Historic Sites In Chester Could Reap Benefits From Massive State Grant

CHESTER, NJ — Two historical sites in Chester may soon receive grants totaling more than $300,000 to aid in the preservation, support and promotion of their initiatives.

The grants are part of a nearly $15.8 million grant recommendation approved by the New Jersey Historic Trust, an affiliate of the state Department of Community Affairs, last month.

According to a statement issued by the Morris County Board of Commissioners, the money still needs to be appropriated in the legislature and approved by Gov. Phil Murphy, and the list needs to be approved by the Garden State Preservation Trust board.

"This round of grant recommendations for preservation planning, heritage tourism, and capital projects will help to preserve historic structures, documents, and artifacts that tell the stories of New Jersey’s history to future generations," said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who serves as the state Department of Community Affairs commissioner.

The township’s historic Merchiston Farm, also known as the Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center, is among projects throughout the state, along with Chester’s Rockefeller Center.

Merchiston Farm is expected to receive $260,605, while Chester's Rockefeller Center is expected to receive $45,610 of the $15.8 million in grants from the state.

The funds will come from the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund, which was established in 2016 to provide annual matching grants for historic preservation projects through the state's corporate business tax.

Historic sites from across the state applied for capital, historic site management, and heritage tourism grants.

"This is an important first step in the process, as well as an enormous boost to our own efforts to preserve, protect and restore historic sites throughout Morris County," said Morris County Commissioner Stephen Shaw, the board’s liaison to the Office of Planning & Preservation.

The list of potential awardees includes 65 historical sites and nonprofits from across the state, but Morris County received the most grants with 11 projects. Union County came in second, with nine projects receiving grants.