Protect Lake Hopatcong as a public park and healthful retreat for everyone. This plea explains why keeping the lake open and welcoming benefits the entire state. This nonfiction work makes a clear case for preserving Lake Hopatcong from uses that would change its character or diminish its value to the public. It discusses laws, property rights, and the practicalities of converting canal land into parks or driveways, with a focus on safeguarding a popular summer resort and health destination. Understand why a public park and resort status benefits families, farms, and local communities. Learn about water rights, ownership, and the legal questions surrounding the Morris Canal. Explore why converting the lake for municipal water supply could harm the region’s economy and scenery. See proposed approaches that emphasize parks, driveways, or transit use over full canal rehabilitation. Ideal for readers interested in local history, public parks, and the heritage of New Jersey’s lake communities.