Thanks to Marsha Stoltz and NorthJersey.com for shining a light on our National Land Trust Excellence Award. The entire article is well researched, and it's interesting to see some of TLCNJ's most significant projects in Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, and Sussex counties listed out like this. Here's an excerpt:
The conservancy helps New Jersey municipalities protect natural resources and finances the creation of parks and preservation of farmland. Over the past five years, the conservancy efforts in North Jersey have included:
Bergen County
Mahwah: Completed the purchase of Split Rock Mountain for the Ramapo Munsee Land Alliance.
Oakland: Helped the municipality acquire 12 flood-prone homes over four years for use as natural flood storage, parks and open space.
Bergen County: Helped preserve the last 12 remaining farms for the county's Recreation and Open Space Inventory.
Ramapo Mountain Preserve: 104 acres preserved next to Bergen County Ramapo Mountain Reservation.
Passaic County
Paterson/Passaic: An outdoor education program with the Boys & Girls Clubs.
West Milford: The 241-acre Nancy Conger West Brook Preserve was opened, including a stream restoration project.
Morris County
Mount Olive Township: Restoration of South Branch Preserve, now 405 acres, including a community garden, City Green farms, pollinator meadows, bird blind and picnic area.
Boonton: Wild Acres 40-acre preservation of the Fred and Myrtle Hierwarter estate now serves as the conservancy headquarters.
Hanover: Purchased 74 acres intended to become part of the Route 24 expansion, now slated to become a hiking trail.
Essex County
Newark: Pequannock Watershed Preserve, 371 acres surrounded by the Newark-Pequannock Watershed.
West Essex: Hatfield Swamp Preserve, 176 acres 6 miles northeast of Newark.
Livingston: Strahman Hill Park and the Licari Evergreen Horse Farm, totaling 18 acres, were purchased to become municipal parks.
Verona: Helped the municipality acquire the largest remaining privately owned properties, totaling 22 acres.
Sussex County
Newton: County farmland preservation plan.
Vernon: Acquired and transferred 129 acres of forest adjacent to Wawayanda State Park to the National Park Service to be managed as part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.