MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Denville Township and Morris County have announced the preservation of more than 57 acres of open space through the St. Francis and Pocono Field Preservation Project, backed by a $5.7 million grant from the Morris County Open Space Preservation Trust Fund.
The project includes the 17-acre former St. Francis property on Diamond Spring Road and a 40-acre portion of 18 Pocono Road, including the Pocono Fields, barns, and festival grounds. The properties will be permanently deed-restricted as open space.
The announcement follows the execution of contracts between Denville Township and Springpoint Realty, Inc. for both properties. According to officials, the township is expected to take ownership in July. County officials said the preservation effort continues a program that has operated since 1994 with funding from a voter-approved preservation tax.
“This project highlights the strength of our partnerships with municipalities such as Denville and our shared commitment to protecting land in Morris County,” said Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo, liaison to the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation. “Since 1994, Morris County has helped preserve more than 18,400 acres of open space, protecting natural resources while expanding recreational opportunities for residents.”
To mark the announcement, Mastrangelo joined Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw, Denville Mayor Thomas Andes, and Joe Barilla, director of the Office of Planning and Preservation, in a video recorded at the St. Francis property. “I’m pleased to share that Denville has taken major steps to acquire and preserve both the St. Francis property and the Pocono Fields,” said Andes. “Together, these properties will be permanently preserved as open space and remain an important part of our community’s history. Projects like this show what’s possible when we work together.”
The properties also carry a long local history. According to the county, the land was acquired in 1895 by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, who established the St. Francis Residential Community on the northern portion. The southern parcel developed from farmland into recreational fields. Portions of the preserved land also trace back to the historic Glover estate, known as Rockaway Farms, which was established in the early 1800s by Col. John Heyward Glover along the Rockaway River.
Officials say preservation of the land supports both passive and active recreation. Township officials envision a community park at the St. Francis site while recreational use of the Pocono Fields continues. “We’re proud to help preserve sites that connect our past with our future,” said Shaw. “These properties have served the community for generations, and through partnerships like this, we’re making sure they continue to do so for years to come.”
The county also said the 2026 Open Space grant application cycle is now open. The deadline for submitting open space applications and appraisals for 2026 funding is Friday, June 12, according to the announcement.
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