BURNHAM PARK ASSOCIATION

Since its founding in 1948, the Burnham Park Association (BPA) has acted as steward of Burnham Park, Jones Woods, and the Green Strip by taking an active interest in preserving the natural beauty of the surrounding areas. It is a non-profit organization, formally incorporated in 1973, with membership drawn from both Morristown and Morris Township and neighbors, organizations beyond.


Awards
One of the most active civic organizations in the county, BPA has been recognized twice by the Board of Chosen Freeholders "for focusing the public's attention on the importance of trees to our environment, for planting and preserving trees in the community, and for its ongoing commitment to improving and maintaining an exceptional landscape."

BPA was one of only 5 organizations in the world to be honored with the prestigious National Arbor Day Program and Service Award in 2005. It was the only grassroots all-volunteer organization to be so honored - others included the International Olympic Committee and major, national level environmental groups. Award winners were recognized for their leadership in tree planting, conservation and environmental stewardship...

"...Since the late 1980s, the association has sponsored an annual Arbor Day celebration in Burnham Park, with more than 2,000 trees having been planted since then. The association has preserved 18 acres of Jones Woods, an area of mature woodlands that today is used as a classroom by local schools. It has also worked to protect local streams and improve water quality by creating riparian buffer zones."

Recent Activity

• Celebrates 75th Anniversary with Then and Now historic presentation of 100 years in Burnham Park, Jones Woods and the Burnham Park Estates neighborhood in collaboration with the Morristown / Twp Library
• Celebrates 75th Anniversary with a Family Day in the Park  in collaboration with Morristown / Morris Township
• Provides major input as stakeholder for the Burnham Park Revitalization Plan
• Partners with Morristown's Clean Communities for Adopt a Park plantings and clean ups
• Volunteer Invasives Removal Program and planting with native plants in Burnham Park, Green Strip and Jones Woods
• Builds, marks, maps and maintains trails in Jones Woods and Green Strip
• Works with Morristown to repair drainage problems in impassable wet areas, re-roof gazebos and establish a Master Plan for Burnham Park. 
• Monitors Ash trees potentially affected by Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). With rare exceptions, ash trees throughout the area have to be removed. Three massive ashes in Burnham Park, officially designated by the State as “historic” are being treated instead of being cut down. BPA joined the Alexander Hamilton Neighborhood Association’s efforts to save a specimen ash on Hazlett as well. 
• In 2019, BPA collaborates with Morristown for the first outdoor movie night in Burnham Park, attracting over 100 people
• Collaborates (since 2009) with nearby Alexander Hamilton Neighborhood Association, GeesePeace, Morristown and the Humane Society on active goose control. Working with the Town, designed and installed bilingual signs to discourage feeding of geese, bad for the health of geese and the environment 
• Holds annual Arbor Days in the Park and Clean Ups in the Green Strip
• Works with Town of Morristown, Whippany Watershed Action Committee, Morris Land Conservancy, scout troops and Omni Environmental engineers on the installation of a Riparian Buffer Zone around the lake in Burnham Park, a multi-year effort to stabilize lake banks, control erosion, decrease goose population, improve pond water quality and reestablish native plants along the water’s edge
• Led efforts to upgrade the antiquated playground in the Park
• Raised money for benches and trash cans, repainted the BUrnham Park entrance sign
• Founded (by BPA Trustee Jen Carcich) Moms and Tots and More (MATAM), a group for young families sharing social and educational opportunities for families with infants through toddlers 
• Researched the significance of the cabin in the park, a replica of a Revolutionary War hospital hut
• On 2009 Arbor Day, collaborated with National Park Service, Morris County Tourism Bureau and Morristown Rotary Club on Revolutionary Weekend activities, including the planting of "Liberty Elm" tree near the Thomas Paine statue, part of a nationwide effort to reintroduce the Great American Elm Tree wiped out by Dutch Elm disease.  During the Revolutionary War, the elm tree became a symbol of freedom from the British. How fitting that an American Liberty Elm was planted next to the stature of Thomas Paine, a Founding Father who authored Common Sense and other writings advocating for America's independence. Paine's statue in Burnham Park is the only complete statue of Paine in the country

