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gardens by the senior center. “Rain gardens are<br />
important in helping to put water back in the<br />
aquifer,” said Young. “We’re teaching people that<br />
a rain garden doesn’t have to be very big; you can<br />
do it in your backyard.”<br />
Girman is especially proud of other<br />
enhancements like a dog park installed near<br />
Jefferson Field and the beautification committee<br />
that’s been planting perennials and beautifying<br />
the parks and streets.<br />
Certain projects are still on the commission’s<br />
wish list. They’ve talked about forest<br />
management in the natural area preserve along<br />
Stanhope-Sparta Road. Young said they’d also<br />
like to address the water runoff that draws salt<br />
into Lake Hopatcong in the winter, specifically<br />
near Witten Park.<br />
“The Lake Hopatcong Foundation and the<br />
Lake Hopatcong Commission have gotten some<br />
grants for the reconstruction of the drains as well<br />
as putting in a small retention pond that would<br />
help filter out the sediment,” he said.<br />
The commission is also a big part of the<br />
Hopatcong Green Bill, which has been key in the<br />
ongoing development of the Lake Hopatcong<br />
Trail, a continuous path that will eventually<br />
encircle the lake. “That’s all land that’s been<br />
preserved in the last 40 years,” said Lundin. “The<br />
commission was always there supporting it.”<br />
But, he says, it’s important they remain<br />
vigilant, especially when it comes to future land<br />
use and its impact on the lake. “In the 50 years,<br />
the commission has always played a key role<br />
in protecting the environment,” said Lundin.<br />
“They’ve done a great job in getting the message<br />
out that the environment needs saving.”<br />
“We want to establish a healthier and more<br />
sustainable beautiful community and we are on<br />
our way to doing that,” added Girman. “We’re<br />
constantly working with the council and the<br />
mayor to accomplish these things.”<br />
Recently, the commission hosted a guided<br />
bird hike at Roland May Eves Mountain Inlet<br />
Sanctuary, taking advantage of the spring bird<br />
migration with Mike Anderson, director of<br />
the New Jersey Audubon’s Scherman Hoffman<br />
Wildlife Sanctuary in Bernardsville. The group<br />
scheduled nine events for <strong>2022</strong>.<br />
Upcoming events include the dedication of the<br />
newest rain garden in June and Hopatcong <strong>Day</strong>s<br />
in early September.<br />
“I think people come to Hopatcong for a<br />
reason—it’s beautiful here,” Girman said. “We<br />
have the lake, we have the trails, we have a lot<br />
of community spirit. We want it to continue to<br />
evolve into a place where everyone is happy to<br />
say they’re from Hopatcong.”<br />
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