Common Ground is a campaign blog series on preserving what makes Bernards Township worth protecting.

When we stand on grass or next to a riverbank, Nature receives us as equals. Nature doesn’t care about our differences — our beliefs, our income, or our party affiliation. By preserving our green spaces, we aren’t just saving trees, we’re also protecting the place where our diverse community meets face to face. Where strangers become neighbors.

Tucked along the Passaic River off Pond Hill Road sits one of the quieter corners of our township — Schmidt Park. It’s easy to drive past the entrance without realizing what’s there, but this fifteen-acre stretch of green space has a story worth knowing.

In 1966, the family of Frederick W. Schmidt — along with the nearby Millington Quarry he once owned — made a decision that still shapes our town today: they donated this land along the river so it could remain open space, in perpetuity – forever. Their generosity and forethought provided future generations with environmental benefits including improving water quality and protecting wildlife habitat. Their gift also helps to stabilize or increase surrounding property values. For residents and visitors, Schmidt Park provides recreation and health opportunities.  No admission fees or equipment is needed.

As you enter Schmidt Park and walk down the stairs towards the river, you can hear its flow. The sound immediately lowers your blood pressure, and you relax and unwind. Quiet green spaces give neighbors a peaceful place to gather, talk, and build a shared sense of community.

Places like Schmidt Park don’t stay green space by accident. They stay that way because people — residents, families, local leaders — choose to protect their common ground. That’s the kind of choice I want to keep making for Bernards Township.

— Joan Bannan