BLAIRSTOWN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Warren County) — The Land Conservancy of New Jersey announced the preservation of 355 acres of farmland in Blairstown Township near the Kittatinny Ridge.
According to the conservancy, the preservation effort was completed through work with the State Agriculture Development Committee and property owner Kris Jones.
The conservancy said the property will remain undeveloped and noted it lies within the viewshed of the Appalachian Trail.
The project received a 50% nonprofit grant totaling $2,213,100 through the State Agriculture Development Committee’s nonprofit program, according to the conservancy.
“We have wanted to see this property preserved since we first laid eyes on it,” the conservancy said in a statement, noting previous preservation attempts faced challenges and setbacks before the effort succeeded.
Land Preservation Vice President Sandy Urgo credited Jones for helping preserve the property.
“We are grateful to people like Kris Jones, who are conservationists at heart,” Urgo said in a statement. “Kris bought this amazing property that lies directly within the viewshed of the Appalachian Trail, and he absolutely knew that he needed to preserve it.”
Urgo also thanked the State Agriculture Development Committee’s State Direct program for its role in closing the preservation deal.
“A huge win for New Jersey and for fans of the Kittatinny Ridge and the Appalachian Trail,” Urgo said.
