Freneau Woods Park: 22-Acre Addition

December 19, 2024

*Aerial image of a portion of Freneau Woods Park. Photo by Fred Yahn, Eagle Drone Solutions*

Nestled in the tranquil northwest corner of Monmouth County, Freneau Woods Park is a testament to the power of conservation. Since its creation approximately a decade ago, the Park has expanded to an impressive 335-acre Monmouth County regional park. Its growth is the result of dedicated efforts of the Monmouth County Park System (MCPS) and many partners, including MCF, to preserve the land around Matawan Creek and Lake Lefferts. In October 2024, the County purchased an additional 22-acre property – one of the last undeveloped tracts in the vicinity – to expand the park. MCF congratulates our partners at the County and thanks the landowners involved. We are honored to have played a role in this recent acquisition and to have helped protect this historically and environmentally significant treasure.

Today Freneau Woods Park spans from Aberdeen and Matawan to Marlboro, comprised of permanent green space that may otherwise have been destined to become high-density housing and subdivisions. The recent 22-acre addition represents a major feat in our densely populated Garden State.

“Freneau Woods has become a very popular park for hikers and wildlife enthusiasts. We are happy to be able to secure additional acreage to give residents more opportunities to enjoy the natural resources at this beautiful park,” remarked Monmouth County Commissioner Deputy Director Ross Licitra, as he expressed this gratitude for MCF’s assistance with the recent Freneau Woods Park acquisition.

Freneau Woods Park Origins

A park as expansive as Freneau Woods Park, you can imagine, takes shape through a series of events. More than two decades ago, negotiations with landowners began as visions for the Park were initiated. MCPS aimed to create new open space that would provide passive recreation, connecting the community to the nearby Henry Hudson Trail and giving residents easy access to additional parks like Bayshore Waterfront Park/Monmouth Cove Marina, Deep Run Recreation Area, and Big Brook Park. They also sought to protect the rich natural resources and diverse habitats in the area, while safeguarding the Matawan Creek Watershed and Lake Lefferts, a key water source.

The County acquired the first few parcels in November 2014 and purchased additional acreage representing the majority of the present day park by the end of 2016. While MCPS led the multi-property acquisition and provided the lion share of funding, MCF played an integral role in facilitating the acquisition of much of the park’s current acreage. Additional partners included the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP) Green Acres program, the Trust for Public Land, and Aberdeen Township.

“Acquiring over 300 acres of land like Freneau Woods is no small feat. It requires persistence, patience, and collaboration,” says MCF Executive Director William Kastning. “We’re proud to have been part of the conversation with landowners and our partners that work tirelessly to support land preservation for Monmouth County residents.”

A Revolutionary War Legacy

Today’s Freneau Woods Park footprint was part of a larger area owned by the Freneau family. During the 1700s’, American Revolutionary War poet and newswriter Philip Morin Freneau wrote about the forests, fields, and the wildlife surrounding him.

“I frequently walk into the fields over the cultivated farms and through the little forests that lay beyond the two rivers…What most of all disgusts me in these excursions is that men seem too much to have strayed from the grand simplicity of Nature…,” he published in the Jersey Chronicle of July 4, 1795.

Today, nearly a quarter-century later, the lands that once inspired Freneau are protected forever because of partners’ collaborative efforts and community support. Freneau Woods Park offers enhanced public access for walking and bicycling and features diverse habitats like dense woods, open fields, and water bodies including Lake Lefferts, freshwater ponds, vernal pools, and streams that support nesting birds such as egrets, fish, snapping turtles, and frogs.

Q&A with Erica Muller: Forester for MCF’s Scudder Preserve

December 19, 2024

by Judy Musa

MCF staff recently sat down with Erica Muller, a Neptune, New Jersey resident and the sole owner of Heartwood Ecological Consulting, as she embarks on developing a forestry management plan for the 90-acre Scudder Preserve in Middletown, New Jersey that MCF acquired earlier this year. With a passion for forestry and a commitment to sustainable land management, Erica shared her journey and insights into the world of forestry in New Jersey and highlights of her work with MCF.

Meet Erica Muller

Erica's love for trees took root in a dendrology (the study of trees) class at Stockton State College, now Stockton University. This fascination led her to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a Concentration in Forestry and set her on a path that led her to work for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP) Forest Service office as a GIS Specialist. (GIS stands for Geographic Information System, which is a computer-based tool that combines maps and databases to analyze, store, and visualize spatial data.)

“Studying trees and then going on to work as a GIS Specialist for the NJ Forest Service really strengthened my comprehension of the importance of forest mapping to better understand connections within a forest ecosystem,” said Erica.

In 2013, Erica joined Heartwood, and within five years, she took over reins as sole owner of the consulting firm. Since 2019, Erica has served on the Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission, where she actively promotes the health and sustainability of local forests and their trees, including Monmouth County’s official tree, the white oak. Erica also serves as the Chair of the NJ Division of the Society of American Foresters and as a member of the NJ Tree Farm Program.

What Does a State-Approved Forester Do?

Erica explained that New Jersey-approved foresters assist landowners and municipalities in managing their forests for long-term viability, particularly in response to climate change, pests, and human impact. Her team tailors comprehensive forest stewardship and woodland management plans that span a decade, aimed at addressing challenges that include restoring biodiversity, controlling of invasive species, the sequestration of carbon, preventing soil erosion, and maintaining water quality. Forestry management plans also address the social and environmental needs of the region.

Erica noted that most forests and woodlands have been disturbed from their natural state in recent past, such as by harvesting, burning, or clearing for development. This allows for an overgrowth of shade-tolerant species. Foresters seek to restore balance by fostering regeneration of iconic, sunlight-loving species such as hickory, oak, and short-leaf pine here in New Jersey.

Foresters employ best practices for reforestation and habitat conservation by seeking various plant sources, ideally from local seed purveyors, tree farms, and nurseries that provide native or regionally adapted plants. They work to maintain diverse species and restore ecosystems that foster resilience against environmental changes. Forest management plans may also incorporate fire management protocols to promote forest health.

Forestry management looks beyond just the forest and trees to their many connected attributes, such as water sources, topography and soil conditions, and wildlife habitats, as well as their applications, including recreation and sustainable forestry practices, like “forest stand improvement,” where land is managed to promote a healthier forest community.

“Managing our forests properly is crucial for ensuring their health and resilience,” Erica emphasized.

*Aerial image of Scudder Preserve. Photo by Kevin Knecht.*

Goals for Scudder Preserve

MCF aims to restore Scudder Preserve’s natural habitats and improve and expand public access at the site. The Preserve contains a mix of ecological features that include wooded areas with old growth forest, century forest, wetlands, ponds, a stream/riparian corridor, and grassy meadows. Erica will draft a recommended forestry plan to support MCF’s goals at Scudder Preserve with a four-pronged approach that includes:

Data Collection to gather information on overall species, invasive plants, and shrub cover;
Invasive Species, Disease, and Pest Management to address such invasive species as tree of heaven and Norway maple, as well as future tree pests and diseases;
Habitat Improvement to support a diversity of habitats for local wildlife and to promote a healthy forest; and
Public Engagement to enhance trail systems and amenities that encourage community interaction with the forest.

Erica and her team will devise site-specific plans to promote long-term forest health and resiliency. For instance, in her initial assessment, Erica has noted a need to address the threat of beech leaf disease — a recently introduced nematode affecting beech trees throughout the state, in specimens found at Scudder Preserve.

The Current Landscape of Forestry in New Jersey

New Jersey's forests cover just under 2 million acres or about 45% of the total land in the Garden State. Despite this vast amount of forest, there are fewer than 50 state-approved foresters across the state, and there is a critical need for more professionals in this field.

Erica noted this scarcity often surprises people when they learn about the important work involved in forest management. Many people are unaware that forestry management is a profession in New Jersey, which Erica often encounters in conversations with landowners.

“I often receive calls that start with, ‘I had no idea this was even a thing!’” she laughed.

Erica hopes to raise awareness about the importance of forestry management and to inspire future generations to pursue careers in this field.

The Art and Science of Forestry

One of the most fascinating aspects of Erica's job is the blend of art and science involved in forestry management. This duality fuels her passion for creating sustainable environments that will endure for generations.

“Getting to a particular forested area and using maps and other tools to gain an understanding of what it once was, how it is changing in the face of human intervention, pests, and climate change and then getting to create a plan to positively impact the resiliency of that forest by visualizing what it could be in 10, 20, 30 years’ time is always so exciting for me. Truly a perfect combination of art and science,” she said.

Erica shared that she is excited to work with MCF on a forest management plan for the Scudder Preserve. There is a great deal of potential for the site to be revitalized through the removal of invasive species, restoration of native plants and trees, promotion of wildlife habitat and climate resiliency, and the addition of amenities for sustainable public access. And, MCF is uniquely poised to do so while bringing the public along for the ride through demonstration projects and educational outreach programming. The Scudder Preserve will look quite different in several years!

Keeping Monmouth Green

When not conserving forests, Erica finds joy in cycling along New Jersey's rail trails, through green spaces like Hartshorne Woods and Allaire State Park. She said Sandy Hook – Gateway National Recreational Area stands out as her favorite Monmouth County location, thanks to its beautiful landscapes, rich biodiversity, wonderful trails to bike and walk, access to the bay and ocean, and historical attributes.

Beyond her personal and professional commitment to supporting green spaces, Erica enjoys performing with her father’s band, Dead on Live, and she is an advocate for civic engagement. She believes grassroots efforts can make a significant impact and suggests several ways individuals can contribute to forest preservation:

Advocate for local green spaces;
Stay informed about state and federal policies affecting forests; and
Plant native species in your own yard to create wildlife habitats.

Final Thoughts

MCF appreciates Erica Muller and her foresters at Heartwood Ecological Consulting for their expertise, dedication, and passion for environmental stewardship. Their work not only helps to sustain New Jersey’s forests but also inspires others to appreciate and protect these vital ecosystems. Together, we can help #KeepMonmouthGreen!

To follow along on MCF’s journey at Scudder Preserve, visit our webpage.

Monmouth Conservation Foundation Hires New Director of Educational Outreach

November 1, 2024

For Immediate Release

Contact: Judy Musa/Karen Keene
Jmusa@monmouthconservation.org
Kkeene@monmouthconservation.org
M. 732-977-0151

Middletown, NJ (November 4, 2024) – Monmouth Conservation Foundation, the county’s only independent, nonprofit land trust, has hired Doug Caum as the organization’s new Director of Educational Outreach.

“Our preservation work includes teaching environmental sustainability and engaging the next generation in protecting and stewarding our land for all to enjoy. Bringing an experienced conservation educator to our staff will allow us to deliver a robust, science-based educational program for students, teachers, and the general public. Doug’s role is an important addition to MCF, as we work to engage and educate more of our community – of all ages and backgrounds,” said MCF Executive Director William Kastning.

Doug comes to MCF with more than two decades of experience at the crossroads of education and conservation, working to connect people to place. He has developed education and training programs for national conservation organizations, worked with grassroots organizations to educate and train volunteers, and developed programming for community groups.

