HUNTERDON COUNTY, N.J. — More than $626,000 in open space and municipal grants has been approved to advance park improvements, land preservation, and environmental protection across Hunterdon County, officials announced this week.
At its Dec. 2 meeting, the Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners awarded funding through the county’s Open Space Trust Fund to support municipal projects and nonprofit land acquisitions aimed at long-term conservation.
Commissioner Jeff Kuhl, liaison to the Department of Planning and Land Use, said the Board remains committed to safeguarding the county’s natural landscapes.
“This Board remains committed to preserving the county’s open spaces for the benefit of all residents,” Kuhl said. “These grant funds will help improve our parks and help protect vital properties. By working closely with our towns and land trusts, we continue to safeguard the landscapes that define Hunterdon County – and keep Hunterdon, Hunterdon.”
Grant Awards
The Board approved the following allocations:
• Lebanon Borough — $86,685.31 for improvements to Holjes Sheppard Memorial Park, enhancing community recreation space and maintaining a key local gathering area.
• Readington Township — $354,000 toward the acquisition of the Stavola property, a significant open space parcel that supports regional conservation goals and protects natural habitat and watershed resources.
• Tewksbury Land Trust — $186,000 for the purchase of roughly 12 acres known as the 100 Acre Wood, expanding permanently protected forest and preserving environmental continuity.
The Open Space Trust Fund has played a central role in preserving thousands of acres of farmland and open space throughout Hunterdon County. The grants enable municipalities and nonprofit land trusts to pursue projects that protect natural resources, expand parkland, and maintain the county’s rural character.
