Kinnelon Lake Among Proposed Morris County Preservation Sites

KINNELON, N.J.– Kinnelon's Untermeyer Lake is among the six preservation projects the Morris County's Open Space Trust Fund Committee on Wednesday recommended to the freeholders.

The projects span more than 270 acres across five Morris County towns– Denville, Parsippany, Kinnelon, Randolph and Mt. Arlington. – and would cost roughly $3.75 million, according to Morris County
Communications and Digital Media Manager Larry Ragonese.

Funding would come from the county preservation trust fund, generated by a special tax, according to Ragonese.

The lake is located off of westbound Route 287 and surrounded by 178.8 acres of land.

According to Ragonese, "the lands are contiguous to Pequannock’s Mountainside Park to the east and the Morris County Park Commission’s Waughaw Mountain Greenway to the south.

"The Park Commission will acquire an easement over a portion of the southern parcel for expansion of trails onto adjacent preserved lands [and] Kinnelon will own and manage both properties for passive recreation upon acquisition," Ragonese said.

Morris Township resident Rick Watson, who chairs the 15-member committee, presented the recommendations at Wednesday morning's work session in Morristown, Ragonese said.

"The committee thanks the freeholders for recognizing the need for continued public support for this program, and understanding the need for towns to be able to preserve land for active and passive recreation
and environmental protection," said Watson.

The awards range from $240,000 to $1.7 million, according to Ragonese.

The freeholders will make a formal decision at their Nov. 21 meeting, he added.

“The high quality of life in Morris County is directly connected to the preservation of open space and farmland and historic properties that have been funded by our residents, who have repeatedly voted to approve a special tax for these purposes,’’ said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo.

Added Freeholder Christine Myers: “These open space dollars are used to create parks, connect trails, offer recreational opportunities for our residents, or just to make sure we have green spaces in each of our
towns as places to think or breathe."

The other proposed projects: Lake Rogerene, the Soussa Property, the LaPlatte Smith Road Property, and Mount Freedom Golf.

For more details on each one, click here.

Image courtesy County of Morris