Doug earned a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Sport Science from the University of Richmond, as well as a Master of Arts in Recreation and Environmental Education and a graduate certificate in Historic Preservation and Regionalism, both from the University of New Mexico. Doug, who is CPR-certified, also holds a Wilderness First Responder certificate.

As Chair of Experiential Education at the Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque, N.M., he directed the school’s environmental and outdoor education department. He developed curriculum and training for the 4,000-member Student Conservation Association in Charlestown, N.H. and has led 30-day field courses and wilderness medicine classes for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) of Lander, Wyo. He has also served on school and non-profit boards in various locations.

Locally, Doug has worked for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as a Parks Project Specialist and directed the operations, programming, and outreach for the nonprofit Lawrence Hopewell Trail in Pennington, N.J. He has also served on the board of the Manasquan Environmental Commission.

In line with its new three-year strategic plan, MCF will provide Monmouth County residents with hands-on education focused on environmental sustainability, building on its successful Kids for Conservation program. MCF will prioritize underserved communities, taking experiential programs on the road at municipal parks, community events, and schools.

Doug will design public-friendly educational materials, based on preK-12 lesson plans that meet New Jersey state standards, in development through MCF’s partnership with Monmouth University’s School of Education. Doug will also deliver experiential learning programs for New Jersey educators as part of MCF’s work as a sub-grantee on the Expanding Access to Climate Change Education and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) through Climate Change Learning Collaboratives (CCLC) grant awarded to Monmouth University by the New Jersey Department of Education.

Curriculum topics will align with MCF’s land preservation mission and include themes such as restoring biodiversity and ecosystem function, employing natural climate solutions, and taking individual action to create climate resiliency and build hope for a sustainable future. Future programming will involve interactive opportunities at and relating to MCF’s Scudder Preserve. MCF took ownership of the 90-acre natural site in Middletown, N.J., in April 2024, with plans to enhance public access, restore the natural habitat, and offer a living laboratory for educational activities.

“I’m looking forward to bringing my professional experience to Monmouth County, working with students and adults, but also my life-long passion for the outdoors and the environment, and my perspective that each of has the opportunity to take an active role in stewarding the land we have been entrusted to care for,” notes Doug Caum.

# # #

About Monmouth Conservation Foundation
Founded in 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) works to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability. An independent nonprofit organization that works with Monmouth County and its 53 municipalities, MCF’s vision is to lead conservation and education efforts to preserve and protect our natural environment, so all individuals and communities have access to and can benefit from open space and nature for generations to come. MCF received accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2014 and has continued to maintain this status since. Accreditation is awarded to land trusts meeting the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence. MCF is one of 471 accredited land trusts out of 1,100 nationwide. For more information, visit www.monmouthconservation.org.

Middletown Township and Monmouth Conservation Foundation Partner to Create Public Open Space in North Middletown

October 28, 2024

Middletown, NJ – Middletown Township Mayor Tony Perry and Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) President Matt Cohen, representing the county’s only nonprofit land trust, have announced a partnership to create new, permanent green space on a three-acre parcel in North Middletown.

Open Space a Township Priority

“The Township Committee and I will not relent to developers that want to build high-density housing as we continue to fight for open space preservation,” said Mayor Perry. “We have made significant investments in protecting our remaining open space, including designating this natural oasis on Route 36 as a respite for our community in this highly developed and commercial area.”

Rt. 36-Thompson Avenue Open Space, Photo: Google Earth

Located between Route 36 and Thompson Avenue near the iconic Polar Bear Ice Cream stand, the property is a forested parcel that has developed wetland areas due to run-off from the highway. It is densely wooded and would require improvements for public access. MCF and Middletown Township have a shared goal of turning it into a passive park.

Mayor Perry added, “We welcome input from the community on what amenities they would like to see added, such as a nature trail, habitat improvements, or benches, honoring our shared commitment with MCF to save open space and create parks.”

Partnering to Support Community Open Space Needs

Originally zoned for commercial use, the property was privately held and on the market for sale until the owners donated it to MCF in 2020 as a trade land – meaning it was intended specifically to be sold, with the proceeds benefiting the land trust’s charitable conservation work.

Residents raised concerns about the property being developed once sold. MCF and Middletown came to an agreement, and MCF recently transferred the property to the Township, which will place it on the Township’s Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI). This designation permanently restricts use of the land only as parkland, and MCF and Middletown will together make it into a jointly branded park.

“As a land trust, MCF’s objective is to facilitate how a property will be best preserved and utilized so the public-at-large benefits,” said MCF Executive Director Bill Kastning. “We applaud Mayor Perry’s commitment to open space, and we are proud to work with him and the Township to bring this open space to the community, in line with our efforts to #KeepMonmouthGreen.”

MCF was founded by visionary, lifelong Monmouth County residents, Judith Stanley Coleman and Michael Huber, both of whom hailed from Middletown, and many of MCF’s collaborative preservation projects have taken place in the Township. These projects include acquiring the 99-acre Timolat Farm to expand Huber Woods Park; the 40-acre Fisher-Stern parcel, known today as the Claypit Creek extension of Hartshorne Woods Park; another 17 acres along the Navesink River to further add to Hartshorne’s footprint; and the 18 acres to create Swimming River Park. Most recently, MCF took over ownership of the 90-acre Scudder Preserve and will be working with Middletown to restore the site and improve public access.

Rt. 36-Thompson Avenue Open Space Street View, Photo: Karen Keene

About Middletown Township

Middletown Township is fortunate to have 80 parks across town, including one national park, nine county parks, and 70 township parks. This is an impressive total of approximately 6,000 acres.

To help ensure that Middletown could maintain its rustic charm, the Township created the Open Space Trust in 1998 where there would be a dedicated tax levy of one cent per $100 of assessed property value to preserve land. In 2002, voters supported an amendment that changed the rate from one cent to two. In 2020, more than 66 percent of Middletown voters supported the Open Space referendum on the general election ballot. This allowed the Township to amend the dedicated Open Space Trust annual collection rate from two cents to three cents per $100 in equalized valuation. The Township Committee also officially changed the name of the fund to an all-encompassing “Municipal Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund” so money could also be allocated to recreational upgrades and preserving historic landmarks.

Continuing to preserve remaining open space, including enhancing parks and restoring historic landmarks, is paramount. Since the Township began the trust, it has proudly acquired and preserved 275 acres of land, with a total investment of over $30,000,000.

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About Monmouth Conservation Foundation

Founded in 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) works to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability. Since 2014, MCF has been accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and is one of 471 accredited land trusts out of 1,100 land trusts nationwide. Connect with us: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Vote to Preserve Open Space in Monmouth County!

October 28, 2024

By William D. Kastning, AICP
MCF Executive Director

Early Voting Began
October 26, 2024

Since 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF), has dedicated itself to safeguarding our county's natural landscapes. Working alongside federal, state, county, and local partners, we have preserved more than 9,500 acres of farmland, parks, and open spaces. This November, some Monmouth municipalities will have open space referendums on their ballots, asking residents to approve additional tax dollars in crucial funding to protect land and enhance green spaces in their communities.

Based on the increase in residential and commercial developments anticipated in Monmouth County over the next decade, preserving our remaining, unprotected land now is imperative. Once a farm, forest, natural habitat, or meadow is developed, it is lost forever.

Added to this, we are facing greater environmental challenges, like increased flooding, more powerful storms, and wildfires, which threaten our homes, businesses, and our way of life. Land preservation and the implementation of natural climate solutions using open space tax dollars can help reduce environmental impacts and ensure our sustainable future.

Spotted in Middletown
Photo by Karen Keene

Photos by Fred Yahn, Eagle Drone Solutions

Open spaces are not merely aesthetic assets; they are essential for the health of our community, the environment, and our overall quality of life. Studies show that access to parks and recreational areas significantly enhances both physical and mental health. During the pandemic, many of us turned to our parks, waterfronts, and trails, highlighting the importance of these spaces for recreation and community connection.

Moreover, preserving open space has tangible economic benefits. Properties adjacent to preserved areas often see higher values, benefiting residents and local governments alike. These natural assets attract tourism and bolster local businesses, fostering a vibrant economy.

Your vote will shape the future of our community—promoting sustainability, health, and the preservation of our shared heritage. Together, let's protect the landscapes that define Monmouth County and ensure their vitality for generations to come. On November 5, vote YES to #KeepMonmouthGreen.

Click to read The Benefits of Land Preservation

Honoring the US Navy and our Partners at Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Earle

September 21, 2024

MCF is pleased to recognize the US Navy and our partners at Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Earle for their support and collaboration to permanently protect lands buffering NWS Earle’s nearly 12,000 acres. This recognition was bestowed at MCF’s annual Fall for Conservation Cocktail Party, on September 21, 2024 in Colts Neck.

With over $3 million in federal funding awarded thus far through the US Department of Defense (DOD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration REPI program since 2018, MCF and Monmouth County have been working with NWS Earle and municipalities to preserve land surrounding the base, which transects the County from the Leonardo community in Middletown through Colts Neck to Howell and contains one of the largest wooded areas in Monmouth. This honor is bestowed on the heels of our inaugural conservation projects achieved through this partnership – preserving 255 acres encompassing two properties in Howell and Colts Neck in 2023 and greatly benefiting our community.

L-R: NWS Earle Commanding Officer Capt. Kent D. “Brewski” Smith, MCF President Matthew Cohen, and MCF Executive Director William D. Kastning

Representatives from the US Navy, Monmouth County, and MCF Commemorating our Inaugural Preservation Projects

Prioritizing Resilience and Sustainability

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in 2011, which caused $50 million in damages at NWS Earle, the US DOD further ramped up strategic initiatives to address climate resilience at critical military bases like NWS Earle.

Here in Monmouth County, where NWS Earle provides vital ordnance (military supplies including weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, and maintenance tools and equipment) for the Atlantic Fleet, many encroachment concerns directly affect the base.

Encroachment is the term used in the DOD to describe the types of external pressures military missions and operations face that can impact success. They include sea level rise and coastal erosion, storm surge and flood vulnerability, wildfire risk, aging energy and water supply infrastructure, road and rail transportation demands, and incompatible development.

A series of land use studies coordinated by NWS Earle and Monmouth County from 2017 to 2022 identified a Military Influence Area (MIA) surrounding the base. The MIA includes lands around NWS Earle’s Mainside facility in Colts Neck and its Waterfront complex in Leonardo (including the operational waters and shipping channels in Sandy Hook Bay), as well as along Normandy Road, its 15-mile Navy-controlled rail and road corridor, which connects the Mainside to Waterfront component. The MIA is targeted for preservation to ensure NWS Earle continues to fulfill its mission.

To protect against encroachment, land in the vicinity of military bases is typically protected through conservation and/or agricultural easements purchased by project partners and granted by willing landowners. Locally, the project partners are the US Navy, NWS Earle, Monmouth County, MCF (Monmouth County’s only land trust), and relevant municipalities where the land being protected is situated.

The easement language permanently limits development potential and restricts the lands to conservation and agricultural uses. Where relevant, ecological restoration can be conducted or obtained through the protection of the land. Easements can be very costly (if you consider the alternative cost of developing highly prized land in the Garden State), and we are fortunate to have funding assistance through our public and private partners.

