Earlier this week we reported that lawns on the historic Morristown Green will remain off-limits to foot traffic for the near future, to allow the grass to regenerate.
That caused some jitters among folks who were hoping to use the square on the Fourth of July to celebrate what makes the space historic.
Happily, a compromise has been reached, acccording to Leslie Bensley, executive director of the Morris County Tourism Bureau.
The protective fencing will be furled back to accommodate crowds for the reading of the Declaration of Independence, by colonial re-enactor Tom Winslow of the National Park Service.
This is the first time in memory that the reading will be done on the Green, rather than at the Ford Mansion.
It’s part of an Independence Day celebration that will include town-sponsored fireworks for the first time in many years. (They will be held at Lewis Morris Park in neighboring Morris Township.)
After the ceremony, the Green will be fenced off again.
“This way – after our event, the fencing can remain [with] the grass protected until it is deemed strong enough for other activities,” Leslie said via email, thanking the Trustees of the Green for saving the day.
