I’M PROPOSING WE PUT RESOURCES INTO BUILDING A COMPREHENSIVE DIRECTORY OF TRAILS IN MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP — INCLUDING TRAILS ADJACENT TO OR ACCESSIBLE FROM MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (e.g. RIDDLY PARK, TYLER ARBORETUM, AND CONNECTIONS TO THE LARGER DELCO TRAIL NETWORK). WITH MAPS, PHOTOS, AND EVENTUALLY REVIEWS AND COMMENTS.
THE DIRECTORY INCLUDES PLAYGROUNDS AND PARKS—KID-FRIENDLY RETREATS. (PERHAPS WE DO REVIEWS OF THE BEST PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IN MIDDLETOWN.)
IF THERE’S ENOUGH INTEREST, WE COULD ADD A DIRECTORY OF STREAMS—FOR FISHING AND SWIMMING.
ONE REASON FOR FEATURING A DIRECTORY IS TO ATTRACT MEMBERS. THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO NOW THAT HAS BROAD APPEAL AND CAN LEAD PEOPLE TO DISCOVERY THE OTHER SERVICES OF OUTDOOR MIDDLETOWN.
Backyard area
THIS SECTION IS FOR EVERYTHING THAT ISN’T PUBLIC CONSERVANCY AND SEEKS TO GET CITIZENS INVOLVED DIRECTLY, STARTING WITH THEIR OWN PROPERTY. THE CONCEPT STARTS WITH THE FACT THAT WATER, AIR, BIRDS, ANIMALS, AND INSECTS DON’T CARE IF THEIR NATURE IS PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY OWNED. TREES ARE ROOTED IN PROPERTY, BUT TAKEN TOGETHER THEIR PRESENCE (OF LACK) AFFECTS EVERYBODY.
THE FIRST FUNCTION OF THIS SECTION IS TO POST ARTICLES AND INFORMATION ON BEST PRACTICES: PROPER CARE OF TREES AND LAWNS, AND ON THE ILL EFFECTS OF TOO MANY CHEMICALS AND SPRAYS, ETC. THIS COULD INCLUDE NOISE AND LIGHT POLLUTION TOO.
THE SECOND FUNCTION WILL COME LATER AFTER WE HAVE A LARGE-ENOUGH MEMBERSHIP BASE. IT’S TO USE THIS PLATFORM FOR ACTIVISM—ORGANIZING PEOPLE TO LOBBY FOR BETTER TOWNSHIP (AND MAYBE COUNTY AND STATE) LAWS TO IMPROVE THE OUTDOOR QUALITY OF LIFE.
THE CONTENT OF THIS SECTION WILL BE MOSTLY FROM BLOG POSTS (FILTERED AND ORGANIZED). WE’D START WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS, BUT WE’LL ALSO ENCOURAGE OUTSIDE CONTRIBUTORS/WRITERS, AND ALSO FEATURE ARTICLES AND GUIDELINES FROM OUTSIDE SOURCE WITH LINKS AND REVIEWS.