MCF honored the US Navy and our partners at NWS Earle at the 2024 Fall for Conservation Cocktail Party, the proceeds of which benefited MCF’s charitable work to preserve open space across Monmouth County.

Many Monmouth County residents may be unaware of the significant role the US Navy and our local naval base, NWS Earle, play in helping to #KeepMonmouthGreen. Despite being a high-security military installation, NWS Earle is highly engaged in Monmouth County and welcoming of collaborations with diverse partners and nonprofits like MCF to better our environment – for the mutual benefit of base operations and community resiliency.

NWS Earle’s nearly 12,000 acres contain one of the largest wooded areas in Monmouth. Since World War II, this installation has continually served our US Navy with critical military supplies. Today, the US Navy is addressing how to deliver on its charge while also staying resilient to wide-ranging mission and economic impacts because of climate change and development pressure.

Beyond the partnership involving MCF, the US Navy and NWS Earle are working with other DOD agencies and state, county, and academic partners on several resiliency efforts. These projects include beach nourishment, living shoreline establishment, wildfire mitigation, stormwater capacity enhancement, and pursuing a designation under the Sentinel Landscape Initiative. These efforts will benefit NWS Earle, other nearby installations, and the local communities into the future.

NWS Earle’s main base (Mainside) encompasses 10,160 acres 15 miles west of the Bayshore and borders the townships of Colts Neck, Howell, and Wall, and the Borough of Tinton Falls. The majority of Mainside is within Colts Neck Township.

NWS Earle’s Waterfront pier complex extends 2.5 miles into Raritan Bay and is recognized as the line of demarcation between Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay. Comprised of a two-mile trestle which connects to three piers, it is one of the longest finger piers in the world. Photo by Jeffrey C. Doepp, Courtesy of US Navy.

NWS Earle is supported by 110 miles of railroad track (a main artery of which runs along Normandy Road), five locomotives, and over 300 pieces of rolling stock.

The US DOD REPI Program provides up to one-half of the easement purchase price for eligible properties (in our case, passed through MCF and Monmouth County), and the program requires at least a 50% match from other funding sources, like state, county or municipal preservation programs funded by open space trusts (tax dollars), or philanthropy. To date, MCF and the County have received over $3 million through the US Navy via the REPI program, matched by contributions from Monmouth County, MCF through private donations, and Howell and Colts Neck Townships. We have requested an additional $5 million for future preservation projects through the REPI program.

Partners from the US Navy, Monmouth County, and MCF presented at the 2024 New Jersey Coastal & Climate Resilience Conference.

L-R: Panelists: MCF’s Karen Keene, Monmouth County Division of Planning’s Harriet Honigfeld, Bridget Neary, and Amber Mallm, and NWS Earle’s Nicholas Ginther

“The REPI program provides substantial federal funding for land preservation and broadens eligibility beyond MCF’s two main funding sources from the State for permanently protecting land in Monmouth County. We are grateful to work with our partners at NWS Earle, Monmouth County, individual municipalities, and private landowners to forever secure additional green space for public benefit.”
- Matt Cohen, President of MCF

Inaugural Projects Benefit All Monmouth County Residents

This year at our signature Fall for Conservation Cocktail Party, MCF is pleased to recognize the US Navy and our partners at NWS Earle for their support and collaboration to permanently protect lands buffering the naval base. This honor is bestowed on the heels of our inaugural conservation projects achieved through this partnership – preserving 255 acres encompassing two properties in 2023 – with aspirations for many more to come. The two parcels – 20 acres of mostly mature hardwood forest in Howell (our pilot project) and 235 acres comprising a thoroughbred horse breeding and training farm in Colts Neck – were permanently preserved through the REPI program, bringing mutual benefits to the US Navy and the greater Monmouth community. This initiative was made possible by funding support and collaboration of the US DOD, US Navy and NWS Earle, Monmouth County, MCF, and Howell and Colts Neck Townships.

“We are pleased to build upon our already stellar partnerships with Monmouth County, Monmouth Conservation Foundation, and our local municipalities through the REPI program. Thanks to this program we can promote military readiness and prevent encroachment while helping our neighbors protect and preserve more of our surrounding landscapes.”

-Capt. Kent D. Smith, NWS Earle Commanding Officer

Capt. Kent D. Smith, NWS Earle Commanding Officer

REPI Pilot Project: 20 Acres Preserved in 2023 in Howell Township

The 20 acres in Howell are mostly woodland, including a portion with Century Forest (at least 100 years old). The property contains a valuable ecosystem of plants and wildlife, which provides many positive environmental impacts. While 20 acres may seem small, the mature forest within this land helps provide habitat for wildlife and promotes greater carbon capture to support climate resilience. It would take nearly a century to replace, making this property important for preservation.

Photo by Fred Yahn, Eagle Drone Solutions

235-acre Overbrook Farm preserved in 2023 in Colts Neck Township

New Jersey is not only the most densely populated state but also claims the most horses per square mile in the country. The equine industry provides an estimated $1.1 billion in economic impact and supports our agricultural roots and open space preservation efforts. Notably, Overbrook Farm was the birthplace of Irish War Cry, a multiple stakes-winning thoroughbred that was a contender in the Kentucky Derby in 2017 and finished second in the Belmont Stakes. Irish War Cry was bred by Isabelle de Tomaso, the daughter of Amory Haskell, founder of the Monmouth Park Racetrack and the man for whom New Jersey’s most famous and prestigious thoroughbred race – the Haskell Invitational – is named. The combined equestrian, agricultural, and ecological attributes of Overbrook Farm and its significant acreage validated the need for this important land to remain a preserved property, safe from development forever.

L-R: MCF President Matt Cohen; MCF Ex-Officio Trustee Andrew Spears, Director of Monmouth County Park System; NWS Earle Retired Captain Edward L. Callahan, Former Commanding Officer of NWS Earle; MCF Trustee At-Large Valerie Montecalvo, and MCF Director of Development and Communications Karen Keene

L-R: MCF Trustee Emeritus Ronald Gumbaz, Former Trustee Jerry Buffalino, NWS Earle Community Plans and Liaison Officer Nicholas Ginther, MCF Trustees David Hoder and W. Benson Chiles

"MCF is thrilled to be a recipient of REPI program funding and grateful to our public and private partners for helping to bring these projects to fruition. Partnerships like this one demonstrate the effect we can have together to ensure we are protecting the natural habitats, farmland, and open spaces that make Monmouth County so special."
— William D. Kastning, MCF’s Executive Director

MORE TO COME

MCF is grateful for the partnership with the US Navy and NWS Earle. The REPI program brings together critical support at federal to local levels that preserves land and supports climate resilience. We so appreciate our collaborators at Monmouth County and municipalities like Colts Neck and Howell Townships.

L-R Front: MCF Executive Director William D. Kastning shakes hands with NWS Earle Commanding Officer Capt. Kent D. Smith. Back: NWS Earle Community Plans and Liaison Officer Nicholas Ginther

New Jersey Resources Announces $500,000 Funding Commitment to Restore and Transform Scudder Preserve in Monmouth County

June 27, 2024

To follow news about Scudder Preserve News, click here

NEWS RELEASE

Funds will benefit Monmouth Conservation Foundation's stewardship of Scudder Preserve, enabling improvements to restore natural aspects of the property, expand recreational access and educational programming for the public, and strengthen climate resilience.
The project is part of NJR's 2023 pledge to commit up to $2 million through its Coastal Climate Initiative (CCI) to environmental stewardship and education efforts in New Jersey.

New Jersey Resources (NJR) Executives present $500,000 Grant to Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) at Scudder Preserve, Middletown, NJ. — **New Jersey Resources (NJR) Executives present $500,000 Donation to Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) at Scudder Preserve, Middletown, NJ.**
L-R: MCF Executive Director Bill Kastning, MCF Board of Trustees President Matt Cohen, MCF Trustee Valerie Montecalvo, NJR CEO Stephen Westhoven, New Jersey Natural Gas Senior VP and COO Patrick Migliaccio, and NJR Senior VP and COO, Non-Regulated Business, Strategy and External Affairs Amy Cradic. *Photo: New Jersey Resources (NJR)*

Wall, N.J., June 27, 2024 – Building on its commitment to environmental stewardship and support of community resiliency, New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) today announced a five-year, $500,000 funding commitment to Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) through the company’s Coastal Climate Initiative (CCI). NJR’s gift will help bring to life MCF’s vision to restore and improve the Scudder Preserve, an important natural habitat in Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey, benefitting the local community for generations to come.

“New Jersey Resources understands that more resilient and sustainable communities make our business stronger too, and we’re committed to making a positive impact through our Coastal Climate Initiative and our broader charitable efforts,” said Steve Westhoven, President and CEO of New Jersey Resources. “Providing this gift to restore and improve Scudder Preserve is a rare opportunity to make a significant difference with a single parcel of property that will benefit the local community for years to come.”

Scudder Preserve is a 90-acre, densely wooded, preserved habitat, which is home to century forest, grasslands, streams and riparian corridors, nature trails, several ponds, and a home. The property was originally owned by the Scudder family, who donated conservation easements to MCF and later donated the 90-acre property to New Jersey Audubon Society (NJA). Earlier this year, NJA transferred ownership of the property to MCF, a nonprofit land trust that focuses on open space preservation throughout Monmouth County.

“New Jersey Resources shares our vision of environmental stewardship within our local community,” said William Kastning, Executive Director of MCF. “Teaming up with NJR through this agreement, we’re able to actively demonstrate sustainability and inspire the vision to expand education and inspire land stewardship for future generations. NJR’s dedication, both in funding and attention to local communities, is invaluable. With their support and collaboration, we’re transforming Scudder Preserve into the natural sanctuary Monmouth County residents have been longing for.”

NJR’s funding will support specific, actionable strategies of MCF’s plan for the preserve:

Conduct a comprehensive natural resource inventory;
Devise and implement a site restoration and management plan;
Assess and devise a climate resilient public access strategy; and,
Build and launch an educational outreach program at Scudder Preserve.

In whole, these efforts underwritten by NJR at Scudder Preserve will result in forest restoration and habitat management to reduce invasive species, restore biodiversity and ecosystem function, including water quality benefits, greater climate resilience from native planting, and site improvements that reduce erosion and mitigate storm- and flood-water flows. The work at the preserve will focus on expanding public access and education through trail and facility improvements, allowing local communities to benefit from open space and nature.

Water with little bridges Scudder Preserve — **Scudder Preserve** *Photo: New Jersey Resources (NJR)*

NJR’s gift is made possible through NJR’s 2023 pledge to commit up to $2 million over five years through its charities, dedicated to supporting the work of CCI on natural resource management and education, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship in the communities it serves. NJR will also seek opportunities for employees to collaborate with MCF on future volunteerism and education efforts.

In addition to funding from NJR, MCF previously announced it had secured a private philanthropic gift of $1 million, providing seed support for MCF’s transition into its ongoing management of Scudder Preserve.

