NJ Conservation Foundation

Preserving New Jersey’s land and natural resources for the benefit of all.

[conservenj]

Land Preservation in Upper Freehold Township: A Community-based Approach

Upper Freehold Township is endowed with beautiful rural landscapes, open spaces, and a serene atmosphere people are happy to call home. Land preservation in Upper Freehold Township is a big deal! Marc Covitz, Chairman of the town’s environmental advisory committee, opened our discussion with: “The whole town is basically a preservation success story”. Marc was proud to report that Upper Freehold Township leads the state in farmland preservation with about 11,000 acres preserved. In addition, 10,000 more acres have been preserved in the form of parks, state wildlife management areas and greenways.

One of the most recent and important projects was the preservation of Princeton Nurseries. Marc explained that 1,900 nearby acres were preserved and 1,700 of those acres were in Upper Freehold Township. I then posed the question: what would become of this land had it not been preserved? Marc replied that there were no formal development plans submitted though a recent build-out study had estimated that 600 new homes could have been built on the newly protected land.

A significant portion of the land had been preserved along Crosswicks Creek – an area rich in revolutionary war history. Many battles leading up to the legendary Battle of Monmouth had been fought along Crosswicks Creek. Going back even further in time, Native American artifacts and other fossils have been found in the area. Prior to the sale and preservation of this land the Flemer family had used the property to operate one of the nation’s largest commercial nurseries – Princeton Nurseries. Local funding partners Green Acres and the State Agriculture Development Committee had all worked together to close the preservation deal with the Flemer family to protect our air and water quality, local history, recreational opportunities and wildlife habitats. This project was a tremendous example of a community-based project in which several parties came together to achieve a common goal.    

[conservenj]

Land Preserves Touching the Lives of the Cranbury Community

“Land preservation” describes many different areas, from untouched woodlands to city parks. It varies by person and by town, but open space is important no matter how it is defined. You might want to confirm that the fields your family has always farmed aren’t replaced by strip malls, or be assured that the birds that have always added excitement and sound to your seaside summer vacations aren’t lost forever. Maybe you want a space where you can hike surrounded by the serenity of nature, or maybe you need a park to play ball with your children or your friends. It can seem like these needs are separate and might not offer much overlap when it comes to location, but any type of preserved open space is vital to building a sense of community.

You can find this connection between land and community in Cranbury Township.  In the words of Wendy Borg, current chairperson of the Township Environmental Committee, Cranbury is a “golden nugget” in terms of land preservation. She directed me to David Cook, township committee member and long-time resident, to talk more about it. As so many do, David couldn’t help but tell me about more than one preservation project, but it was soon clear why; Cranbury contains a variety of ecosystems within its borders.  In 13.4 square miles alone, preservation has sprung from a variety of sources, and the township has encouraged them all to flourish.  

        According to David, the relationship between Cranbury, the county, and the state is “very strong”, and preservation efforts are widely supported. In a broad sense, Cranbury’s motivation for preservation is two-fold; it comes from both  a desire to maintain “beautiful pristine vistas” throughout the township, and also from what David refers to as a “social engineering” aspect—that is, to ensure that the area doesn’t fall victim to sprawl and overdevelopment, commercial or residential. These desires manifest in different ways from project to project.   

        One of the preserved properties that David told me about is the Barclay Property, a 169 acre privately owned parcel. Although this land is not available for public use, it is clear that it is still immensely important to the community strictly from an aesthetic standpoint. David pointed out that since it is on the western edge of town it makes for a beautiful scene when the sun sets. He also said the spot is a good place to witness the changing seasons,  for it offers far-reaching views of not only that property but also of the contiguous Patterson Farm. David was adamant about the land’s value to the community in terms of its stunning views and its importance to land conservation.

        Not to be excluded, the new Reinhardt Preserve, officially dedicated in May 2011,  is a 63 acre parcel that is heavily wooded and offers non-invasive trails.   These trails do not involve much clearing or cutting, but rather work with the natural lay of the forest. The property is important because it has a number of vernal springs and is a crucial part of the area watershed. In contrast to the Barclay Property, the Reinhardt Preserve does allow public access, but is limited and passive, so as to allow for a relatively uninhibited natural area.

        Finally, David and I discussed the Village Park. The park is well-established, and is a well-loved and well-utilized part of the community.  It is comprised of about 10 acres which feature athletic fields, walking paths and a gazebo frequently used for wedding pictures. David mentioned this space as a “good example of what can be done with farmland” should it come to repurposing. The land was once a farm and perhaps could have been sold for development, but instead has become a community center. It provides yet another layer of contrast to the first two preserved properties mentioned. To any given town land preservation can mean one thing or many and Cranbury shows how successful a variety of preservation efforts can be within one community.

[conservenj]

The Endurance of Bray's Hill

While land preservation is undeniably a collaborative pursuit, one person is often all it takes to get a successful project going.  Cathy Sipe has been a member of Clinton Township’s Open Space Committee since 1996. In speaking with Cathy, it became immediately clear that Clinton’s preservation jewel, and Cathy’s own personal proud achievement is Bray’s Hill, a 95 acre parcel previously held by the Exxon Capital Corporation.

