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Preserved Properties

Since its inception, SJLWT and its predecessors have been responsible for or assisted in the permanent preservation of over 2,100 acres of land throughout South Jersey.

South Jersey Land & Water Trust Preserves

South Jersey Land and Water Trust Easements

Carney's Point 

Limited Access

This property located in Carney's Point, Salem County was generously donated to SJLWT in 2015 to be permanently preserved as wildlife habitat with no hunting allowed, and features 76 acres of woodlands, bordered by horse pastures and agricultural fields. Carney's Point Preserve is not open to public access at this time unless accompanied by SJLWT staff. Organized nature walks are periodically scheduled and may be available upon request.

Oldmans Creek Preserve (OCP)

Open Public Access

Located in the town of Auburn, Oldman's Township, Salem County, SJLWT's home preserve is a 39-acre forest featuring 3,000 feet of stream frontage along Oldman’s Creek. The property was acquired by SJLWT in 2009 and includes old-growth forest and a circa 1790s house that serves as the SJLWT Office. The property formerly served as Camp Kimble Boy Scout Camp from 1938-1967, and then became the home of the Auburn Hills family campground from 1967-1982. OCP is open to the public from sunrise to sunset and offers multiple trails for hiking, bird watching, canoe and kayak access to Oldmans Creek, and passive enjoyment of nature. Click here for more information. 

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Vineland High School Property

Limited Access

This 48-acre woodland located in Vineland, Cumberland County, was generously donated to SJLWT in 2015 to be permanently preserved with no hunting allowed. SJLWT preserved the property through the establishment of a conservation easement to protect the habitat in perpetuity. In 2017 the land, which is located directly across the street from the Vineland High School, was donated to the High School for use in their environmental education program, cross county trails, and designation of an area to provide for agricultural education. SJLWT holds the conservation easement and is responsible for enforcement of use restrictions.

DiGregorio Farm

No Public Access

This 59 acre farm is located in Carney's Point, Salem County and was preserved in 2011 by SJLWT with funding from the New Jersey's Farmland Preservation Program and the Federal Farmland Preservation Program. This farm was preserved as a result of SJLWT's successful effort to expand Salem County's Farmland Preservation Area (ADA) to include this area of Carney's Point Township.

David and Lynn McAlister Farm

No Public Access

This property is approximately 54-acres in size, and is contiguous and/or in close proximity to more than 430-acres of previously preserved farmland in Franklin Township. The County of Gloucester holds the easement on the property, and is responsible for future monitoring to ensure it continues to operate within the parameters of the Farmland Preservation Program.

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Homan Property

Partial Public Access

The 30-acre Homan property, which backs up against the Oldmans Creek Preserve, was permanently preserved on March 9, 2021 as public open space and wildlife habitat by a partnership of South Jersey Land and Water Trust (SJLWT), the state Green Acres Program and the NJ Office of Natural Resources Restoration. This Preserve lies along the Oldmans Creek, which is the boundary between Gloucester and Salem Counties. The expansion consists of a mix of farmland and forested upland and wetlands and includes a ravine with streams that feed into the Oldman’s Creek.

Yetneck Farm

No Public Access

This 78-acre farm in Carney's Point, Salem County, was preserved in 2011 by SJLWT with funding from New Jersey's Farmland Preservation Program and the Federal Farmland Preservation Program. The Yetneck Farm was also able to qualify for preservation as a result of SJLWT's successful effort to expand Salem County's designated Agriculture Development Area to include this portion of Carney's Point Township.

Properties Preserved with SJLWT Assistance

Tall Pines State Preserve

Open Public Access

Tall Pines is 110 acres of grasslands, woodlands, small ponds and freshwater wetlands in
Deptford and Mantua Townships, Gloucester County, just south of the Borough of
Wenonah. Mantua Creek flows through its center. The preserve is home to an unusually
rich and diverse number of bird species. This 112-acre former a golf course, was preserved

in 2015 after 8 years of efforts, and is the first State Park in Gloucester County. The
preservation was spearheaded by a grassroots citizens group called The Friends of Tall
Pines State Preserve in partnership with SJLWT. Read more about this park here.

The Anthony Property

Open Public Access

SJLWT assisted in the preservation of this 106-acre property in Upper Pittsgrove, Salem County in 2015. The majority of the land was preserved as an expansion of contiguous State Wildlife Management Area land, with 15 acres of the property designated to expand the Elmer Little League Fields.

