Something going on at the Reservation

I was up there at 5pm at the Dog Park with the pooch and about 20 minutes later the sheriff shooed everyone out. At least 4 sheriff’s cars as well as 2 unmarked and plain clothes with badges. Weren’t letting anyone in at the entrance.

Stay away.

jimmurphy said:

I was up there at 5pm at the Dog Park with the pooch and about 20 minutes later the sheriff shooed everyone out. At least 4 sheriff’s cars as well as 2 unmarked and plain clothes with badges. Weren’t letting anyone in at the entrance.

Stay away.

 Wow! I wonder what happened...

You mean you were inside the dog park and they chased everyone out even though nothing was going on inside the dog park itself?  By the entrance, do you mean at SO Avenue or just the dog park?

I saw them closing the entrance to the reservation at about that time.

Just hoping it’s not another body discovered in there. 

I was up there about 5pm and I saw a sheriffs vehicle that seemed to be doing laps. No closure at that time but seemed like he was there for a reason rather than just a routine ride- through. 

bub said:

You mean you were inside the dog park and they chased everyone out even though nothing was going on inside the dog park itself?  By the entrance, do you mean at SO Avenue or just the dog park?

 Yes to both.

eta: to clarify, the entrance at SO Ave. On the way in, there was sheriff’s SUV at the gate past the observation point where you turn a right to get to the dog park. Thought it odd, but went to the park anyway. 20 mins later they told us all to leave and on the way out I saw all of the other cars and the fact that the entrance at S.O. Ave. was blocked to entry.

Jaytee said:

Just hoping it’s not another body discovered in there. 

That was my first thought.

Jaytee said:

Just hoping it’s not another body discovered in there. 

 Once we were there when they found a body. The police wouldn't let any cars leave until everyone was interviewed and driver's licenses recorded.  

I’m right below the reservation and I can’t see it but it sounds like helicopters or something going on. For super early there is a lot of noise up there. 

shh said:

I’m right below the reservation and I can’t see it but it sounds like helicopters or something going on. For super early there is a lot of noise up there. 

 That could be for the crash at Exit 7 in West Orange.

On 280? Maybe, it lasted about a half hour  

joan_crystal said:

shh said:

I’m right below the reservation and I can’t see it but it sounds like helicopters or something going on. For super early there is a lot of noise up there. 

 That could be for the crash at Exit 7 in West Orange.

They had the entrance blocked off at SO Ave. around 2 today even though it was open yesterday around the same time.  Be advised.

If it was a body, wouldn't some news outlet have reported it by now?  I don't know.

My husband has a pickleball buddy who came across a "dead body" in SO Reservation a couple of weeks ago. Apparently, the county was conducting training drills and "forgot" to let anyone know. The woman said it was terrifying.

KarenMarlowe said:

My husband has a pickleball buddy who came across a "dead body" in SO Reservation a couple of weeks ago. Apparently, the county was conducting training drills and "forgot" to let anyone know. The woman said it was terrifying.

 Well, this is NJ so I assume Joe D sent someone out right away to get that "resident"  registered to vote.

Well, this is NJ so I assume Joe D had someone out right away to get that "resident" registered to vote.

As of around 2, the Rez was closed again at the South Orange Ave entrance leading to the dog park

As a daily walker in the reservation, I’m finding these random closings for over a week now both frustrating and disturbing. I’ve spoken to several sheriffs and no answers are forthcoming. Yesterday’s sheriff claimed he had absolutely no idea why he was assigned to stop people from entering. Another sheriff last week told me that they were looking for something but he couldn’t say what it was. I questioned a Maplewood policeman and he had no idea that the reservation had been having these closings. Really!?! At this point I feel that the public should be told what is going on. 

I think in the past there was some issues with overuse of the picnic areas.  I think that's why they would close on holidays also - like Memorial Day and July 4th.

Mema said:

As a daily walker in the reservation, I’m finding these random closings for over a week now both frustrating and disturbing. I’ve spoken to several sheriffs and no answers are forthcoming. Yesterday’s sheriff claimed he had absolutely no idea why he was assigned to stop people from entering. Another sheriff last week told me that they were looking for something but he couldn’t say what it was. I questioned a Maplewood policeman and he had no idea that the reservation had been having these closings. Really!?! At this point I feel that the public should be told what is going on. 