The story of Bray’s Hill is a truly inspiring testament to the difference that a few individuals with perseverance and a lot of passion can make. The effort to save Bray’s Hill took ten years, and the land was officially preserved in the winter of 1997.  Cathy is no stranger to seeing the land she loves lost to development before her very eyes; she moved to Clinton from the west coast where the area around her was heavily built up by Microsoft. When she moved to Clinton, Cathy was told that the cornfields behind her house would never be developed, but a few years later she learned of the plans to develop the parcel for 200 houses.

If the development plans had been allowed to continue, layers of local history and a beautiful, timeless piece of land would have been lost. Bray’s Hill is named for Daniel Bray, active in support of George Washington’s efforts during the Revolutionary War. The property itself was once part of the Bray family farm, although the land passed through a few other hands until being purchased by Exxon in 1984. The only remaining structure is a springhouse from when the property was owned and farmed by Reverend Simko in the 1930’s. Beyond its historic value, the land itself is breathtaking; rolling hills, expansive fields, and quiet woods.

Bray’s Hill was Clinton’s first ever preservation effort, which is remarkable considering that the historic and scenic assets of the land have been well-realized. To this Cathy said, “Well it was me, because I lived next door.” Spurred on by the threat of impending development, she mobilized the effort and gained support from Green Acres in the form of the Planning Incentive Program. Clinton was the first municipality to utilize this program, another note-worthy aspect of the Bray’s Hill story. With help from the Trust for Public Land and money from the open space tax newly instated in 1996, Clinton was able to purchase the property from Exxon at a bargain price.

Today, Bray’s Hill is well-loved by everyone for its charm and history, which can be enjoyed during a stroll along the walking trail that circles the property. The springhouse has been restored and is maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers, and one can rest at a bench nearby and feel transported back to a more peaceful place in time. 

[conservenj]

Conserving Land One Small Plot at a Time

If you took a minute to think about what preserved land looks like what would you think of? Often what comes to mind is massive expanses of meadows or forests teeming with wildlife, sweeping grassy fields, and pristine rivers, or otherwise awe-inspiring natural places. What might not come to mind is an abandoned gas station. But any opportunity to save land from development should be taken, and it can be even more vital to a community oriented town.

The Borough of Alpine has an impressive amount of preserved land, but by far one of the most interesting cases is the plot that was once a gas station on the corner of Church Street and Closter Dock Road. It is now a beautiful green park, complete with native trees and bushes, though as of yet unnamed. The gas station was abandoned and had long been considered an eyesore for the community. It became a real threat when underground gas tanks were discovered to be leaking, posing pollution concerns. I spoke with Lorraine Mattes, chair of the Alpine Environmental Commission, about how Alpine mobilized to clean up the area and turn what was once an eyesore into a green space asset. Lorraine noted that while the Environmental Commission was indeed active in the process, the clean-up was truly a community effort, saying “the whole township really pursued the whole thing.”

Funding and support from Green Acres and Bergen County Community Development allowed the clean-up happen. The project took many years, but was officially completed in 2010. Lorraine speaks to the perseverance and dedication of the town and its citizens, saying they “really turned it around and beautified it.” As I spoke with her, she kept returning to words like “pretty” and “pleasant” to describe the plot, and the pictures below attest to exactly those qualities. Though tiny, the plot has become a well-visited part of the community, in part because of its convenient proximity to prominent spots like the Borough Hall and post office. Mayor Paul Tomasko attested to this as well, saying that it is this parcel that has “affected the most residents.” Had a park not been built, the corner spot would have undoubtedly been snapped up for another gas station or convenience store, adding traffic and congestion to the neighborhood instead of the peaceful green space that is now there.

The corner park is valuable for various reasons; the natural parcel is centrally located in town; it now enhances one’s view instead of being an eyesore; and perhaps most importantly, it is a testament to community action for change. Lorraine is a believer in this power to protect and preserve beloved land, saying, “It’s possible, it just takes persistence.” The Borough of Alpine has certainly illustrated that.

Before:

After:

[conservenj]

"I have a good one of you in the hat I can use too." "You do?! Oh, gosh." Wildflower Walk Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center July 10th, 2014

[conservenj]

"I could eat these everyday." Blueberry Picking Franklin Parker Preserve July 13th, 2014

[conservenj]

"It's amazing back here."

Wildflower Walk

Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center

July 10th, 2014

[conservenj]

A sunset is always an inspiring sight! (This photo was taken at our Franklin Parker Preserve)

[conservenj]

"My mom loves this stuff too, so it's bonding...even though she's out somewhere in the woods." Blueberry Picking Franklin Parker Preserve July 13th, 2014

[conservenj]

We also held a wildflower walk here at Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education last week.  Here, two of our supporters are photographing a Great Spangled Fritillary on some Butterfly Milkweed (the bright orange flowers in the foreground).

Our next two events are a Moth Night at Franklin Parker Preserve (7/26) and a Butterfly Walk at Bamboo Brook (8/8).  Check our Facebook page for more info and registration links!  https://www.facebook.com/ConserveNJ/events

[conservenj]

Last Sunday we hosted an all-you-can-pick blueberry picking event at the Franklin Parker Preserve in Chatsworth! Like our Facebook page HERE for more events like this.