OPEN SPACE NEWS

(REPRINTED COURTESY OF OBSERVER TRIBUNE)

The township, working with the non-profit Harding Land Trust, has landed nearly $2.5 million in Morris County Open Space Trust Fund money to purchase and preserve seven of 13 lots known as the Primrose Preserve project. This leaves the Land Trust looking for about another $1,000,000 before meeting the asking price of the developers controlling the property.

The Morris County Board of Freeholders approved the spending allocation from the county's Preservation Trust Fund to help preserve open space in 13 towns, based upon the recommendations of the county's Open Space Committee. The “Primrose Farm Estates” is a an approved 13-lot subdivision of 45.5 acres, located off Brook Drive South, south of Baileys Mill Road, west of Route 287.  The property contains wetlands and watershed lands adjacent to both Primrose Brook and the Passaic River. “Acquisition of these properties would preserve Harding Township’s ability to expand active recreational facilities at Barrett Field, located adjacent to the site.  The balance of the property would be managed for passive recreation, including hiking,” the application stated. Of the $3.5 million requested, the committee recommended a cash grant in the amount of $2,450,000. The county grant indicates that the value of this project is recognized, but the Land Trust needs to work harder, and is investigating other funding options, John Murray, Harding Land Trust President was quoted as saying in order to raise the rest of the target amount.