Ocean County Purchases 8K Open-Space Acres In Lacey, Waretown

Ocean County acquired nearly 8,000 acres of open space in Lacey and Waretown, the county's largest open-space purchase since it began the program in 1997, officials announced Friday. The 7,923-acre purchase cost $15,450,000, which is covered by revenues from the county's open-space tax.

The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved the purchase Sept. 19 at the recommendation of the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund Committee. The property includes frontage on both sides of Lacey Road and has access from old sand roads in Lacey and Ocean townships.

The Trust for Public Lands identified the sit in their "Century Plan." The area is the last significant tract left of the 21,000-acre Forked River Mountains Century Plan Site.

“(The purchased area) meets the many requirements of our open space program and insures this property will never be considered for anything but open space,” Ocean County Freeholder Director Virginia E. Haines said in a statement. “This purchase protects our watershed, it protects our endangered species. Its benefits are numerous.”

The County is exploring funding partnerships to help offset some of the acquisition costs, according to Haines. Ocean County will seek public-funding partnerships including with the Department of Defense and state Green Acres.

“In addition to protecting all the resources here, the property also provides opportunity for nature lovers to enjoy bird watching and nature walks, which also is important,” Haines said in a statement.

The County purchased the land from Castleton Associates LLC, formerly the Brunetti Corporation of Old Bridge Township.

Along with the mountains, the land also features clears streams such as headwaters of the Oswego River, the Factory Branch, the North, Middle and South branches of the Forked River, Oyster Creek, Cave Cabin Branch, Long Branch, Dennis Branch and Cold Branch. There are also miles of pine oak and pitch pine lowland forests.