Cedar Lake

Open Public Access

This 114-acre forested upland and wetland on Cedar Lake in Monroe Township, Gloucester County and Buena Vista Township, Atlantic County, was preserved in 2001 by a coalition of partners, including SJLWT. Its preservation was preceded by the Cedar Lake wetlands restoration project completed by SJLWT and partners. Cedar Lake is a headwaters of the Great Egg Harbor Wild and Scenic River and is located in the Pinelands National Reserve. 

Andalaro Farm 

Open Public Access

This 55-acre prior farm in Deptford Township, Gloucester County, sits on the bank of Big Timber Creek and was preserved by SJLWT in conjunction with the NJ Green Acres Program in 1999. Beginning in 1929, three generations of the Andaloro Family farmed the land, which is now designated as a NJ Wildlife Management Area and managed by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife. The site offers woodlands, streams, grasslands and wetlands, which serve as important habitat for birds and other wildlife in a highly developed corridor of the county. The property includes 25 acres of wooded stream buffer and 30 acres of fields that were slated for a 90-unit housing development prior to preservation. 

The Daniels Property

Open Public Access

Located in South Harrison Township, Gloucester County, this property is one of the few untouched forested parcels of land in the upper Oldmans Creek watershed. It was preserved by SJLWT in 2008 and was purchased in part with funding from a chemical Superfund site settlement and NJ Green Acres funding. The New Jersey Conservation Foundation accepted ownership of the preserve at the time of closing. The 100-acre property features vernal pools, wooded wetlands and mixed hardwood forests.

The Kammerer Estate

Open Public Access

This 35-acre property in Mantua Township, Gloucester County, was preserved in 2008 through the assistance of SJLWT in conjunction with NJ Green Acres, and was added to Mantua Township's parkland for recreational use and woodland conservation. The property was in the Kammerer family for over 100 years before being preserved. 

Nacote Creek Preserve

Open Public Access

South Jersey Land Trust, in conjunction with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and NJ Green Acres, assisted in the preservation of 290 acres of woodlands along the Nacote Creek in Port Republic, Atlantic County in the Mullica River Watershed. The habitat contains a variety of Pinelands plant communities including Atlantic White cedar swamp, red maple and pitch pine  lowlands, upland oak forest and successional forest composed of red cedar with some brackish tidal marsh.

The Lodge Farm 

Limited Public Access

​This 42-acre farm was preserved by SJLWT in conjunction with the NJ Green Acres Program and the Coastal Eagle Fund court settlement fund. It is located in West Deptford Township, Gloucester County, and established the first state-owned Wildlife Management Area on Mantua Creek when it was preserved in 2006. The property boasts 1,500 feet of stream frontage along Mantua Creek, one of the last remaining undeveloped sections of the stream offering wildlife habitat and passive recreational opportunities. Public access may be limited, and the public is encouraged to contact NJ Fish and Wildlife to request options for use.

Lincoln Mill Estates - Duca Farm

Limited Public Access

SJLWT assisted in the preservation of this 63-acre property in Pilesgrove Township, Salem County in 2015. It is now part of the NJ Fish and Wildlife, Salem River Wildlife Management Area. The property is tillable farmland as well as threatened and endangered species habitat. The property had approval for 38 homes before SJLWT, in coordination with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation assisted in its preservation. Public access may be limited, and the public is encouraged to contact NJ Fish and Wildlife to request information on options for use.

The Cali Farm

No Public Access

This property consists of 77 acres of agricultural land in Woolwich Township, Gloucester County and was preserved in perpetuity in 2008 by SJLWT in partnership with Woolwich Township and the NJ Farmland Preservation Program.

The Finocchiaro Farm

No Public Access

This 26-acre property in Woolwich Township, Gloucester County, was preserved in 2008 after 7 years of joint preservation efforts by SJLWT, Woolwich Township, Gloucester County, and New Jersey's Farmland Preservation Program. The property was viewed by the Finocchiaros as “a family farm…an investment in everyone’s future”.

Deluca Farm

No Public Access

The former 83-acre farm, preserved in 2014 had approval for 31 residential building lots. SJLWT assisted in the preservation of this property in conjunction with Woolwich Township, Gloucester County, and New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program.

Vandergracht Farm

No Public Access

This 20-acre horse farm produces hay to support its small operation. The property had preliminary subdivision approval before being preserved in 2014 with the assistance of SJLWT in conjunction with Woolwich Township, Gloucester County, and New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program. Preservation of this property created a nearly contiguous stretch of preserved farmland in the township.