This project adds to NJR’s broader sustainability efforts, demonstrated in part through CCI. Over the last year NJR has successfully continued to incorporate sustainability across its business. A few highlights include:

Announced a milestone five-year funding commitment of $560,000 from its charitable foundation to advance local environmental improvements in partnership with New Jersey Audubon.
Provided nearly $2 million in charitable and volunteer support to community nonprofits in NJR’s last fiscal year, including approximately 4,000 hours of volunteer service – nearly double the amount of the previous year.
Achieved the highest single-year investment of $59 million in New Jersey Natural Gas’ energy-efficiency programs – cutting carbon emissions by helping customers reduce their energy consumption.
Continued to advance cutting-edge, lower-carbon energy solutions, including the installation of carbon capture technology and high-efficiency gas heat pumps in NJR’s own facilities.
Construction of North America’s largest capped landfill solar array and largest floating solar array – both located in New Jersey.
Named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek for the fifth consecutive year – one of only 156 companies nationwide to be recognized every year since 2020.

**Scudder Preserve Pond** *Photo: New Jersey Resources (NJR)*

About New Jersey Resources

New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) is a Fortune 1000 company that, through its subsidiaries, provides safe and reliable natural gas and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and home services. NJR is composed of five primary businesses:

New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR’s principal subsidiary, operates and maintains natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve nearly 576,000 customers in New Jersey’s Monmouth, Ocean and parts of Morris, Middlesex, Sussex and Burlington counties.
Clean Energy Ventures invests in, owns and operates solar projects with a total capacity of approximately 469 megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions.
Energy Services manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services and customized energy solutions to its customers across North America.
Storage and Transportation serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers through its ownership of Leaf River Energy Center and the Adelphia Gateway Pipeline, as well as our 50% equity ownership in the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility.
Home Services provides service contracts as well as heating, central air conditioning, water heaters, standby generators, solar and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to residential homes throughout New Jersey.

NJR and its over 1,300 employees are committed to helping customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and encouraging efficiency through Conserve to Preserve® and initiatives such as SAVEGREEN™ and The Sunlight Advantage®.

For more information about NJR visit www.njresources.com.

“Like” us on facebook.com/NewJerseyNaturalGas.

About Monmouth Conservation Foundation
Founded in 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation is an independent nonprofit land trust that has preserved more than 9,400 acres of green space in Monmouth County. Accredited by the Land Trust Commission since 2014, MCF collaborates with private and public partners to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability. MCF leads conservation and education efforts to preserve and protect our natural environment, so all individuals and communities have access to and can benefit from open space and nature for generations to come. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

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Monmouth Conservation Foundation Applies for Accreditation Renewal

June 20, 2024

Public Comments Invited Through August 6, 2024

A Mark of Distinction- The accreditation seal AFFIRMS national quality standards are met. SOUND FINANCES. ETHICAL CONDUCT.RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE. LASTING STEWARDSHIP.

Middletown, NJ - (June 20, 2024) – Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF), the only independent, nonprofit land trust in Monmouth County since 1977, announced that the organization is applying for accreditation renewal for its conservation excellence awarded by third-party Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

Since first being accredited in 2014, MCF has continually met the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence, joining a select group of less than 500 accredited land trusts among the 1,100 in the nation. MCF, united by strong ethical practices, remains one of the 471 organizations in 46 U.S. states and territories that is currently accredited.

To earn and maintain the accreditation seal and designation requires each land trust to complete a rigorous review process. Public commentary is part of the application process and open to all who wish to comment by August 6, 2024.

“Maintaining our accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission affirms MCF’s commitment to upholding strong ethical standards and best practices on par with national guidelines, as we conduct our collaborative work to permanently preserve open space and steward conserved lands across Monmouth County,” noted Bill Kastning, MCF Executive Director.

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how MCF complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see www.landtrustaccreditation.org/tips-and-tools/indicator-practices.

To learn more about the accreditation program or to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org or email your comment to info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, attn.: Public Comments: (fax) 518.587.3183; (mail) 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on the Monmouth Conservation Foundation’s application are requested by August 6, 2024.

For more information about MCF, please visit About MCF — MCF (monmouthconservation.org) and socialize with us on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

ACCREDITED - Excellence, Trust, Permanence

Monmouth Conservation Foundation Welcomes Two New Board Members

June 18, 2024

Middletown, NJ – Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) proudly announces the appointment of two distinguished trustees to its board: Steven Denholtz of Denholtz Properties, and Dan Dirscherl, Managing Director in the Ares Management Credit Group.

Since its inception in 1977, MCF has thrived on the diverse expertise of its volunteer board members, who passionately support the organization's mission. Steven and Dan bring invaluable business acumen and financial insight, alongside their commitment of time, energy, and resources, further strengthening the nonprofit’s efforts to #KeepMonmouthGreen.

"We are deeply grateful for the expertise and dedication that Steven and Dan bring to MCF's board as we pursue our initiatives to create parks, preserve open spaces, protect farmlands, promote environmental education, safeguard water resources, and conserve wildlife," stated Bill Kastning, Executive Director.

Recent accomplishments by MCF, in collaboration with our federal, state, county, and municipal partners, include:

Preservation of 255 acres in Colts Neck and Howell, made possible through an inaugural grant from the US Navy, Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Earle, in collaboration with Monmouth County and local municipalities.
Receipt of a three-year, $500,000 EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Brownfield Community-Wide Assessment grant to facilitate the transformation of Red Bank's former landfill into a waterfront park.
Acquisition of ownership of the 90-acre Scudder Preserve in Middletown, enabling the organization to demonstrate sustainability practices and enhance conservation education opportunities.

These collaborative endeavors, along with others, have preserved over 9,400 acres in Monmouth County. As a nonprofit land trust, MCF relies on the generous support of grantors, corporate sponsors, private donors, and a dedicated volunteer board to augment the efforts of the small staff in advancing conservation initiatives.

Statements about and from the New Trustees in Support of the Mission:

Steven Denholtz: A New Jersey native and Monmouth County resident, Steven Denholtz leads Denholtz Properties, a Red Bank-based business renowned for its four-decade-long leadership in commercial real estate development. With a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Northwestern University, Steven brings a wealth of knowledge to the MCF board. He has also contributed to Monmouth University's Kislak Real Estate Institute Board of Advisors and the boards of Hackensack Meridian Health, the NJ Economic Development Authority, and the Count Basie Center for the Arts.

"Monmouth Conservation Foundation has spent nearly 50 years conserving and protecting our irreplaceable open lands, ensuring that Monmouth County remains a great place to live, work, and play. As a Monmouth County resident, I am honored to join their Board to continue this proud tradition and safeguard our natural environment for generations to come," expressed Denholtz.

Dan Dirscherl: Returning to his Garden State roots after a 15-year hiatus, Dan Dirscherl, a Managing Director in the Ares Management Credit Group, settled in Locust with his family, drawn by the area's unparalleled parks, rivers, and beaches. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics, Dan has a keen appreciation for nature, shaped by his childhood experiences in central New Jersey and his travels abroad.

"My decision to join MCF's board stems from a deep-seated commitment to preserving the green spaces that make Monmouth County a vibrant community. I am eager to contribute my financial expertise and community ties to further MCF's mission of conservation," remarked Dirscherl.

About Monmouth Conservation Foundation

Founded in 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation is an independent nonprofit land trust that has preserved more than 9,400 acres of green space in Monmouth County. Accredited by the Land Trust Commission since 2014, MCF collaborates with private and public partners to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability. MCF leads conservation and education efforts to preserve and protect our natural environment, so all individuals and communities have access to and can benefit from open space and nature for generations to come. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

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A New Chapter in MCF History

June 6, 2024

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Clearing at Scudder Preserve. Photo by Jena Cosimo. — Photo by Jena Cosimo

Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF), Monmouth County's only land trust, has become a landowner for the first time.

Driving through the hills of the Navesink section of Middletown, lies a hidden gem – the Scudder Preserve. The 90-acre property is split by Browns Dock Road, that leads to the ridge overlooking the Navesink River and comprising Huber Woods, a Monmouth County Park.

Scudder Preserve’s 30-acre eastern parcel and 60-acre western parcel contain extensive wooded areas with century forest, natural trails connecting to Huber Woods, wetlands, vernal ponds, multiple grassy meadows, a main house with landscaping, and accessory buildings. Water features include two eastern ponds, a western pond, wetland areas, and Claypit Creek, which runs through the Preserve and feeds into the Navesink River, a Category 1 waterbody.

After overseeing the site’s conservation easements for decades, MCF took over ownership of the Scudder Preserve from New Jersey Audubon (NJA) Society, which we jointly announced in April 2024. An organizational first to possess our own land, this Preserve provides a future homebase and opportunities for continuing to share the bounty of nature with all residents.

“MCF is excited to enter this new chapter. The Scudder Preserve is an important natural habitat, which offers tremendous opportunities for us to have a physical space for engaging with the public, conducting educational programming and demonstration projects for conservation and habitat restoration,” said MCF President, Matthew Cohen.

The property was originally owned by Richard “Dick” Scudder (1913-2012) and his predeceased wife, Elizabeth “Libby” Scudder (1920 – 2004). It was preserved through conservation easements donated to MCF from 1983 to 1999. In 2007 Dick donated the 60 west side acres to NJA, and in 2012 the remaining 30 acres and homestead were gifted to the organization in his will.

If the family name Scudder sounds familiar, Dick Scudder appeared in the masthead of newspapers in almost any major city throughout the nation, as the publisher. In fact, he was a noted journalist before taking on the role of publisher. In co-founding Media NewsGroup, he became the nation’s second largest news outlet publisher. Dick was not only an entrepreneur and inventor, but he also pioneered newspaper recycling and started an industry and a company that now continues to be one of the nation's large paper recyclers. He was, as his daughter, Jeannie, described, devoted to nurturing and preserving land.

A Nature Lover’s Oasis

The NJDEP Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) project identified the Scudder Preserve as core wildlife habitat contiguous to 400-acre Huber Woods Park (part of Monmouth County Park System) and a 38-acre MCF-preserved farm. The area’s habitat features a variety of wildlife species, including threatened, endangered, and other important birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, and flowering plants.

“From the beautiful woods full of enormous tulip and oak trees, mountain laurel and wild azaleas, to the plentiful bird life, pond, and hundreds of blooming plants, our parents, Dick and Libby, nurtured and shared their land generously during their lifetime and made sure it was conserved. We look forward to the years ahead, where Monmouth Conservation Foundation will continue our family’s respect for and stewardship of this very special place, providing joy and safety to both people and the plants and animals that depend on its protection”

— Jeannie Scudder, daughter of Dick and Libby Scudder

Photo by Bill Kastning

Photo by Jena Cosimo

MCF’s multi-year plan will bring environmental and forestry experts to Scudder to conduct a comprehensive natural resource inventory and devise restoration and management plans for the site. Specifically, these measures will address the changing climate and provide the organization with the ability to model innovative, nature-based solutions for resiliency in our coastal communities.

Future Enhancements for Sustainability and Accessibility

Today, the 90-acre Scudder Preserve under MCF’s ownership will not only continue to be a sanctuary for nature and people for generations to come, but also be enhanced for better public access. Currently the site is open to the public but not universally accessible and not widely used.

