photo courtesty of Lielani Hershey & Kate Minniear

On July 26, 2000, the Green Acres Program in partnership with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF) preserved 537 acres of land spanning Readington and Raritan Townships in Hunterdon County and Hillsborough Township in Somerset County. Under the cooperative effort, the State of New Jersey and NJCF purchased this property from Merck & Co., Inc. at the cost of $4,668,000 ($8693 per acre). The newly protected land represents a large, mostly developable tract in a growing suburban location which will now be preserved and managed as a recreation/wildlife preserve by Hunterdon County Parks System and the State's Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The new open space comprises a significant expanse of fields and woodlands, with small stream tributaries, two ponds, and frontage along and access to the South Branch of the Raritan River in Readington Township. The property is surrounded by housing developments in an area of the state that is faced with increasing residential development pressure. Now protected, this property will provide expanded opportunities for hiking, fishing, hunting and nature education and will provide protection for the diverse wildlife of the region such as grassland birds, pheasants, quail, wild turkey, white tail deer and red fox to name a few. These acres are also located under a flyway frequented by hawks and other raptors during spring and fall migrations.

The purchase represents one of the largest acquisitions for this area of New Jersey for the State Division of Fish and Wildlife. The property is adjacent to Raritan Township parkland, which was donated by Merck & Co., Inc., and is located one property away from Hunterdon County Park System's fishing access site along the South Branch of the Raritan River. This acquisition adds to a growing greenway network connecting existing and future open spaces, recreation lands and agricultural lands in this area of the State. This site also fits into Hunterdon County's trail priorities and Conservation Zones and is located nearby preserved farmland tracts and areas of farmland preservation interest. This purchase will help achieve Governor Whitman's long-term goal of preserving 1 million acres in New Jersey and demonstrates her commitment to land preservation efforts in the Raritan River Watershed.

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