Preserved Gardens, Picnic Spots And Recreational Areas Part Of Newly-Opened Mendham Park

MENDHAM, NJ — It was in the early 1700s that the Pitney family settled in Mendham Township, with ties to the American Revolution and then-General George Washington, their home and property staying in the same family for 11 generations.

After the township bought 12 acres and their home that was constructed in 1722, with intentions to preserve the residence, it ended up destroyed in 2016, believed to have been by an arsonist’s hands.

The township auctioned off those five acres that the once-stately home had been on, keeping the seven acres where the newly-opened park now stands.

On Monday, local, county and state officials, as well as residents, celebrated the ribbon cutting for the Historic Park at Pitney Farms.

Mendham Township used $377,500 in Green Acres funds and $264,753 of a Morris County Trail Grant, to bring the project to life.

Diana Orban Brown, former Mendham Township Mayor, called the park an “environmental miracle,” with its 100 native trees, grasses and rainwater-absorbing materials.

One brick-enclosed, historic garden from the estate was preserved and there are areas for picnics and recreational activities.

Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen J. Shaw, attended the ribbon cutting along with Mendham Township's Mayor Sarah Neibart, Deputy Mayor Nick Monaghan, Township Committee Member Amalia Duarte, Historic Preservation Committee Chair Vanessa Brown, State Sen. Anthony Bucco and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn both R-25th Dist., Morris County Commissioner John Krickus and Kelly Christopher from the Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program.

Shaw said the pandemic guided officials in seeing the need for more trails.

“Our trail use increased fourfold during the pandemic,” Shaw stated in a news release from Morris County, calling the ability of people to get out for some fresh air a “needed respite from what was going on during the depths of the pandemic.”

Shaw said he believes the trails in Pitney Park are the first ones in Morris County, accessible to people with disabilities.

Bucco was amazed at how quickly the project came together after its groundbreaking on April 26.

“It seems like we were just here with shovels, and in a short period of time you see what the collaboration of the state, county and local government can produce,” Bucco said. “It just doesn’t get any better than this.”

“It’s representative of government at its finest, producing services for the public good,” Monaghan added.

Park Sponsorship Opportunities

There are still sponsorship opportunities available, which will provide for the perpetual care of the park, through the township’s “Make Your Mark On the Park,” Campaign.

Shingle Oaks, White Oaks, Green Mountain Sugar Maples, Dawn Redwoods, Native Dogwoods, the Gardener’s Shed and Gazebo Honor Roll, remain available for sponsorships.

Donations for the park are tax-deductible and can be made by credit card on CommunityPass here.

Payment by check, with a note enclosed, with the requestor’s contact information, requesting the item they would like to dedicate and its inscription, can be made, with checks written out to Township of Mendham/Historic Park. Checks can be mailed to 2 West Main Street, P.O. Box 520, Brookside, NJ 07926.

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

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