Cataract Park Expansion Tagged For Preservation Funds

LONG VALLEY, NJ — The Cataract Park Expansion in Long Valley has been recommended to receive part of a $2.4 million open space grant from the Morris County Board Of Freeholders.

If approved, Washington Township would receive $52,800 to purchase the 11.79 acre plot of land. Located east of Schooley’s Mountain Road, the expansion would join the existing Cataract Park, and would create a new trail for easier access to a scenic waterfall.

The recommendations will be voted on at the Nov. 20 meeting; the Board has generally accepted the recommendations.

“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 committee chair Rick Watson. “Many of these projects could not be done without County support.’’

“Freeholder Boards over the last several decades have clearly understood that the high quality of life in Morris County is directly connected to the preservation of open space and farmland and historic properties,’’ said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. “The current board continues to hear the voices of our county residents who have repeatedly voted to approve a special tax for these purposes, and have directed us to make preservation a priority issue."

The open space grants are funded by a tax, which this year is 7/8ths of 1 cent per $100 of assessed property value, officials said. Since the grant began in 1994, 12,247 acres have been preserved in the county.

Image via Morris County Government