MONMOUTH CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

LAND PRESERVATION HIGHLIGHTS IN AUGUST 2019, AFTER YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS, MCF AND THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION'S GREEN ACRES PROGRAM ACQUIRED 190-ACRES OF NATURAL HABITAT AS AN ADDITION TO ALLAIRE STATE PARK. KNOWN AS THE MCDOWELL, THE PRICE TAG ON THIS RARE, UNDEVELOPED TRACT IN WALL TOWNSHIP COST 3,819,000. IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2019 MCF PRESERVED TWO FARMS LOCATED IN COLTS NECK, KNOWN AS THE DEGROOT AND DRUESNE FARMS . CONSISTING OF A COLLECTIVE 60 ACRES, THIS FARMLAND IS NOW FOREVER PROTECTED FROM DEVELOPMENT INTO AS MANY AS 30 HOMES. THESE FARMLAND PRESERVATION PROJECTS TOTALED 2.1 MILLION AND WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE ASSISTAMCE OF COLTS NECK TOWNSHIP, MONMOUTH COUNTY, AND THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. IN NOVEMBER 2019 - ACRES, SLATED FOR A 9-HOME DEVELOPMENT, WAS PURCHASED BY NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP WITH THE HELP OF THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION'S GREEN ACRES PROGRAM. FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE OLIVER/SHARK RIVER HILLS ESTATES PROPERTY, THIS LAND WHICH WAS ACQUIRED FOR 1,255,000 IS SURROUNDED BY A RESIDENTAL AREA AND ADJACENT TO ACCESS TO THE SHARK RIVER AND A PUBLIC MARIA, WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS MCF PROMOTED GRASS ROOTS EFFORTS TO CREATE PARKS AND SAVE OPEN SPACE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WORK INCLUDED PARTNERSHIPS WITH CONCERNED RESIDENTS, MUNICIPAL OFFICALS AND MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES TO ENSURE THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKS AND ACCESSIBLE GREENSPACE ARE ADVOCATED FOR IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTY. EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS MCF OFFERED YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY. MCF EDUCATED 1000+ STUDENTS ABOUT LAND CONSERVATION AS A NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTION AND PROVIDED HANDS ON STEM TRAINING ABOUT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE ACROSS THE COUNTY. PARTNERSHIPS WITH ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL PROVIDED PROGRAM PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT THE MISSION OF MCF. STEWARDSHIP HIGHLIGHTS MCF DEFENDED 1,100 ACRES OF PERMANENTLY PROTECTED LANDS THROUGH THE ANNUAL MONITORING OF EASEMENTS. MCF MONITORS CONSERVATION AND AGRICULTURAL EASEMENTS THAT ARE HELD BY THE ORGANIZATION AND THOSE HELD BY THE COUNTY OF MONMOUTH THROUGH A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND MCF. PROJECTS-UNDERWAY PROGRESS CONTINUES FOR 100- ACRES OF PARK ACQUISITION PROJECTS IN HOWELL AND 7 ACRES IN ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, THREE FARMS CONSISITING OF 270 - ACRES OF FARMLAND PRESERVATION IN COLTS NECK. MCF IS ALSO WORKING TO IMPROVING ACCESS TO PARKS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IN MUNICIPALITES SUCH AS LONG BRANCH. ADDITIONALLY, MCF IS HELPING SEA BRIGHT IMPROVE A WATERFRONT COMMUNITY PARK THAT WILL PROVIDE NEW PASSIVE RECREATING AMENITIES FOR THE RESIDENTS. A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MONMOUTH COUNTY PARKS SYSTEM ON THE LONG-TERM EFFORT TO TRANSFORM THE FORMER CHRIS' MARINA PROPERTY INTO SWIMMING RIVER PARK. MCF IS WORKING TO FURTHER EXPAND THE PARK WHILE ALSO FACILITATING THE EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION OF THE OVERALL PARK AREA. IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW PRESERVATION PROGRAM WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THROUGH THE U.S. NAVY AND THEIR REPI PROGRAM CONTINUES. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE A NEW FUNDING SOURCE FOR LAND PRESERVATION EFFORTS AND WILL REQUIRE A 50% COST SHARE TO MATCH THE GOVERMENT FUNDS THAT MCF WILL FUNDRAISE. SERVERAL POTENTIAL PROJECTS ARE LINED UP TO UTILIZE THIS NEW FUNDING SOURCE.