This Day in History: 1956-05-24
An editorial in the Ramsey Journal newspaper protested the misuse of Campgaw Park. It had been set aside as a nature preserve, but no sooner than it had been established, when the U.S. Army took over part of the area for a NIKE base. Now the Army is intending to expand the base by taking more parkland. This was particularly disturbing, according to the editorial, since the Air Force had admitted that the NIKE missiles could probably not be able to shoot down enemy bombers before they could drop their bombs in the area. In addition, the Ridgewood YMCA has announced plans to run a permanent day camp of 300 acres within the Park. Citizens were urged to fight to replace the politically appointed Park Commissioners with ones more concerned about preserving the environment. (Bristow)