 It's very possible that they can't talk about an ongoing investigation.  And there is no reason at all for a Maplewood policeman to be in the loop.

DanDietrich said:

 It's very possible that they can't talk about an ongoing investigation.  And there is no reason at all for a Maplewood policeman to be in the loop.

 It seems to me that considering Maplewood borders on the reservation, the Maplewood police should be apprised as to what is going on in the reservation especially considering that one of the sheriffs reported that they are “looking for something “.  Haven’t we learned in the last couple of years that sharing information among government agencies is a good thing?

Mema said:

As a daily walker in the reservation, I’m finding these random closings for over a week now both frustrating and disturbing. I’ve spoken to several sheriffs and no answers are forthcoming. Yesterday’s sheriff claimed he had absolutely no idea why he was assigned to stop people from entering. Another sheriff last week told me that they were looking for something but he couldn’t say what it was. I questioned a Maplewood policeman and he had no idea that the reservation had been having these closings. Really!?! At this point I feel that the public should be told what is going on. 

 I agree. Our taxes pay for the upkeep and patrol of the reservation. People pack up kids and dogs and bikes to go there. There should be some reasonable transparency regarding closures. It's 2021, put it on social media. I understand there are situations in which LE has to respond to stuff on short notice and just close it down and no info is available. But those situations should be occasional and brief. Recently it's been like 50-50 whether the reservation is open or not, and when it's not it's just like "sorry folks" like John Candy in Vacation.  And even he told Clark that Wallyworld was closed two weeks for maintenance. 

Mema said:

DanDietrich said:

 It's very possible that they can't talk about an ongoing investigation.  And there is no reason at all for a Maplewood policeman to be in the loop.

 It seems to me that considering Maplewood borders on the reservation, the Maplewood police should be apprised as to what is going on in the reservation especially considering that one of the sheriffs reported that they are “looking for something “.  Haven’t we learned in the last couple of years that sharing information among government agencies is a good thing?

 Maplewood borders Union, Millburn, Newark, Irvington, South Orange, and West Orange.  Do you think every officer should know what's going on in every one of those municipalities as well as the reservation and Maplewood itself?  Just in case someone asks them?

Smedley said:

 I agree. Our taxes pay for the upkeep and patrol of the reservation. People pack up kids and dogs and bikes to go there. There should be some reasonable transparency regarding closures. It's 2021, put it on social media. I understand there are situations in which LE has to respond to stuff on short notice and just close it down and no info is available. But those situations should be occasional and brief. Recently it's been like 50-50 whether the reservation is open or not, and when it's not it's just like "sorry folks" like John Candy in Vacation.  And even he told Clark that Wallyworld was closed two weeks for maintenance. 

 South Mountain Reservation is a county park. The county portion of our real property taxes go to the patrol and upkeep of the reservation.  The reservation, which is located in more than one municipality, is patrolled by the county, not MPD.  Requests for improved communication and transparency should be directed to Essex County, the jurisdiction that oversees the reservation. 

Yes I know that it’s a county park. I was agreeing with Mema’s frustration about the closures, not the specifics of his/her interaction with MPD. 

It's not like they have the whole area sealed off.  I'm assuming you can get there via trails or from that entrance from the uphill street on the Wyoming side where the park road turns toward the parking lot. 

DanDietrich said:

 Maplewood borders Union, Millburn, Newark, Irvington, South Orange, and West Orange.  Do you think every officer should know what's going on in every one of those municipalities as well as the reservation and Maplewood itself?  Just in case someone asks them?

 Public entities could certainly make better use of social media to keep frequent users informed. I swim laps at a city pool (not in NJ) that has unscheduled shutdowns several times a month. Always frustrating to drive 20 minutes to find the pool closed. When I complain, they suggest I should call before leaving. (Every freaking day?) Then I suggest they should have a Twitter or Facebook account where they can post unexpected schedule changes and closures. Then we all laugh and I leave. Sad.

Parts of Maplewood,Millburn and West Orange are in South Mountain Reservation. That is it.  South Orange is not.

galileo said:

Parts of Maplewood,Millburn and West Orange are in South Mountain Reservation. That is it.  South Orange is not.

 Reread what I wrote.  You missed my point.

At least Maplewood police should know what's going on in the Maplewood section of the reservation.