Plans also include assessment for public access and a strategy to address those needs. Finally, MCF will be able to build and launch an educational outreach program to deliver programs on-site and remotely that invigorate and engage students who are the future generation land stewards and conservationists the world needs.

“I am very grateful to the Monmouth Conservation Foundation, especially board members Valerie Montecalvo and Jennifer Beck, who helped champion the continued preservation of the historic Scudder property,” said Middletown Mayor Tony Perry. “Middletown will continue to partner with both government agencies and nonprofit organizations to maintain and protect Middletown’s quality of life.”

Looking Ahead

To achieve MCF’s vision for Scudder Preserve will require considerable funding from grants, private donations, and organizations who support our shared goals. MCF has secured an initial $1 million donation from an anonymous donor to support costs related to the acquisition and future activities at the site. This seed money will help MCF make the Scudder Preserve a model property for its inherent beauty and fulfill Dick Scudder’s wishes that provide a conservation legacy for all residents.

“This remarkable gift enables MCF to solidify our organizational relevancy long into the future. In our 47 years, MCF has often acted behind the scenes to help preserve some of Monmouth’s most cherished parks, green spaces, and farms. Having our own preserve will allow us to engage with our community directly, model sustainable practices, and hopefully excite future generations to carry on our work to #KeepMonmouthGreen. ”

— Bill Kastning, MCF’s Executive Director

MCF’s impetus for becoming a landowner was its strategic vision to establish a hands-on education and outreach plan to reach Monmouth County residents of all ages, focused on environmental sustainability and quality of life related to its mission. The organization rolled out a new three-year strategic plan in summer 2023 to re-establish and expand K-12 educational initiatives and devise a plan for land ownership.

This trend toward land ownership is growing in the land trust community because there is only so much land remaining that is not yet developed or preserved, and at some point, land trusts will focus primarily on fostering their protected lands. Thus, land trusts nationwide (including MCF) are thinking long-term about their changing role. In MCF’s case, our vision is to focus on educational outreach to immediately increase awareness and rally support for and involvement in land conservation, and into the future, continue to educate the public on environmental sustainability.

We look forward to seeing you at MCF’s Scudder Preserve and having you join us for the positive changes to come to the site.

Photos by Jena Cosimo

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NOT HORSING AROUND:  MCF and Partners Obtained Preservation Status for 235-Acre Overbrook Farm 

May 28, 2024

by Judy Musa

Drone view of Overbrook Farm, Colts Neck by Fred Yahn, Eagle Drone Solutions — *Photo: Fred Yahn, Eagle Drone Solutions*

“And they’re off!” These words start the Kentucky Derby each May and lead to the most exciting two minutes in sports. The Derby, run for the 150th time earlier this month at Churchill Downs, is a race with a global following and local ties. Horses bred, raised, and trained right here in Monmouth County, New Jersey at the recently preserved Overbrook Farm in Colts Neck have taken part in the Derby. Most notable was Irish War Cry, who also had connections to Monmouth Park Racetrack.

Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) is proud to have played a key role in permanently preserving one of the many horse farms in Colts Neck that would otherwise offer prime real estate for 30 or more single family homes – Overbrook Farm, a 235-acre thoroughbred horse breeding and training farm. As we celebrate the Kentucky Derby and the opening of Monmouth Park Racetrack earlier this month, join us for a closer look at this special farm.

Irish War Cry’s Birthplace and Monmouth County’s Horse Racing Roots

Overbrook Farm was the birthplace of Irish War Cry, a multiple stakes-winning thoroughbred that was a contender in the Kentucky Derby in 2017 and finished second in the Belmont Stakes. Irish War Cry was bred by Isabelle de Tomaso, the daughter of Amory Haskell, founder of the Monmouth Park Racetrack and the man for whom New Jersey’s most famous and prestigious thoroughbred race – the Haskell Invitational – is named.

It may come as a surprise that New Jersey, the nation’s most densely populated state, also claims the most horses per square mile in the country. It is not surprising that New Jersey appreciates horses for their economic and land preservation contributions. According to the Rutgers Equine Science Center, 7,100 facilities house 42,500 horses and employ 13,000 people across New Jersey. Not only does the equine industry provide an estimated $1.1 billion in economic impact, but it also supports our agricultural roots and open space preservation efforts.

Slow Gait to Preserve Overbrook Farm

Land preservation can be a long, slow race to get to the finish line. It requires the patience of the landowner(s) to work with organizations like MCF, government agencies, municipalities, and other partners to make the transaction equitable for all. Conversations began with the Overbrook Farm family owners nearly two decades ago, with the heavy lift to achieve permanent protection taking place over the past six years.

Located adjacent to Dorbrook Recreation Area (a Monmouth County Park) and Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Earle, Overbrook Farm represents a unique place in Monmouth County due to its equestrian history and its boast of significant environmental and agricultural attributes.

Due to its proximity to NWS Earle, Overbrook Farm was eligible for preservation through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program run by the US Department of Defense (DOD). The US Navy, Monmouth County, MCF, and Colts Neck Township collaborated to purchase the conservation easement, with matching funds through the REPI program, as part of our inaugural public-private partnership in 2023 to preserve 255 total acres in Howell and Colts Neck.

The Green Benefits of Horse Country

Overbrook Farm’s property provides habitat for threatened, endangered, and critical species including mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and flowering plants. The NJ DEP– Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) program has identified core wildlife habitat contiguous to Overbrook Farm on existing preserved lands like Dorbrook Recreation Area and the area’s natural woodlands, much of which are in NWS Earle.

New Jersey is facing increasing habitat loss and fragmentation of green space from steady urbanization, a dense network of roads, and the many impacts of our changing climate. This compromises the resiliency of plant and wildlife populations, making it important to preserve lands like Overbrook Farm that support the important connectivity for our natural ecosystems.

Multiple streams and brook tributaries traverse Overbrook Farm with waters that lead to the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. Hockhockson Brook, a Category 1 stream, and its tributaries extend throughout the property. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) identifies Category 1 streams for their exceptional ecological water supply and fisheries resources. Since many Colts Neck residents rely on wells for their water needs, and Overbrook Farm falls within the state’s ground-water recharge area, keeping this private farm preserved also supports clean waterways, one of the pillars of MCF’s focus.

Geologically, the fertile soil and geological make-up at Overbrook Farm are of statewide importance. This prime farmland features the best attributes for producing various crops and includes geological properties that prevent erosion and protect from flooding. Additionally, the farm incorporates leaf mulch as a soil amendment and means of carbon storage.

Winning the Race for Preservation

The combined equestrian, agricultural, and ecological attributes of Overbrook Farm and its significant acreage for our area, validate the need for this important land to remain a preserved property, safe from development forever. With only about 20,000 acres of land available for preservation in Monmouth County (equal to the size of Colts Neck Township overall), this 18-year process added another 235 acres to our permanently protected spaces. While it is not the Race for the Roses, it is still a first-place win for Monmouth County residents.

“As an elected member of the Colts Neck Township Committee and past mayor, the mission of land preservation has been of the utmost importance toward protecting our open space and environment and supporting our farming community. Preserving Overbrook Farm was wholeheartedly supported by the Township Committee, and we are most grateful to our partners for securing this purchase and continuing to help Colts Neck preserve our open space and protect our environment,” said Sue Fitzpatrick, Colts Neck Township Committeewoman.

Overbrook Farm Photos: Jena Cosimo

MCF Awarded $500,000 EPA Grant to Revitalize Contaminated Sites in Red Bank

May 23, 2024

By Karen Keene

Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) is thrilled to be the recipient of a $500,000 Brownfield Community-Wide Assessment grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The three-year funding will be used to assess Brownfield sites over a 210-acre area of Red Bank, New Jersey, including the Borough’s former landfill, to plan for remediation, and to develop plans for a new park, with community engagement being a key element of the work.

Award announcements were made this past Monday, May 20, 2024, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in New Jersey while advancing environmental justice. The EPA selected four communities in the Garden State to receive grants totaling $3 million in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grant programs. Investments through MAC and the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Programs will help transform once-polluted, vacant, and abandoned properties into community assets, while helping to create good jobs and spur economic revitalization in overburdened communities.

“MCF is grateful to be receiving this significant EPA funding, furthering our work with the Borough of Red Bank to offer public green space with waterfront access for residents, enhance climate resiliency, and better Monmouth County. We will work closely with the community throughout the grant process and prioritize their input as we work toward Sunset Park becoming a reality,” said Bill Kastning, MCF’s Executive Director. ”

Target Area for Revitalization

The grant will focus on a 210-acre portion of the western side of Red Bank within Census Tract 8034, defined in the west by the Swimming River, north to West Front Street, east to Shrewsbury Avenue, and south to Newman Springs Road. The top priority site is the 8.6-acre former landfill – the Borough’s largest known Brownfield and its biggest undeveloped tract of land.

Located within an Environmental Justice (EJ) community and a Qualified Opportunity Zone, the landfill was active from 1922 to 1983 as a dumping site for bulky, vegetative, and dry industrial wastes, along with the residue from a since removed incinerator. It is now primarily a blighted, contaminated property with only a small area used by the Borough for its Recycling Center and Public Utilities department storage and parking. Additional sites to be investigated include the adjacent Salvation Army property and others neighboring or downstream of the landfill.

The grant work will take place through 2027, furthering an important effort that started approximately seventeen years ago. From 2007 to 2016, the Borough conducted investigations of the landfill site supported by $756,839 from New Jersey’s Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF). Changing administrations, shifting priorities, and budget constraints paused the Borough’s efforts toward clean-up and reuse. In 2022, the Borough identified the site to be studied as part of the Borough’s Master Plan. That effort led to development of a strategic plan to restart remediation efforts and the identification of MCF as a strategic partner in the remediation work.

In 2023 MCF leveraged a private donation to contract local environmental consulting firm VHB, to resume work at the landfill site. VHB assigned a Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) to audit past landfill assessments and investigations and determine compliance with current regulations. The purpose of the review is to identify data gaps and evaluate potential impacts from updates to soil and groundwater remediation standards, emerging contaminants investigation requirements, and revisions to several New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) guidance documents.

With this work completed, the EPA grant will catapult progress toward the necessary remediation, with HDSRF remaining a key funding partner, and, eventually, construction of Sunset Park.

*Early Sunset Park concept. Drafted by T&M.*

Vision for New Green Space

The Borough has placed the landfill and several adjacent sites on the New Jersey Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI). This designation means the land can be used only as a park or open space. In 2017, the Borough’s consultant engineers engaged community members to develop a conceptual plan for a public waterfront park (“Sunset Park”), and that vision was updated in 2021 to include a skate park based on residents’ requests.

In October 2021, an anonymous donor made a remarkable $2 million restricted gift to MCF – the largest gift in our organization’s history – to support the future construction of Sunset Park. This gift has helped MCF and the Borough stay the course to completion and to leverage additional support for the project.

FHI Studio developed a Small Area Plan for Sunset Park as part of the 2023 Master Plan, a planning effort led by BFJ Planning. The Small Area Plan includes a strategic process for advancing through remediation to park construction and provides a framework for community engagement. An early action item in the plan was applying for EPA Grant funding.