Sassi Farm

No Public Access

This 85-acre family farm located in Carney's Point, Salem County, was preserved in 2005 through the NJ Farmland Preservation Program. The Sassi family purchased the farm in the 1920s. Preservation efforts were initiated by SJLWT in 2000. The preservation of this property started a trend of farmland preservation in Carney’s Point and paved the way for the subsequent preservation of the nearby Yetneck and DiGregorio Farms.

The String Farm-Woolwich Investers

No Public Access

This 38-acre farm on Harrisonville Road and Russell Mill Road in Woolwich Township was a one-time dairy operation.  It was preserved in 2017 with the assistance of SJLWT in partnership with Woolwich Township, Gloucester County and New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program.     

Philip A. Danko Farm

No Public Access

This property was preserved through Franklin Township’s Municipal Farmland Preservation Program, which SJLWT oversees as the Program’s facilitator.  The preservation of this farm was a cooperative effort between the State Agriculture Development Committee, the County of Gloucester, and Franklin Township, however, it should be noted that SJLWT managed and facilitated the preservation process.

 

The Philip A. Danko farm is a 30.724 acre parcel, and is utilized for the growing of nursery stock and feed corn.  Mr. Danko’s family has owned the property since 1931, and he himself was born in the house that still sits on the property.  The property is currently farmed by the Bellone family, who own the 51 acre parcel that borders the Danko farm (the bordering Bellone property is scheduled to be preserved in the coming weeks).  The Bellone’s utilize the Danko property as component of their overall agriculture operations, which encompasses more 400 farming acres in Franklin Township. 

 

A number of other parties assisted SJLWT in the preservation of this farm, including the State Agriculture Development Committee, the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the Franklin Township Committee, who all provided funding for the acquisition of the property’s development rights.  The Gloucester County Office Land Preservation also provided a great deal of technical support throughout the preservation process, as did the Franklin Township Agricultural Advisory Committee.  The County of Gloucester holds the easement on the property, and is responsible for future monitoring to ensure it continues to operate within the parameters of the Farmland Preservation Program.

 

Since assuming the role of facilitator for Franklin Township’s Municipal Farmland Preservation Program, SJLWT has overseen and/or participated in the preservation of more than 275 farmland acres in Franklin Township, and is working on additional applications that could add 200+/- acres to this amount.

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The Russo-Previtera Farm

No Public Access

This 56.45-acre farm on Warrington Mill Road, Woolwich Township, was preserved in 2015 with the assistance of SJLWT in partnership with Woolwich Township, Gloucester County and New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program.    

The Graiff Life Enterprises LLC Farm

No Public Access

This property was preserved through Franklin Township’s Municipal Farmland Preservation Program, which SJLWT oversees as the Program’s facilitator.  The preservation of this farm was a cooperative effort between the State Agriculture Development Committee, the County of Gloucester, and Franklin Township, however, it should be noted that SJLWT managed and facilitated the preservation process.

 

The Graiff Life Enterprises LLC farm is a 22.010 acre parcel, and is utilized for the growing of fresh market vegetables. The Graiff’s purchased the property in 2020, and utilize it as component of their overall agriculture operations, which encompasses more than 500 acres in 3 different states.  The property is also contiguous to more than 300 acres of previously preserved farmland, and in close linear distance to more than 150 additional preserved farmland acres.

 

A number of other parties assisted SJLWT in the preservation of this farm, including the State Agriculture Development Committee, the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the Franklin Township Committee, who all provided funding for the acquisition of the property’s development rights.  The Gloucester County Office Land Preservation also provided a great deal of technical support throughout the preservation process, as did the Franklin Township Agricultural Advisory Committee.  The County of Gloucester holds the easement on the property, and is responsible for future monitoring to ensure it continues to operate within the parameters of the Farmland Preservation Program.

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In addition, the South Jersey Land Trust directly preserved or assisted in the preservation of the following properties: 

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  • 102 acres of woodlands in on West Park Drive, Upper Deerfield Township, Cumberland County adding to the Township’s preserved open space.

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  • 29 acres of open fields and pond in Scullville, Cape May County preserved with the assistance of SJLT. This property is located at the mouth of the Great Egg Harbor Wild and Scenic River. Its preservation expanded the existing NJ Fish and Wildlife Management Area.

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  • 60 acres of farmland and wooded stream corridor on Raccoon Creek in Logan and Woolwich Townships

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  • 325 acres in Hamilton Township, Atlantic County protected by a conservation easement

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  • Egg Harbor City: 0.5 acres of pinelands forest in Egg Harbor City, Atlantic County, currently owned by SJLWT

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