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Daniel A. Maliszewski
Guest Column
Council, police must take back preserve
It is the ultimate mockery of civic pride and a monument to ineffective
municipal officials and law enforcement.
Julian L. Capik devoted decades of his left to try to improve the quality
of life in Sayreville and to preserve the environment for future
generations. Grateful residents lobbied fiercely for recognition of his
work and succeeded in having a large tract of forest in the borough set
aside as a recreational nature preserve named in his honor.
How ironic and tragic that this park-like setting has become unusable and
hazardous to Sayreville’s children, families, fisherman, hikers and
seniors. Even more unsettling is the municipal officials’ failure to
uphold the laws of the borough and to protect its residents, the water
supply and the remaining open-space environment.
The Julian L. Capik Nature Preserve, otherwise known as "The Sayreville
Free Municipal Motocross and ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) Park," is located
near the new water treatment plant off Bordentown Avenue. Despite numerous
signs forbidding motor vehicles, my attempt to enter the preserve last
Sunday was blocked by a fleet of nine ATVs, doing "doughnuts" just inside
the locked gates, the drivers gesturing and yelling. They rode off into
the park, I went home in disgust and rage, and another Sunday was ruined.
Numerous times in the past, I and many others have called the police to
report this activity, only to be told that the police can do nothing to
catch the criminals. They cite rough terrain, numerous exits, lack of
officers, no off-road vehicles and other priorities that prevented them
from enforcing the laws of the borough.
And so growing numbers of riders spread the word that Sayreville is the
best site around in which to ride free of hassles. Show up any Sunday
around noon and see for yourself. The police will be otherwise occupied,
while ATVs streak within feet past families with children trying to enjoy
the ponds.
ATVs are inherently dangerous vehicles, and injured riders become the
responsibility of the borough via the inevitable lawsuits that follow
injuries on borough property. Furthermore, the failure to protect
law-abiding families, fisherman and hikers on borough-owned Green Acres
nature preserves is a serious dereliction of the sworn duties of borough
officials and police, possibly actionable in and of itself.
In addition, allowing petroleum-fueled motor vehicles to have
unrestricted access to municipal water supply recharge basins is a
serious breach of homeland security requirements safeguarding drinking
water supplies.
I do not accept the excuse that the police are powerless to perform their
duties.
This is not rocket science. I myself have stopped and spoken to many
riders, many times. Race days are Saturday afternoons and every Sunday
when water department workers are not present. A plainclothes officer on
foot could easily apprehend and cite the rider and confiscate the
vehicles, no high-speed pursuit required.
Warnings are ineffective; the Borough Council needs to ensure that valid
confiscation ordinances are in place. Word would spread among the riders
to keep out of Sayreville.
The council and police must find their backbone and act now so our
residents will be able to safely return to the beautiful sanctuary named
in honor of its champion, without the terror of speeding criminals
destroying our nature preserve and threatening our children.
Daniel A. Maliszewski is a resident of Sayreville
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