The plan for the park includes vision for a trail connecting to the park along the Swimming and Navesink Rivers. The plan requires further recreational development based on the remediation plan for the site and riverfront properties that will come through the EPA grant work. To advance the riverfront trail, the Borough has been strategically acquiring access easements in the target area.

Public-Private Partnership

The EPA grant announcement this week comes on the heels of MCF and the Borough of Red Bank entering a formal partnership in April 2024 to transform Red Bank’s former landfill into green, open space – further ensuring the project will come to fruition. Once assessment planning is complete, MCF, the Borough of Red Bank, and our partners will work to aggressively fundraise to complete the vision for Sunset Park with input from the community.

"On behalf of the Borough, we truly value the collaboration and partnership with the Monmouth Conservation Foundation," said Red Bank Mayor Billy Portman. "Our need to remediate this contaminated site and desire to provide a healthy environment for our residents is highlighted in this award. The Borough looks forward to developing a mitigation plan and utilizing this money to its fullest when determining the path forward

MCF forms crucial, beneficial partnerships by serving as a facilitator and/or funding partner among public and private entities. Our objective is to facilitate land preservation and utilization so the public-at-large and our natural resources benefit. Historically, access to parks and open spaces has been denied to underrepresented populations. MCF continues to prioritize park development in EJ communities like the project area in Red Bank, working toward a goal for every person in Monmouth County to have access to green space within 10 minutes’ walking or biking distance from their homes.

To learn more or get involved in MCF’s park development projects in Monmouth County, please contact us at 732.671.7000 or info@monmouthconservation.org.

New Jersey Audubon and Monmouth Conservation Foundation Partner to Transfer Ownership of Scudder Preserve

May 23, 2024

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MCF and D&R Greenway Land Trust join to ensure permanent
preservation by co-holding conservation easements

Bernardsville, NJ (April 29, 2024) – New Jersey Audubon (NJA), a private, not-for-profit, membership organization founded in 1897 with a focus on connecting people with nature and stewarding nature for future generations throughout New Jersey, announced the transfer of the 90-acre Scudder Preserve in Middletown Township, New Jersey to Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF), a nonprofit land trust focused on preserving open space throughout Monmouth County.

The Scudder Preserve consists of 90 acres of preserved habitat. The property was originally owned by Richard and Elizabeth Scudder. In 2007 Richard Scudder donated around 60 acres to NJA, and in 2012 the remaining 30 acres and homestead were gifted to the organization in Richard Scudder’s will. The preserve sits on both sides of Browns Dock Road with nature trails winding their way through wooded, rolling hills, grasslands, streams, and a pond along the Scudder homestead.

“Our two organizations have taken a partnership approach in working together to make the transfer a success while keeping the environmental vision of the Scudder family intact and this beautiful space open to the Monmouth County community. This shift of ownership makes the most sense for both our organizations, allowing us to focus on our respective missions and geographies, while ensuring open space protection,” stated Alex Ireland, president and CEO, NJ Audubon.

MCF is no stranger to the Scudder Preserve. As the nonprofit originally responsible for holding the conservation easements on the site, MCF has conducted annual monitoring visits and stayed in close communication with NJA as the landowner. As part of its mission to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability, MCF stewards 1,100 acres of conserved lands through 46 easements across the county.

The Scudder Preserve will remain permanently preserved under the current conservation easements, but stewardship of the easements will be co-held by MCF’s peer organization, the D&R Greenway Land Trust based in Princeton, New Jersey and MCF. Joining with another accredited land trust assures that the easement will continue and, in fact, be enhanced with further protections. Legally, the same organization cannot take title to the land while continuing to hold the easement(s) without having the interests merge and extinguish.

“D&R Greenway was happy to jump in to assist MCF with this permanent protection,” said Linda Mead, President and CEO. “This solution that brings together two sister land trusts and NJ Audubon is truly a partnership model that brings public benefit to everyone who lives in the region.”

“This collaboration enables MCF to solidify our organizational relevancy long into the future. In our 47 years, MCF has often acted behind the scenes to help preserve some of Monmouth’s most cherished parks, green spaces, and farms. Having our own preserve will allow us to engage with our community directly, model sustainable practices, and hopefully excite future generations to carry on our work to #KeepMonmouthGreen,” shared William Kastning, MCF’s Executive Director.

MCF has secured a $1 million donation from an anonymous donor in support of costs related to Scudder Preserve such as improvement to infrastructure, maintenance needs, as well as general operating expenses.

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About New Jersey Audubon:
New Jersey Audubon is a privately supported, not-for-profit, statewide membership organization. Founded in 1897, NJA is one of the oldest independent Audubon organizations. The mission of New Jersey Audubon is to connect all people with nature and steward the nature of today for all the people of tomorrow. For more information on New Jersey Audubon, visit www.njaudubon.org

About Monmouth Conservation Foundation:
Founded in 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) works to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability. An independent nonprofit organization that works with Monmouth County and its 53 municipalities, MCF’s vision is to lead conservation and education efforts to preserve and protect our natural environment, so all individuals and communities have access to and can benefit from open space and nature for generations to come. For more information, visit www.monmouthconservation.org

About D&R Greenway
D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has reached a new milestone of over 22,000 acres of land preserved throughout central New Jersey since 1989. By protecting land in perpetuity and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway's mission is centered on connecting land with people from all walks of life. www.drgreenway.org; info@drgreenway.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

To follow news about Scudder Preserve News, click here

A Close Look at 20 Acres Preserved in Howell – MCF’s Pilot Project with the US Navy

April 25, 2024

New Jersey features stunning diversity - open space, farmlands, and forests – all interconnected ecosystems that benefit New Jersey’s inhabitants, flora, fauna, and humans included. Importantly, forests offer an incredibly efficient system for pulling excessive carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Protecting forests is a powerful tool humans can use to help mitigate and adapt to climate change. In fact, our forests need our help even more today so they can continue to remove excessive carbon and support a healthy planet.

Specific to preservation work we do in Monmouth County, this parcel is the 20-acre tract located in Howell Township that the partnership preserved along the border of Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Earle through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program run by the US Department of Defense (DOD). Read the Full Story

Looking at the Howell Township parcel by drone showed us how a mature healthy forest looks from above. A closer look at the trees and their structure of the land shows us its valuable ecosystem of plants and wildlife and reveals its many positive environmental impacts. While 20 acres may seem minimal, the habitat within this land would take nearly a century to replace.

It’s often hard to understand the importance of these projects without visualizing the alternative. The alternative here: the clear cutting of a well-established, diverse forested habitat for the construction of 10 homes under current zoning regulations.

Old-Growth Century Forest

The biologically diverse forest at the preserved Howell property has stands of deciduous and coniferous tree species, managed with the expertise of a professional forester and a NJDEP-approved woodland management plan. These plans improve the forest composition, reduce density, and promote tree growth. Those steps, in turn, help to promote greater carbon capture and ensure the forest stays healthy – helping to offset impacts of climate change.

Analysis of the forest identified a portion of the property as Century Forest (at least 100 years old), demonstrating the forest’s diversity and resilience when faced with invasive species pressure. American Holly trees, which are slow growing but can live over 100 years, are also found on the property. Beyond their beauty throughout the winter, they are an excellent food source for wildlife and provide habitat.

Turkey tail mushrooms and moss
*Photo: Jena. Cosimo*

Chicken of the woods mushroom
*Photo: Jena. Cosimo*

Walking in the forest there are abundant and diverse fungi commonly associated with the top layer of leaves and soil found on the forest floor. Fungi plays a significant role in human life and ecosystems. These fungal carbon guardians partner with trees to enhance the ability of trees and soils to store carbon, keeping it from adding to the atmosphere.

Protecting Species Diversity and Habitat

In addition to the forest and the usual flora and fauna typically found in the area, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates threatened and endangered species are known to occur in this area, either on the property or in the close vicinity, making it favorable habitat and corridor for a variety of mammals, reptiles, insects and migratory birds. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) project also identifies the property as core wildlife habitat and corridor. In preservation projects, providing a contiguous habitat corridor helps support diverse species, particularly those on endangered or threatened lists.

Water, Water Everywhere

We all know the importance of clean water and in our work supporting clean waterways, protecting watersheds and aquifers is, therefore, important. This property lies within the Manasquan River and lower Shrewsbury River watershed systems, which provide water for many Monmouth County residents. The protection of this land promotes groundwater recharge and aquifer protection. Finally, because the property sits in the Brunswick Bedrock aquifer, it is important for recharging ground water that can supply and replenish our reservoirs.

Why does the US Navy want to preserve this forest?

Since 2018, MCF and Monmouth County have been working with the Navy and municipalities to permanently protect lands that buffer NWS Earle’s nearly 12,000 acres. Transecting the County from the Leonardo community in Middletown through Colts Neck to Howell, the naval base contains one of the largest wooded areas in Monmouth.

The REPI Program funds Congressionally authorized cost-sharing partnerships among the Military Services, private conservation groups (like MCF), and state and local governments to protect military installations and ranges against encroachment or impacts to mission and operations by outside pressures. These can include scenarios such as incompatible development, threatened and endangered species habitat, and the varying effects of climate change – especially increased temperatures, changes in precipitation volume and intensity, and flood and wildfire risk. By working together, this parcel will remain in its natural state and support MCF’s open space and preservation programs.

According to Howell Township Manager Joe Clark,

“We are delighted to have partnered with MCF, Monmouth County, and the Navy to help preserve even more property in Howell. We look forward to working with these groups in the future and thank all of those involved for their dedication in seeing this through.“

Grateful to #KeepMonmouthGreen at the Rumson St. Patrick’s Day parade!

April 24, 2024

MCF is grateful and honored to have been the charity beneficiary of the 2024 Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade, held on Sunday, March 10, 2024!

We received $10,000 in proceeds from the parade to support our charitable work to save open space, create parks, preserve farmland, teach environmental sustainability, safeguard waterways, and protect wildlife throughout Monmouth County. We thank the Parade Committee, sponsors, and everyone who came out to enjoy the festivities!

We enjoyed listening to the CBA Marching Band play at the VIP pre-party with community leaders in advance of the parade at 1:00 pm, and the Atlantic Watch Pipe & Drum Corps that played at the post-parade celebration with Irish luncheon prepared by Alice’s Kitchen in Sea Bright.

Thank you to the MCF staff and trustees who braved the cold, gray weather to participate in the Parade festivities! The large crowds cheered us on as we rode in a wagon drawn by a Monmouth County Park System Park vehicle, holding our “Parks for Everyone” and “#KeepMonmouthGreen” banners and signs. We engaged with all the families standing along the parade route, and we were fortunate to have MCF “leprechauns” to hand out new MCF stickers that were a hit. Even the teenagers participated, asking to hop on the wagon as it made stops along River Road! Please enjoy the glowing, joyful faces in our picture gallery!

Photos from MCF Staff

MCF Parade Staff & Board 2024 - Copy.jpg

April is Earth Month: Tips for a Healthier Planet!

