Keep Morris County Beautiful: Open Space Funding Now Available

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The Open Space Trust Fund Committee is making strides in preserving the natural beauty of Morris County. The Board of County Commissioners approved $1.8 million in grant funding for the acquisition and preservation of over 65 acres, spreading through three municipalities.

“Any of Morris County’s 39 municipalities and qualified charitable conservancies are eligible to apply for grant funding,” said Barbara Murray, Program Coordinator in the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund, in a press release Monday.

For over 30 years, the Open Space Trust Fund program used funding from the preservation tax to save over 18,300 acres in Morris County alone.

Morris County Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw also expressed his support for the program. "Protecting our scenic landscapes while supporting local businesses enhances the quality of life for residents who see the benefits every day, whether it be our top-rated schools, safe neighborhoods, outstanding park system or hundreds of miles of trails to hike, bike and walk,” he said in the press release Monday.

The deadline for submitting open space applications is June 19. The Office of Planning and Preservation can be reached at 973-829-8120.