TRENTON, N.J. — Mercer County recently assisted the D&R Greenway Land Trust in preserving about 44 acres in Hopewell Township to protect high-quality wildlife habitat, including mature forest, wetlands and a stream corridor, County Executive Brian M. Hughes said.
A resolution authorizing an Open Space Assistance Project Agreement with D&R Greenway that helped the organization acquire a conservation easement on 43.92 acres of the Forrester property on Marshalls Corner-Woodsville Road was among the proposals submitted by Mr. Hughes that received Board of County Commissioners approval on Jan. 26.
D&R Greenway Land Trust requested aid from the Mercer County Municipal and Non-Profit Assistance Program for 40 percent of the appraised value, not to exceed $268,815, to acquire the easement. A public trail will be developed on the property that will be part of a trail network connecting to other preserved land in the area, Mr. Hughes said. Stewardship and monitoring of the property will be overseen by D&R Greenway.
“Preserving open space for future generations and providing our residents with trails for hiking and biking have always been among our top priorities,” Mr. Hughes said. “We’re pleased to be able to partner with D&R Greenway on this important project that adds to the inventory of preserved land in the County.”
More than 27 percent of the County’s land area is now preserved, which is roughly equivalent to the size of East Windsor, Ewing and Lawrence townships