By Karen Keene

JANUARY

MCF co-hosted a reception at Monmouth University (MU) in conjunction with a lecture by Dr. Doug Tallamy, best-selling author, professor, and co-founder of Homegrown National Park®. Attracting an enthusiastic, diverse crowd of more than 500 guests, Dr. Tallamy shared what each of us can do in own yard or balcony to fight climate change, create climate resiliency, and foster beauty in our natural surroundings – in line with MCF’s mission.

FEBRUARY

We saw improvements to two newer municipal parks created with MCF’s help! Thanks to a matching grant from Monmouth County’s Municipal Open Space Grant Program, plans were announced to install new fencing around the historic Black Cemetery at Allentown’s Sgt. George Ashby Memorial Park - named for New Jersey’s last surviving Civil War veteran. Sea Bright’s Shrewsbury Riverfront Park received a new pavilion, paying homage to the historic Sea Bright Railroad Station, enabled by donations raised by MCF.

MARCH

MCF is grateful and honored to have been the beneficiary of the 2024 Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade! It was a fantastic weekend of festivities, involving many of our trustees, staff members, friends, and community members who marched alongside an MCF adorned truck and wagon loaned by the Monmouth County Park System. Thanks to the parade committee and supporters, MCF received $10,000 in support of our charitable work to #KeepMonmouthGreen!

APRIL

MCF achieved a historic milestone, becoming landowners for the first time as new owners of the 90-acre Scudder Preserve in Middletown. Doing so provides MCF with a future home base and opportunities for continuing to share the bounty of nature with County residents. We are appreciative of our anonymous donor who committed $1 million in support of costs related to infrastructure improvements, maintenance needs, and general operating expenses at the Preserve.

MAY

MCF was selected as a recipient of a $500,000 Brownfield Community-Wide Assessment grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The three-year federal funding will enable us to assess Brownfield sites over a 210-acre area of Red Bank, including the Borough’s former landfill, to plan for remediation, and to develop plans for a new park with community input. This is a key step in our partnership with the Borough to make Sunset Park a reality in the next few years!

JUNE

New Jersey Resources (NJR) pledged a pivotal $500,000 grant over five years through its Coastal Climate Initiative to support MCF’s efforts at Scudder Preserve. Together we will 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. These efforts will help us create a living laboratory for the benefit of educators, students, conservationists, and the public!

JULY

MCF celebrated the successful completion of our four-year For Monmouth For Our Future comprehensive campaign. Thanks to our many generous supporters, MCF raised just shy of $8 million to support key projects that will improve the quality of life for residents – human and wildlife – across Monmouth County. Funds raised have and will assist MCF in creating and revitalizing parks, safeguarding our water supplies, and preserving farmland, open space, and natural habitats, while growing future conservationists through educational programming.

AUGUST

MCF applied for accreditation renewal through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (LTAC), following an open public comment period. Since first being accredited in 2014, MCF has continually met the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence. We are part of a select group of 470 accredited land trusts among the 1,281 in the nation, proudly united by sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible government, and lasting stewardship. We will hear back on our application in late 2025.

SEPTEMBER

MCF honored 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 – highlighting our inaugural, collaborative projects to preserve 255 acres encompassing properties in Howell and Colts Neck in 2023. This recognition was bestowed in front of nearly 300 guests at MCF’s annual Fall for Conservation Cocktail Party fundraiser, hosted by Triple L Farms and the Mosley Family on their beautiful, preserved farm in Colts Neck.

OCTOBER

MCF partnered with Middletown Township to create new, permanent green space on a three-acre densely forested lot located between Route 36 and Thompson Avenue. We have a shared goal of turning it into a passive park. Also this month, Monmouth County purchased a 22-acre property in Aberdeen – one of the last undeveloped tracts in the vicinity – to expand Freneau Woods Park. We are honored to have played a role in this acquisition, helping to protect additional historically and environmentally significant land.

NOVEMBER

Citizens in Atlantic Highlands, Middletown, and Wall overwhelmingly voted to support open space initiatives by adding tax dollars in critical funding to protect land and enhance green spaces in their communities. Each municipality passed referendums on their fall ballots to create or fund increases to their Open Space programs, showing their commitment to a greener tomorrow. We applaud voters and their representatives for helping to #KeepMonmouthGreen!

DECEMBER

MCF’s new Director of Educational Outreach, Doug Caum, announced a series of free experiential learning opportunities for K-12 teachers, aimed at helping them develop lesson plans in line with the new statewide climate change curriculum. The trainings are being offered in the field by MCF 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 in May to Monmouth University by the New Jersey Department of Education.