April 17, 2024

When Earth Day began as a movement in 1970, who could have predicted the world would learn a new term in 2024: microplastics? Now part of our lexicon, these tiny and often invisible-to-the-eye particles are so small that we unknowingly ingest them through the air, water, food, and packaging. Microplastics have become ubiquitous and unavoidable, so this year’s Earth Day theme is Planet vs. Plastics!

What can we do about something we can’t even see?

Instead of throwing up our hands, we can think globally AND act locally with these tips that will make your wallet heavier and your carbon footprint lighter. We have also compiled some local Earth Day events.

1. Replace those single-use plastic water bottles with reusable stainless steel, or glass with rubber shell for a one-time cost of $10-$20. Have kids pick their favorite color or theme, and label it so everyone has their own. Some families keep two per person in the fridge, filled, cooled, and ready for the morning lunch prep routine, or set up for grab-and-go for after-school and work.

2. Invest in Reusable Bags! In May 2022, New Jersey banned single-use plastic bags, reducing our use by 60%, which also undoubtedly saved thousands of birds and mammals from entanglement or death from ingesting plastic bits. Select sturdy totes that can be reused multiple times and are easily washed in cold water.

Our MCF student artist-designed bag, made in the USA from recycled plastic bottles, delivers the right size for most shopping trips. Get your limited-edition tote on Earth Day, April 22, 2024, at a special event at Cos Bar in Red Bank featuring Mrs. Earth USA 2023 Ann Pennington. 100% of the $15 tote purchase and 10% of all Cos Bar sales will benefit MCF’s work to #KeepMonmouthGreen.

Please RSVP to enjoy bubbles, bites, and surprise delights! Cos Bar Red Bank

3. Consider trading one cup of joe for a cup of nature by joining our monthly giving program and Become a Land Steward! For as little as $5 per month, MCF’s Land Stewards Monthly Giving Program helps MCF protect the land we need and love, forever. It also makes a great gift if you join on someone’s behalf or in their honor! Click to learn about special benefits for our Land Stewards and Join Today!

4. Get out and enjoy our County parks! Our Partners at the Monmouth County Park System offer a variety of Earth Month activities, including these three events:

a. Earth Day Open House from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center in Howell

b. Beach Cleanup and Beach Combing on Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Bayshore Waterfront Park in Port Monmouth and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch

c. Earth Day Shore Planting from 5:00 p.m. to6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22, 2024, at Bayshore Waterfront Park in Port Monmouth

Click here for more information or call 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the TTY/TDD number is 711.

Monmouth Conservation Foundation Grows Staff to Support Open Space Initiatives

April 8, 2024

Middletown, NJ (April 8, 2024) – Monmouth Conservation Foundation, the county’s only land trust, has hired Judy Musa as its new Communications Manager, reporting to Director of Development and Communications Karen Keene and Executive Director William Kastning.

255 Acres Bordering Naval Weapons Station Earle Permanently Protected through Public-Private Partnership

February 8, 2024

For Immediate Release

Middletown, N.J. (February 8, 2024) – The US Navy, Monmouth County, and Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF), in partnership with two local townships, have announced the preservation of two properties bordering Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Earle through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program run by the US Department of Defense (DOD). The two parcels – 20 acres of mostly mature hardwood forest in Howell and 235 acres comprising a thoroughbred horse breeding and training farm in Colts Neck – represent the inaugural conservation projects achieved through this partnership, with aspirations for many more to come.

*20-acre parcel in Howell Township recently preserved. Photo by Fred Yahn, Eagle Drone Solutions*

*235-acre farm in Colts Neck Township recently preserved. Photo by Fred Yahn, Eagle Drone Solutions.*

With over $3 million in federal funding awarded through the REPI program since 2018, MCF and Monmouth County have been working with the Navy and municipalities to permanently protect lands that buffer NWS Earle’s nearly 12,000 acres. Transecting the County from the Leonardo community in Middletown through Colts Neck to Howell, the naval base contains one of the largest wooded areas in Monmouth.

The REPI Program funds Congressionally authorized cost-sharing partnerships among the Military Services, private conservation groups (like MCF), and state and local governments to protect military installations and ranges against encroachment or impacts to mission and operations by outside pressures. These can include scenarios such as incompatible development, threatened and endangered species habitat, and the varying effects of climate change – especially increased temperatures, changes in precipitation volume and intensity, and flood and wildfire risk.

“We are pleased to build upon our already stellar partnerships with Monmouth County, Monmouth Conservation Foundation, and our local municipalities through the REPI program,” said Capt. Kent D. Smith, NWS Earle Commanding Officer. “Thanks to this program we are able to promote military readiness and prevent encroachment while helping our neighbors protect and preserve more of our surrounding landscapes.”

To protect against encroachment, land in the vicinity of military bases is typically protected, as in the case of these first-round projects, through conservation and/or agricultural easements purchased by the project partners and granted by willing landowners. The easement language permanently limits development potential and restricts the lands to conservation and agricultural uses. Where relevant, ecological restoration can be conducted on or obtained through the protection of land.

REPI funding provides up to one-half of the easement purchase price for eligible properties, and the program requires at least a 50% match from other funding sources. In the case of the NWS Earle REPI program pilot project in Howell, the Navy provided half of the funding through its awards to MCF and the County, followed by contributions from Monmouth County, Howell Township, and MCF. The larger-in-scope, subsequent project in Colts Neck was funded by Monmouth County, which provided the greatest funding, followed by the Navy’s REPI funding awarded to MCF and the County, and Colts Neck Township funding. MCF provided in-kind support and facilitation assistance for both easement acquisitions.

“The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners is excited to partner with the U.S. Navy, MCF, as well as Colts Neck and Howell townships, to preserve this important land which will assist NWS Earle so they remain mission-ready,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “Programs like REPI are essential, not only to military mission success but to the preservation of land that will be protected against encroachment or development. Thank you to our partners for their support.”

MCF has identified several additional parcels of land eligible for protection through the REPI program and is actively negotiating with interested property holders to protect their land through an easement. Future land preservation through the REPI program in Monmouth County is dependent on funding availability among partners. County and municipal Open Space Trusts, funded by local property taxes, and private philanthropy to MCF, bolster the partners’ ability to take advantage of the REPI program opportunity.

“MCF is thrilled to be a recipient of REPI program funding and grateful to our public and private partners for helping to bring these projects to fruition. We are dedicated to protecting the natural habitats, farmland, and open spaces which make Monmouth County so special from being lost forever,” said Bill Kastning, MCF’s Executive Director.

The partners are planning a ceremony in the coming weeks to commemorate the pilot project in Howell and subsequent NWS Earle REPI project success in Colts Neck.

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Naval Weapons Station Earle Contact:
Bill Addison
Public Affairs Officer
Naval Weapons Station Earle
732. 866.2171 w; 732.558.5617 c
william.j.addison.civ@us.navy.mil

Monmouth County Contact:
Tricia Ring Wajda
Director, Dept. of Public Information, Economic Development & Tourism
Monmouth County
732.431.7310 x 7318 w
media@visitmonmouth.com

Monmouth Conservation Foundation Contact:
Karen Keene
Director of Development and Communications
Monmouth Conservation Foundation
kkeene@monmouthconservation.org
732.671.7000 w; 908.839.0324 c

About Naval Weapons Station Earle
Located in the heart of Monmouth County, New Jersey, Naval Weapons Station Earle provides ordnance for the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Fleet Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Groups and supports strategic Department of Defense ordnance requirements. www.cnic.navy.mil/earle

About Monmouth County
Monmouth County is located in eastern-central New Jersey, on the state’s northern Atlantic Ocean coastline. At 472 square miles, Monmouth County is New Jersey’s sixth largest county in terms of geographic area and is home to 659,000 people. www.visitmonmouth.com

About Monmouth Conservation Foundation
Founded in 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) works to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability. An independent nonprofit organization that works with Monmouth County and its 53 municipalities, MCF’s vision is to lead conservation and education efforts to preserve and protect our natural environment, so all individuals and communities have access to and can benefit from open space and nature for generations to come. www.monmouthconservation.org

2023 Year In Review

January 2, 2024

By Karen Keene

JANUARY

MCF celebrated our 46th anniversary in 2023 and adopted a new three-year strategic plan to carry our organization through 2026 and position us for sustainability well into the future. We refined our organizational mission and, for the first time, crafted a vision statement.

FEBRUARY

MCF retained our GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by the world’s largest source of nonprofit information. The Seal demonstrates our commitment to transparency and building confidence among our existing and potential supporters.

MARCH

We kicked off MCF’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiative, engaging our Board and staff in trainings and discussions with a specialized consultant to initiate strategies around DEIB across our internal operations and external programs to better serve our community.

APRIL

17 acres in Middletown along the Navesink River were acquired and preserved as an addition to Hartshorne Woods Park. A collaboration of the Monmouth County Commissioners and Board of Recreation Commissioners and MCF, this project took over two decades to come to fruition.

MAY

*Photo courtesy of Monmouth County Park System*

Swimming River Park opened in Middletown as a new Monmouth County Park, following the decade-long partnership of the Monmouth County Commissioners and Board of Recreation Commissioners and MCF to acquire and remediate the waterfront land with funding support from the Hazardous Discharge Site Relief Fund (HDSRF) through the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and NJ Economic Development Authority (EDA).

JUNE

The Mrs. USA Earth & Son, MCF Earth Day Inaugural Art Contest winners were announced. Six local students’ artwork are featured on limited-edition sustainable tote bags being sold by MCF to support our land preservation work. This project was conceived by 11-year-old Crawford Pennington, son of the reigning Mrs. USA Earth, to encourage others to take small steps daily to invest in our planet.

JULY

*Photo courtesy of Sea Girt Conservancy*

A 9,600-sq.ft. pollinator garden at Edgemere Park in Sea Girt was installed, led by the Sea Girt Conservancy with $15,000 in grant support secured by MCF through the National Philanthropic Trust. The “Rising Waters” sculpture construction by Dorsey Lucas began at Jackson Woods Park in Long Branch, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NJ DEP’s Coastal Management Program in partnership with the NJ State Council on the Arts through a grant secured by MCF. The piece was dedicated in October.

AUGUST

Preserved 122 acres in Millstone of critical habitat and farmland as an addition to Millstone Park, representing one of the largest remaining, undeveloped tracts of land in the area. The land was acquired via a fee simple purchase in partnership with MCF, the NJ DEP Green Acres Program, Monmouth County, and Millstone Township.

SEPTEMBER

MCF established the Jim Truncer Memorial Fund to carry on Jim’s legacy as Director of Monmouth County Park System for 58 years and help to preserve green space and create parks. We raised more than $237,000 for the Fund at our Fall for Conservation Cocktail Party, where we posthumously honored Jim for his commitment to preservation and instrumental role in the founding of MCF.

OCTOBER

Permanently protected 20 acres in Howell with substantial wildlife habitat and century forest – our pilot project with the US Department of Defense (DOD). This project was led by MCF in partnership with the US Navy, Monmouth County, and Howell Township.

NOVEMBER

Permanently preserved 235 acres of Colts Neck farmland through partnership with the US Navy, Monmouth County Commissioners and Board of Recreation Commissioners, Colts Neck Township, and MCF – a substantial amount of farm acreage in our Garden State!

