Mendham Fundraiser Lets Donors 'Make Their Mark On The Park'

MENDHAM, NJ — Trees, benches and bluebird houses are among items that can be dedicated to the memory of or in honor of loved ones at the Historic Park at Pitney Farm, which is expected to open by mid-September.

The park is opening on seven acres that Mendham Township was able to procure in 2009, which features handicap-accessible trails and meadow-like and grassy areas.

The “Make Your Mark on the Park” campaign is a fundraiser the Mendham Township Committee recently launched for the park, after residents suggested establishing endowment-type of funding and some asked about sponsorship activities, Deputy Mayor Nick Monaghan said.

The donors will each be able to have a stone marker and plaque to have words inscribed for the person they are honoring or memorializing, with the first markers planned for installment by Sept. 30, from the first donations.

Additionally, an “honor roll” plaque in the park will be created for donations for the park’s Walled Garden, Seed House and Gazebo.

Donations are tax-deductible and can be made payable by check to Township of Mendham/Historic Park or by credit card on the township’s CommunityPass account available here, where donation allocations are already broken down. Those who pay by check should enclose a note with their contact information, request for the item where they have an interest in placing their dedication and the inscription they would like.

“This park is designed to be low maintenance, but we all know that over time, things will need to be replaced or new items added,” Monaghan said.

Items that can be dedicated in the park include:

• 10 Shingle Oaks encircling the Central Lawn
• 10 White Oaks lining parts of Shelton and Cold Hill Roads
• 6 Green Mountain Sugar Maples at the park entrance
• 3 Dawn Redwoods
• 21 native dogwoods
• 3 rustic benches fabricated from reclaimed wood from the original Pitney Farm barn
• 5 bluebird houses
• A gardener’s shed to serve the Walled Garden

For questions or more information, contact pitney@mendhamtownship.org or David Guida, the township’s recreation director, at dguida@mendhamtownship.org.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.