Kosut Property In Parsippany Could Get An Open-Space Grant

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Five-plus acres in Parsippany receive an open-space grant. The Morris County Board of Commissioners will review whether to acquire the Kosut Property for such use.

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Morris County’s Open Space Trust Fund Committee recommended that the commissioners approve $1.3 million to acquire and preserve four locations as 2021 Open Space projects. The commissioners will make formal decisions on grant recommendations in a meeting later this year.

"Residents flocked to these sites to find solace and just enjoy the outdoors during the pandemic," said Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw. "In fact, visits to our open spaces, parks and trails quadrupled during that time. I know I speak for the full board when I say that this is one of the most important things we do as commissioners."

The Kosut Property, located off Knoll Road, is surrounded by land north and south that was previously preserved and is owned by the township as part of the 11.1-acre Fieldfair Property. The township submitted the Kosut Property for consideration as open space.

The property is located across the street from watershed lands surrounding the Boonton Reservoir — also known as the Jersey City Reservour. It was the subject of a $659,000 grant through the 2020 Open Space grant program.

The township envisions developing the property into a park and recreational facility.

The Open Space Trust Fund Committee recommended an award of $450,000 for the project. Here's what else they recommended:

Jean Drive Preserve acquisition:

• applicant: Township of Montville
• 19.62 acres
• recommended award: $465,000

East Blackwell Street acquisition:

• applicant: Town of Dover
• 0.2 acres
• recommended award: $35,000

McDon Fen Property

• applicant: Trust for Public Land
• located in Chatham Township
• 17.74 acres
• recommended award: $350,000

Funding for open space acquisitions and preservation comes from the voter-approved Morris County Open Space & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, which is generated by a special county tax. The funding source is also used for farmland and historic preservation, county parkland acquisition, trail construction and the purchase or residential properties prone to flooding.

Since 1994, the Morris County Open Space Program has awarded $318,760,878 in grants for 486 applications. Applicants have closed on 416 of those projects, preserving 17,668 acres — a combined acreage larger than Parsippany Township and almost as large as Chester Township.

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