DECEMBER

MCF dedicated a new seating area at Swimming River Park in Middletown as a memorial to Judith Stanley Coleman (1935 – 2010), MCF’s Co-Founder who served as our president for over thirty years. The memorial was funded by donations to MCF in memory of Stanley Coleman. Shortly after, 0.5 acres to expand Swimming River Park was acquired, thanks to Monmouth County Commissioners and Board of Recreation Commissioners and MCF working together.

Download a Printable PDF of this story

Memorial to Judith Stanley Coleman Dedicated at Swimming River Park

December 21, 2023

By Karen Keene

Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) hosted a dedication ceremony on Saturday, December 9, 2023 for a new seating area at Swimming River Park in Middletown that pays tribute to Judith Stanley Coleman (1935 – 2010). The memorial was funded by donations to MCF in memory of Stanley Coleman, who was MCF’s Co-Founder and served as the nonprofit land trust’s president for over thirty years.

Stanley Coleman co-founded MCF with Michael Huber (1927 – 2009) in 1977, and the organization’s mission is to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability. She served as past chairman of the Middletown Planning Board and was instrumental in putting Middletown's then proposed Open Space Tax question on the voting ballot, where the Middletown residents approved it by a large margin in 1999. She then became a member of the Middletown Open Space Committee upon its inception.

“Judith Stanley Coleman was critically instrumental in preserving beautiful tracts of open space in Monmouth County,” said County Commissioner and Liaison to the Park System Ross Licitra. “The County Commissioners are eager to carry on her legacy and work to preserve additional parklands that can be enjoyed by our residents for generations to come.”

William Kastning, Executive Director of MCF, and Mary Tassini, Trustee Emeritus for MCF, served as the event’s emcees and shared fond memories of Stanley Coleman.

“MCF is honored to pay tribute to our late friend and visionary co-founder, Judith Stanley Coleman, who led our organization for more than three decades and set the course for preserving the open spaces, parks, and farmland, which make Monmouth County so special. We are grateful to the generous donors who supported the memorial at Swimming River Park,” said Kastning.

Kastning and several other attendees, including former New Jersey State Senator Jennifer Beck and former Holmdel Mayor Larry Fink – both members of MCF’s Board of Trustees – credited Stanley Coleman with mentoring aspects of their careers and engaging them in land preservation efforts. Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone spoke about Monmouth County’s beautiful green spaces and the County’s commitment to upholding them, such as through our diverse park offerings. Monmouth County Commissioner Lillian Burry, an Ex-Officio member of MCF’s Board of Trustees, gave heartfelt remarks paying homage to Stanley Coleman and her civic and private work to preserve land in Monmouth County, where Stanley Coleman was a lifelong resident.

The speakers highlighted many of the land preservation and park creation projects MCF played a critical role in during Stanley Coleman’s tenure, including the 416-acre Chase Tract in Holmdel, which became part of Holmdel Park and two adjacent, preserved farms; the 84-acre Hunt’s Crossing Easement on McClees Creek in Middletown; and the 1,200-acre Princeton Nurseries property – a multi-County effort.

*L-R: MCF Trustees: Matt Cohen (President), Ron Gumbaz, Larry Fink, Ric Venino, Frank Scheuer, Michael Rubin, Sarah Orsay, Jack and Mary Tassini, Jennifer Beck, and Jerry Buffalino*

At the event, Kastning cited Swimming River Park as a shining example of MCF’s collaborative work with public and private partners to protect and share green space with our community. An effort nearly a decade in the making, Swimming River Park opened last May following the successful collaboration of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, Monmouth County Park System, and MCF to create the new 18-acre County park. The County acquired two parcels of waterfront property in 2015 and 2018, both with assistance from MCF, which were previously private lands home to Chris’ Landing and Chris’ Deli & Liquor in the River Plaza section of Middletown.

*L-R Catherine Niederer and Andrea Huber*

MCF and the Park System oversaw different stages of the necessary site clean-up and remediation, including a capping process to make the site safe and usable by the public. These efforts were supported by funding from the Hazardous Discharge Site Relief Fund (HDSRF) through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Ultimately, the partners’ efforts to create Swimming River Park preserved green space and are restoring a natural watershed at the confluence of the Navesink and Swimming Rivers for the permanent benefit of Monmouth County residents and visitors.

Two of Stanley Coleman’s four daughters, Catherine Niederer and Andrea Huber, were in attendance and remarked how happy their mother would have been to see this project come to fruition. Attendees enjoyed an unseasonably warm and sunny day at the dedication, ending with a bald eagle soaring overhead. Many commented on the beautiful setting being perfectly suited to honoring Judy’s legacy.

See the Two River Times coverage of this event.

Freneau Woods Park Origins

A Revolutionary War Legacy

Meet Erica Muller

What Does a State-Approved Forester Do?

Goals for Scudder Preserve

The Current Landscape of Forestry in New Jersey

The Art and Science of Forestry

Keeping Monmouth Green

Final Thoughts

Middletown, NJ – Middletown Township Mayor Tony Perry and Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) President Matt Cohen, representing the county’s only nonprofit land trust, have announced a partnership to create new, permanent green space on a three-acre parcel in North Middletown.

Open Space a Township Priority

Mayor Perry added, “We welcome input from the community on what amenities they would like to see added, such as a nature trail, habitat improvements, or benches, honoring our shared commitment with MCF to save open space and create parks.”

Partnering to Support Community Open Space Needs

Originally zoned for commercial use, the property was privately held and on the market for sale until the owners donated it to MCF in 2020 as a trade land – meaning it was intended specifically to be sold, with the proceeds benefiting the land trust’s charitable conservation work.

About Middletown Township

Middletown Township is fortunate to have 80 parks across town, including one national park, nine county parks, and 70 township parks. This is an impressive total of approximately 6,000 acres.

Continuing to preserve remaining open space, including enhancing parks and restoring historic landmarks, is paramount. Since the Township began the trust, it has proudly acquired and preserved 275 acres of land, with a total investment of over $30,000,000.

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Early Voting BeganOctober 26, 2024

Based on the increase in residential and commercial developments anticipated in Monmouth County over the next decade, preserving our remaining, unprotected land now is imperative. Once a farm, forest, natural habitat, or meadow is developed, it is lost forever.

Moreover, preserving open space has tangible economic benefits. Properties adjacent to preserved areas often see higher values, benefiting residents and local governments alike. These natural assets attract tourism and bolster local businesses, fostering a vibrant economy.

Your vote will shape the future of our community—promoting sustainability, health, and the preservation of our shared heritage. Together, let's protect the landscapes that define Monmouth County and ensure their vitality for generations to come. On November 5, vote YES to #KeepMonmouthGreen.

Click to read The Benefits of Land Preservation

Prioritizing Resilience and Sustainability

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in 2011, which caused $50 million in damages at NWS Earle, the US DOD further ramped up strategic initiatives to address climate resilience at critical military bases like NWS Earle.

Here in Monmouth County, where NWS Earle provides vital ordnance (military supplies including weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, and maintenance tools and equipment) for the Atlantic Fleet, many encroachment concerns directly affect the base.

MCF honored the US Navy and our partners at NWS Earle at the 2024 Fall for Conservation Cocktail Party, the proceeds of which benefited MCF’s charitable work to preserve open space across Monmouth County.

Partners from the US Navy, Monmouth County, and MCF presented at the 2024 New Jersey Coastal & Climate Resilience Conference.

Inaugural Projects Benefit All Monmouth County Residents

MORE TO COME

To earn and maintain the accreditation seal and designation requires each land trust to complete a rigorous review process. Public commentary is part of the application process and open to all who wish to comment by August 6, 2024.

For more information about MCF, please visit About MCF — MCF (monmouthconservation.org) and socialize with us on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Middletown, NJ – Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) proudly announces the appointment of two distinguished trustees to its board: Steven Denholtz of Denholtz Properties, and Dan Dirscherl, Managing Director in the Ares Management Credit Group.

Recent accomplishments by MCF, in collaboration with our federal, state, county, and municipal partners, include:

Preservation of 255 acres in Colts Neck and Howell, made possible through an inaugural grant from the US Navy, Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Earle, in collaboration with Monmouth County and local municipalities.

Receipt of a three-year, $500,000 EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Brownfield Community-Wide Assessment grant to facilitate the transformation of Red Bank's former landfill into a waterfront park.

Acquisition of ownership of the 90-acre Scudder Preserve in Middletown, enabling the organization to demonstrate sustainability practices and enhance conservation education opportunities.

Statements about and from the New Trustees in Support of the Mission:

"My decision to join MCF's board stems from a deep-seated commitment to preserving the green spaces that make Monmouth County a vibrant community. I am eager to contribute my financial expertise and community ties to further MCF's mission of conservation," remarked Dirscherl.

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A Nature Lover’s Oasis

Future Enhancements for Sustainability and Accessibility

Looking Ahead

Target Area for Revitalization

Vision for New Green Space

Public-Private Partnership

MCF and D&R Greenway Land Trust join to ensure permanentpreservation by co-holding conservation easements

“D&R Greenway was happy to jump in to assist MCF with this permanent protection,” said Linda Mead, President and CEO. “This solution that brings together two sister land trusts and NJ Audubon is truly a partnership model that brings public benefit to everyone who lives in the region.”

MCF has secured a $1 million donation from an anonymous donor in support of costs related to Scudder Preserve such as improvement to infrastructure, maintenance needs, as well as general operating expenses.

Old-Growth Century Forest

Protecting Species Diversity and Habitat

Water, Water Everywhere

Why does the US Navy want to preserve this forest?

“We are delighted to have partnered with MCF, Monmouth County, and the Navy to help preserve even more property in Howell. We look forward to working with these groups in the future and thank all of those involved for their dedication in seeing this through.“

MCF is grateful and honored to have been the charity beneficiary of the 2024 Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade, held on Sunday, March 10, 2024!

We enjoyed listening to the CBA Marching Band play at the VIP pre-party with community leaders in advance of the parade at 1:00 pm, and the Atlantic Watch Pipe & Drum Corps that played at the post-parade celebration with Irish luncheon prepared by Alice’s Kitchen in Sea Bright.

Photos from MCF Staff

Please RSVP to enjoy bubbles, bites, and surprise delights! Cos Bar Red Bank

4. Get out and enjoy our County parks! Our Partners at the Monmouth County Park System offer a variety of Earth Month activities, including these three events:

a. Earth Day Open House from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center in Howell

b. Beach Cleanup and Beach Combing on Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Bayshore Waterfront Park in Port Monmouth and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch

c. Earth Day Shore Planting from 5:00 p.m. to6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22, 2024, at Bayshore Waterfront Park in Port Monmouth

Click here for more information or call 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the TTY/TDD number is 711.

For Immediate Release

The partners are planning a ceremony in the coming weeks to commemorate the pilot project in Howell and subsequent NWS Earle REPI project success in Colts Neck.

Early Voting Began
October 26, 2024

MCF and D&R Greenway Land Trust join to ensure permanent
preservation by co-holding conservation easements

MCF is grateful and honored to have been the charity beneficiary of the 2024 Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade, held on Sunday, March 10, 2024!