Howell, Monmouth Co. Foundation Purchase Fort Plains Road Parcel

HOWELL, NJ - A 35-acre property on Fort Plains Road has been purchased this month by Howell through a partnership with the township, the Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) and the New Jersey Green Acres program.

Amid an increase in residential and warehouse construction in Howell Township, new parks and park additions are on the rise in the area. The March 18 purchase was made “amidst climbing real estate values in Monmouth County as families from New York City and northern New Jersey have increased demand for housing,” according to a news release from the MCF.

The purchase was made via a $525,000 contribution from Howell Township, a $50,000 contribution from the MCF and a $575,000 contribution from Green Acres to permanently protect the wooded Fort Plains Road tract of land that could have been developed into a large-scale residential development.

“Development pressure in Howell has been intense for decades, the pandemic only intensified the trend,” Howell Township Councilwomen Evelyn O’Donnell and Pamela Richmond said in a joint statement. “As our community grows, we recognized the need for a plan to ensure we have adequate parks, trails, and farms in Howell. After all, it’s the reason so many people decided to live here in the first place and we want to ensure it remains a sought-after place to live.”

Read more: Howell Historical Site To Undergo Repairs Thanks To County Grant

Read more: Monmouth County To Buy Land In Howell For Preservation

The purchase serves as the latest endeavor between Howell and the MCF, a 44-year-old nonprofit land trust founded to create and expand parks, preserve farms, and protect natural resources throughout the region.

“It takes a winning team of players dedicated to open space success to make these projects happen. We are happy to be a part of the winning partnership with Howell Township to preserve yet another property for the community to enjoy,” said William D. Kastning, Executive Director of Monmouth Conservation Foundation.

In 2020 and 2021, Howell has preserved three different properties in partnership with MCF and other partners. In addition to the 35-acre parcel on Fort Plains Road, other recent projects include the preservation of a 9.5-acre property on Lakewood Allenwood Road in December 2020 to expand Deerwood Park, and a 4-acre addition to Bear Swamp Natural Area, located on Maxim Road, preserved in October 2020.

The conservation foundation and Howell Township are currently in the process to create more parkland and preserve additional farms through projects currently in the pipeline. A partnership with the Department of Defense is also in the works to protect land around Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck.

“We are dedicated to ensuring Howell remains a wonderful community for its residents and we must continue to find opportunities to protect our remaining natural areas and ensure residents continue to have access to safe outdoor places to enjoy,” said Richmond.

For more information about Monmouth Conservation Foundation and how they can help in your community, please visit www.monmouthconservation.org.