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From the Press of Atlantic City:
Lakes Bay preserve: A team effort
(Published: August 27, 2007)
Everybody talks about the need to protect the natural environment.
Doing something about it is a different story.
But two groups that are doing something locally are the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the Lakes Bay Recreation Association.
They have entered into a partnership to maintain a wildlife refuge on a spit of land jutting into Lakes Bay in Egg Harbor Township and turn part of it into a haven for windsurfing and other non-motorized water sports.
They are not relying on government to pay for the project, nor are they asking a private landowner to give up the rights to develop the land.
The New Jersey Conservation Foundation bought the 24-acre Lakes Bay Preserve (the one-time home of the Ventnor Boat Works) for $100 at a sheriff's sale in 1998. But the group, which is based in Somerset County and protects and owns more than 18,000 acres throughout the state, had trouble maintaining the site from a distance. Over the years, broken bottles, construction debris and old tires had piled up amid the wetlands that are home to various shorebirds, raccoons, muskrats and foxes.
That's where the Lakes Bay Recreation Association comes in. The group, made up of 90 or so windsurfers and others who enjoy water sports, has pledged in a partnership with the foundation that the property will be better maintained. In the spring, the group cleaned the site of tons of trash and continues to work toward making the beach an ideal spot for water sports. Future goals include creating nature trails, continuing to clean up debris and installing a security camera.
The work and dedication of these two nonprofit organizations can be a model for others looking to protect the shore area from the constant pressures of development. They are combining the motivations of those who want to preserve open space and those who enjoy playing on the water to protect a small but significant bit of our environment.
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