Largest Open Space Grant in Morris History Preserves Chatham's Giralda Farms

For nearly a century it was more than 100 acres of land untouchable by the public.

Thanks to a total of $14.1 million, the Giralda Farms Preserve is now saved as open space and accessibly by the public to use for hiking, biking, and enjoying.

At a weekend event including local and federal dignitaries, the 136-acre Giralda Farms Preserve tract was dedicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Funding for the preservation of land came from Morris County’s Open Space division, granting $10 million. The remaining funds came from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program, Chatham Township Open Space Trust Fund, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, F.M. Kirby Foundation, Normandy Real Estate Partners, the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority and the Morris County Park Commission.

The Open Space grant was the largest in the division’s history.

When Geraldine R. Dodge purchased the land in 1916, it was already a private estate, and after her death in 1973, the property became part of the Giralda Farms Corporate Park, which was off limits to the public behind a fence and guarded gatehouse.

The land includes a 1.2-mile network of hiking and off-road biking trails, which may be expanded, and connects to the Loantaka Brook Reservation.

The majority of the land is owned by Chatham Township, but the trail network and property will be maintained by the Morris County Park Commission.

Photos Courtesy Morris County.