Learn How Open Spaces In Howell Were Saved From Development

HOWELL, NJ — If you ever drive through the town and wonder how its natural, undeveloped open spaces got that way, the town is happy to tell you.

The Department of Public Works is installing signs throughout the township highlighting the acres of open space that Howell has saved.

The QR code on the signs will take you to a page on the town’s website, featuring a description of each parcel including the date of acquisition, the location, total acreage and funding.

The page also includes a link to descriptions of the wildlife that can be observed at the site.

Here are two of the latest signs that have gone up:

• The Bear Swamp Tract was acquired from the Van Schoick family on Oct. 29, 2020. It is located on Maxim Road west of Lakewood-Farmingdale Road (CR-547), and totals 11.265 acres. The funding for the acquisition was the result of collaboration among NJ Green Acres, Monmouth Conservation Foundation, the Monmouth County Municipal Open Space Program, and the Township of Howell. This parcel abuts other acreage previously preserved in Bear Swamp.
• The Locust-Price Tract was acquired March 22, 2006. It is located on Locust Avenue and Maxim-Southard Road, and totals 31.11 acres. The funding for the acquisition was from the Township of Howell. This parcel abuts the Alfred C. Sauer Park at Echo Lake.

And Interim Township Manager Joseph Clark says there are more sites that will be highlighted in the sign program.

"Right now if you look at the township’s “Preserved Township Properties” web page, you will see a total of 12 properties that we selected as a jumping off point," he said.

More informational signage will be put up in the future as other properties are included on the page, he added.

The open space sites are a mix of recent and more long-term acquisitions, Clark said.

Right now there are five properties that were acquired in the past two years that total approximately 100 acres. There are six from the time period 2002 to 2012 and one from the late 1990s, he said.

"We thought it was important to include acquisitions from a broad period; our residents deserve to know that the town has emphasized the acquisition and preservation of open space for years," Clark said.

The overall open space acreage is stated right on the new signs, Clark said. They say “2,000 acres and counting,” he noted.

"There has been a tremendous effort not only to acquire open space through purchases, but also to accept dedications and donations of property as part of developments, farmland preservation and numerous other means," Clark said.

He added that the Monmouth Conservation Foundation has been a major partner in acquiring open space.

"We work with them and the DEP’s Green Acres Division to identify suitable properties for preservation and then channel our efforts into making that happen," Clark said.