WMA 18, Lower Delaware

An Island of Pine Barrens Forest in Suburban South Jersey

Located in Clementon Borough, Signal Hill is a 34-acre Pine Barrens forest surrounded by suburban development.  This property contains spectacular views of Philadelphia and a unique history dating back to pre-colonial times.  It forms part of the Trust for Public Land's River to Bay Greenway project. 

Signal Hill includes significant natural forest and forested wetland habitat, as well as areas with steep slopes. The property has been identified as critical wildlife habitat by the Landscape Project and is part of an important area of natural groundwater recharge to the Cohansey-Kirkwood aquifer system.  In fact, this property appears to provide the source of water for the Indian Spring at the foot of Signal Hill, the location where Walt Whitman finished the last parts of Leaves of Grass. 

The Trust for Public Land acquired the property in late 2005.   The Borough of Clementon is managing it for open space, natural resource protection, and recreational purposes. 

The total purchase price was $3,000,000.  Clementon Borough contributed $1,100,000, which came from a NJDEP Green Acres Planning Incentive Grant, a loan from the Environmental Infrastructure Trust, and their Open Space Trust Fund.  Camden County contributed $1,500,000 from the County Open Space Trust Fund, and TPL will be contributed $250,000 from government and foundation grants. $150,000 was contributed from the NJDEP Office of Natural Resource Restoration and this NRD funding was facilitated by Conservation Resources.