News from the Somerset County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
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November
2, 2009
Three Towns Receive
Open Space Partnership Funds
The Somerset County Board of
Freeholders recently presented $665,000 in County/Municipal Open Space
Partnership Program grants to three municipalities for four projects.
Created in
1995, the County/Municipal Open Space Partnership Program is funded through Somerset County’s Open Space, Farmland and
Historic Preservation Trust, with a portion of this fund allocated annually to
local property acquisitions. Since its inception, over $13.3 million has been
awarded to various municipalities for the potential preservation of 3,214 acres
of public open space.
Freeholder
Director Rick Fontana presented ceremonial checks at the board’s Oct. 20
meeting. Towns and projects receiving
funding from the 2009 program include:
Ÿ Franklin Township, which received $140,000 for the reimbursement of the
acquisition of 6.13-acres located at 291
Cedar Grove Lane, with access off of Weston Road. This
property is sandwiched between residential properties, and is in close
proximity to existing county-preserved farmland and open space. The Lake Open
Space property is also located in the greenbelt surrounding the historic Middlebush Village, which has been designated a
National Historic District. The township proposes to keep this property as
passive open space, with the possibility of trails in the future.
Ÿ Montgomery Township, which received $190,000 for the acquisition of the
Potter Property, located on Grandview
Road. The 10.23-acre parcel is adjacent to
existing township-preserved farmland, and is in close proximity to the historic
Hendrick Stryker House and the historic Mount Zion AME Church.
The township proposes this property to serve as a trailhead to pathways and
open space. The township also intends to document the diversity of plant
species on the property, thereby creating an inventory.
Ÿ Warren Township, which
received two grants:
One is for $300,000 for the acquisition of the Mountain View Road/Pound Brook
Property, located at 8 Gregory
Lane. Of the total 23-acre parcel, 16.81 acres are
proposed for passive open space and trailways. This property is in close
proximity to the north and east to existing township-owned open space, and has
been described by the township as a “critical linkage in the Pound Brook Stream
Corridor.”
A second
grant of $35,000 went
to Warren Township for the acquisition of the
Mountain Avenue Property, located on Mountain
Avenue. The 3.3-acre parcel is sandwiched between
existing township-owned open space. This property will be used for passive as
well as active recreation, and serves as a linkage to the adjacent 99 acres of
existing township-owned open space. The acquisition of this property fits
securely into Warren’s
extensive planning goals for open space and trailway systems.
Photo Gallery –
Ceremonial Check Presentations