D&R Greenway Land Trust is Preserving an Historic Landscape

D&R Greenway Land Trust is working in partnership with the State of New Jersey to protect historic landscapes that contribute to the "Crossroads of the American Revolution", a nationally important State Heritage Area.  Preservation of the 337-acre Saint Michael’s Orphanage property would make a significant contribution to that vision.

The Diocese of Trenton contacted D&R Greenway Land Trust in July of 2004 to ask if they would be interested in a preservation effort for the St Michael's Orphanage property.  It is located adjacent to the Borough of Hopewell and includes road frontage on Carter and Aunt Molly Roads.  D&R Greenway was interested in pursuing this effort for these reasons:

• Preservation would protect water quality of the Bedens Brook as it flows through the Trenton Diocese property

• The size of the property would enable multiple uses including significant farmland preservation, public recreation with trails connecting to greenbelt lands in the Hopewell region, and conservation land along the wooded stream valley

• Preservation of the Trenton Diocese property would contribute to the creation of a preserved greenbelt around the Revolutionary Village of Hopewell Borough

Hopewell Township has been a focus of D&R Greenway’s efforts since they were founded in 1989 as central New Jersey’s regional land trust.  To date, D&R Greenway land Trust has protected 1,630 acres valued at $18.45 million in Hopewell Township, represented by 30 separate properties.   The Trenton Diocese property is located in the core of D&R Greenway’s region.

In attempting the St. Michael’s preservation effort, D&R Greenway decided to use a landscape preservation approach similar to their highly successfully 600-acre Allentown greenbelt project.    Knowing that a larger project would attract more funding partners, an effort was made to expand the St. Michael's project to include 500 or more acres. An additional 4 parcels have been added to the project area to date that bring the total preservation package to 560 acres.   All of these properties are located in Hopewell Township.    The estimated value of these lands is over $14 million.

A series of meetings with staff of the State open space and farmland preservation programs led to the configuration of a preservation partnership that now includes the State, Mercer County, Hopewell Township and Hopewell Borough and private contributors through D&R Greenway.

Commitments of support have been reached with the New Jersey State Agricultural Development Committee and Green Acres Program, Mercer County and with Hopewell Borough and Hopewell Township. D&R Greenway Land Trust is contributing over $3 million in private funds to the effort through private fundraising. D&R Greenway Land Trust is still seeking additional funds to create a long-term stewardship fund for the St. Michael's property.