Bridgewater, NJ - During the month of June, the Bridgewater Township Police Department was made aware of illegal activities at Washington Valley Park, which includes the Chimney Rock Reservoir and Buttermilk Falls. The park is located in the Martinsville section of the Township. Somerset County Park Commission officials continue to report and observe illegal activities such as violations of prohibited swimming, littering, illegal campfires, consumption of alcoholic beverages and illegal parking. The Somerset County Park Commission has had to remove several dumpsters of garbage due to excessive littering in the park.
In response, to these complaints, the Bridgewater Township Police Department in cooperation with the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and the Somerset County Park Rangers increased enforcement of these quality of life issues. These efforts included parking enforcement of no parking on Gilbride Road, Newmans Lane, and Miller Lane, and walking patrols of the park with uniform and undercover officers.
Bridgewater Township Police Department Acting Chief Paul Payne has announced that during these walking patrols of park lands, officers arrested two adults for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and issued over forty summonses for illegal swimming, consumption of alcohol in a County Park and Disorderly Conduct. These uniformed and undercover patrols will continue during the upcoming July 4th Holiday weekend.
Acting Chief Payne invites everyone to enjoy all the parks that Bridgewater Township has to offer, however we must remember to not to disturb their beauty with illegal activity. Vehicles should only be parked in areas designated for parking. Furthermore the waters in the all of the parks located in the Township are not monitored by lifeguards and swimming is prohibited.
