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Purchase
of Signal Hill protects historic Indian Spring Site of Walt Whitman’s
completion of Leaves of Grass
Clementon, NJ…October 27, 2005…The nonprofit Trust for
Public Land (TPL) and the Borough of Clementon announced today the
purchase of the 35-acre Signal Hill
property for conservation and public recreation. The protected property
includes the historic Indian Spring where Walt Whitman wrote the
last part of Leaves of Grass and a trail system already heavily
used by the public.
“Although this land was proposed for a housing development,
it is clear to all involved that its conservation is a better option
for the Borough of Clementon,” said Cindy Roberts, senior
project manager for the Trust for Public Land.
“This land is rich with history and natural resources, and
this protection effort offers residents of and visitors to the Borough
of Clementon with unparalleled views of this area,” said Mayor
Mark Armbruster of the Borough of Clementon.
John H. Fisher in, Clementon—A Historical Outline, notes that
the Grist Mill and Clementon Lake were favorite habitats for a frequent
visitor, Walt Whitman. The last part of Leaves of Grass was written
in the “quiet woodland solitude at the Indian Spring,”
in Clementon at the base of Signal Hill. Whitman became friends
with Theodore Gibbs, who owned the mill at that time, and his oldest
son James. The poet would apparently “stroll from the Stafford
farm in nearby Laurel Springs to the Indian Spring, shed pants and
shoes and sit at the edge of the spring to allow the water to flow
forcefully over his aching limbs.”
Conservation of the land, which drains into the North Branch of
the Big Timber Creek, is critical to protecting water quality in
the headwaters area where spring water bubbles up from the ground.
The wetlands on the property give way to forests and steep slopes,
and ultimately scenic views from the 199-foot peak, including the
Philadelphia skyline.
Funding for the $3.3 million purchase was provided by the Camden
County Open Space Trust Fund ($1.5 million) and New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection ($1.35 million from Green Acres, an
Environmental Infrastructure Trust loan to be repaid by the town,
and a grant from the Office of Natural Resource Restoration facilitated
by Conservation Resources, Inc.). The Trust for Public
Land also contributed $150,000 from a grant from the William Penn
Foundation.
“Our goal is to protect our communities from excessive land
development and preserve the environmental, cultural, agricultural,
historic and scenic features that define our towns and neighborhoods,”
said Freeholder Jeffrey L. Nash, who oversees the county’s
open space initiative.
The Camden County Freeholder Board has authorized a November 8 ballot
question seeking a one-cent increase in the Open Space, Recreation,
Farmland, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund levy. If approved
by the voters, the funds would be used for similar projects to protect
drinking water sources and water quality, improve park safety, and
preserve natural areas and open space throughout Camden County.
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit land conservation
organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens,
and natural areas, ensuring livable communities for generations
to come. TPL started its the River to Bay Greenway initiative in
2000 to give residents in rapidly growing southern New Jersey communities
the opportunity to connect with some of the state’s most impressive
natural areas. In just five years, TPL has protected eight properties
totaling more than 400 acres for the greenway in Camden County alone.
The work has been made possible by the commitment of Camden County,
the State of New Jersey, various municipalities, and private support
from the William Penn Foundation. With its state office in Morristown,
TPL has protected approximately 23,000 acres throughout New Jersey.
Additional information on TPL and the River to Bay Greenway Initiative
is available by clicking
here.
For more
information please contact:
Stephanie W. Singer, (908) 781-6420 x103, stephanie@beckermanpr.com
Kathy Haake, (973) 292-1100 or kathy.haake@tpl.org
Susan Clark (212) 677-7171 or susan.clark@tpl.org
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