Rothman/Jordan Campaign Claims Dividing Creek Park Contract "Awarded" Days Before Election

A long-awaited park in Dividing Creek is now at the center of political scrutiny after the Rothman/Jordan campaign mailed postcards to residents claiming a contract worth $150,000 has been awarded for the project — just days before the township primary election.

This surprise announcement follows nearly two years of hard work by the Downe Township Recreation Committee, which began pushing for the park back in August 2023. The committee not only proposed the idea but also outlined the provisions needed to apply for a grant through the NJ Local Recreation Improvement Grant (LRIG). That application was successful, earning the township a $70,000 grant in early 2024 to fund the project.

By October 2024, a finalized site layout had been drawn up, and the project was ready to begin — pending official approval. However, from that point forward, the project stalled while township officials delayed signing off on the necessary contracts to initiate construction.

Now, as the June 2025 election nears, residents claim to have received campaign postcards from the Rothman/Jordan team claiming that a $150,000 contract had now been awarded. No additional information was provided — and no public resolution, township meeting minutes, or financial documentation has surfaced to support the claim.

Even more troubling: while the original $70,000 LRIG grant is a matter of public record, there has been no explanation of where the remaining $80,000 is coming from.

“There’s no documentation — no breakdown, no budget report, not even a line item showing where this extra funding might be pulled from,” said one concerned resident. “Are we dipping into the municipal budget? Is it another grant? No one knows, and no one’s saying.”

The postcard announcement, coming from two incumbents currently running for re-election, has led some to believe the timing was not accidental, but rather a strategic effort to influence voters who strongly support the Recreation Committee and the park they’ve worked so hard to make a reality.

Many residents say they are excited to see progress on the park, but feel uneasy about the way the news was delivered — and the total lack of transparency surrounding the project’s current status and funding.

“The park is something this community has worked toward for years,” said one supporter of the park. “If this contract is real, where is the paper trail? Where’s the vote? Where’s the accountability for how that $80,000 is being paid for? And most of all, why are residents only learning about this now?”

As of this publishing, no township resolution confirming the contract has been published, and no financial records explain the $150,000 figure. Calls for clarification have not been answered, and no updates have appeared on the township’s official website.

Until verified documentation is made public, the Rothman/Jordan postcard leaves Downe Township residents with more questions than answers — about both the park’s future and the motives behind the timing of its announcement.

Location: Downe, NJ, USA

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