June 1, 2000

For release at your earliest convenience

For further information, please contact Stephen Mountain at 543-4555

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has announced that Mendham Township has qualified for a Green Acres grant of $500,000 and loan of $500,000. The award is being provided through the Department’s Planning Incentive Program.

The Planning Incentive Program is a new Green Acres grant program designed to promote and reward municipalities with open space plans supported by local open space preservation trusts. The program provides municipalities with block grant/loan awards to be used on any open space project included within the Township’s local open space inventory. Grant/loan awards are based upon the quality of the Township’s plan and commitment to open space preservation.

Since the inception of the Green Acres program in the early 1960s, the Township has received millions of dollars in grants and loans for open space preservation. These funds have enabled the Township to acquire over 500 acres of land for preservation purposes.

It is anticipated that this year’s grant/loan award will be used to fund the recently acquired Tomkins tract as well as several other acquisitions still in the negotiation stage.

For further information about the Planning Incentive award program or Mendham Township’s open space preservation program, please contact Township Administrator, Stephen Mountain at 543-4555.

The Tomkin’s tract, located just off Route 24, on the Township’s border with Chester Township, is a hidden natural wonder, featuring steep, rugged topography and pristine forest. The property ties together a natural green-way of over 800 acres of contiguous open space spanning from the Schiff Nature Preserve to Mount Paul Park.

The Township purchased the property for $1,300,000, using local open space funds, a County open space grant of $500,000 and State Green Acres grant funding. The Township’s local open space trust fund is supported by the $0.04 open space tax. To date the trust fund has been used to acquire, four properties totaling over 400 acres in all.

"I am proud of the effort our Township has made to preserve open space and look forward to many more acquisitions like the Tomkin’s tract in the future," said Mayor Porter. "We are building a green infrastructure in our township that preserves our community’s character and will be enjoyed by residents now and forever."

The Tomkin’s tract will be dedicated with an official ceremony at the property later this fall. The date and time of this event will be announced at a later date.

####