now up to approximately 50 positive cases of COVID-19 in the township. And tragically, we have lost three residents’ lives to this virus. The loss of lives of residents, with the potential for other lost lives, is something the committee takes more seriously than anything else. If you have been following the reports in Burlington County, you have seen the uptick in positive cases and fatalities in the county in the past few weeks. Expectations are that this trend will continue.
“So while we understand that the inconvenience of not being able to use the public paths in the township is difficult, compared to protecting and possibly saving lives, this decision is clear.
“The circumstances surrounding this virus are something none of us have ever seen or been through before. The situation is fluid, and as a committee we will continue to re-evaluate all policies weekly to determine the necessity and efficacy of the current social distancing restrictions. There is light at the end of this tunnel. We can shorten this tunnel by us all doing our part in reducing contact with each other.
“Please continue to practice social distancing and follow the guidelines from the governor and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. We wish all our residents, friends, and families well during these hard times. Many of our most popular public events are coming up in the summer and fall. We look forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces at those events. The safer we act now, the better chance we have of that happening.”