Early BPA Efforts in Burnham Park (60s & 70s)

• Worked with Burnham heirs to reassert deed restrictions to prevent further tree removals and expansion of sports facilities in the park (1976)
• Stopped the use of Burnham Park as a dump for construction fill from the Ann Street garage (1980s)
• Stopped staging of noisy carnivals in Burnham Park (1970s)
• Assisted the Town of Morristown in securing Community Block Grant funding for the beautification of Burnham Park (1980s)
• Donated long-term landscape design for Burnham Park (courtesy of landscape architect Carol Fletcher Huber) to the Town (1980s)
• Worked with the Town Council and Police in planning July 4th fireworks (1980s)
• Initiated Annual Arbor Days, an ongoing effort. Donated money and volunteer labor for planting, weeding, mulching, pruning and cleanup of Burnham Park. Donated thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of labor to install over 600 plantings (over 100 of them trees) (begun in 1980s)
• Blocked use of commercial signs in Burnham Park (violation of Green Acres requirements) (1991)
• Blocked inappropriate development of hill portion of Knox Artillery site opposite Burnham Park (1980s)
• Researched and planted a Butterfly Garden (1997)
• Coordinate long-term ongoing cleanup efforts (monthly volunteer schedule) in the Park
• Donated hundreds of dollars to the Paine Statue restoration
• Successfully fought an 11 year battle to preserve environmentally sensitive lands on the Delbarton property leading to preservation of 180+ acres on that site permanently added to the County’s Lewis Morris Park, preserved and accessible to the public

Within the Wider Community

• Successfully fought 14 year battle with Friends of Jones Woods against inappropriate development in Jones Woods - worked with Morris Township to preserve it as Open Space and develop / maintain 3 miles of groomed trails
• Participates in area governance:  BPA members have served on the Township or Town - Councils, Environmental Commissions, Shade Tree Commission, Open Space Commission, Recreation Advisory Board, Beautification Committee, Traffic Advisory Committee, etc. Others regularly attend meetings of Town & Township Council, Planning Board, Committee, Environmental, Shade Tree and other meetings 
• Participated in community review of Township Master Plan and the formulation of the Open Space and Recreation Plan
• Successfully fought plans to build jail, sewers, and psychiatric hospital in Washington Valley area
• Exposed illegal dumping at Western Ave Reservoir - raised awareness and collaborated on effective strategies to combat the problem
• Participates in Town and Township Clean Community Days - cleaning Burnham Park, the Green Strip, and the woods near Hillcrest School
• Contributed to multiple school beautification efforts 
• Regularly contributed to Township T-ball team, Town / Township junior football league, Hillside Hose Company and other civic groups
• Donated money towards costs incurred by area young competitors such as Olympic hopefuls Greg Klingsporn (rowing) and James Borin (fencing) as well as Miss Deaf New Jersey finalist, Elke Pieters
• Participated in Morris Twp’s 250th Year Anniversary Celebration with an elaborate float and  premiere performance of the BPA Precision Marching Wheelbarrow Team

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Environmental Education and Leadership

The BPA leads educational efforts to encourage people to learn more about: 

• environmental / natural resource conservation 
• Integrated Pest Management practices - natural lawn / landscape care
• Lyme disease prevention strategies
• illegal dumping
• free soil testing services
• the Highlands and water supply issues
• regional land use planning and sprawl

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 BPA members share BPA's expertise and practices 

• work and advise on preservation efforts in other communities, states, schools and neighborhoods
• lead and establish civic groups in other communities (Morristown Historic Neighborhood Association)
• spearhead community renewal activities (Mayo Community Theater in Morristown) 
• work professionally in natural resource conservation
• sponsor river cleanups, plantings, watershed protection efforts
• initiate educational programs to promote science and environmental awareness
• head international organizations devoted to natural resource preservation 

Recent Presidents

Ken Allen (mid 1970s)
Lou Bodian (1970s-1980s)
Karen Murphy (1980s)
Linda Callegari (1980s)
Paul Charlesworth (1980s)
Lynn Siebert (mid 1980s to present)