Drew Forest Preservation Efforts Hang in the Balance as Morris County Considers $5 Million Grant
Efforts to preserve the Drew Forest in Morris County, New Jersey, are at a critical juncture as the county considers a $5 million grant. The preservationists, however, are urging the county to double the funding if they want to have a chance at saving the forest. The Madison borough officials had initially applied for a $10 million grant to protect the 51-acre woodland located on the Drew University campus.
While negotiations between Madison and Drew University are still ongoing, the committee responsible for overseeing the grant applications could only approve $5 million at this time. According to Committee Chairman Jay Thomson, projects of this scale usually have signed contracts or multiple funding partners in place, but the current application falls short of meeting these benchmarks.
Madison Mayor Robert Conley assured the commissioners that Drew University intends to sell the property and their preference, like everyone in the room, is to preserve the forest. However, if Madison can’t secure the funding, the land could be developed for housing.
Drew University, facing financial challenges in recent years due to factors like a decline in college-aged students, a drop in state aid, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, sees the forest as one of its principal assets. The university aims to leverage outside resources to ensure the forest’s preservation.
Madison officials had hoped that along with the $10 million grant, additional funding from federal, state, and local sources would cover the market-rate purchase of the entire forest. While the exact cost remains uncertain, it is anticipated to exceed $10 million. Madison Mayor Conley expressed optimism that an agreement will be reached with the university and emphasized the importance of obtaining the full $10 million in funding.
Various stakeholders, including students, neighboring residents, and environmentalists, have joined forces to form the nonprofit group Friends of the Drew Forest, advocating for the forest’s preservation. Their petition in support of preservation gathered over 15,000 signatures.
The Morris County Commissioners are expected to vote on the resolution to authorize the grants at their upcoming meeting. While the commissioners traditionally approve committee grant recommendations, they have the authority to reject, modify, or approve them.
Since 1994, the Morris County Open Space Program has successfully preserved over 17,800 acres of land, with funding generated through a county preservation tax approved by voters in 1992.
Chairman Thomson hopes that the $5 million commitment from Morris County will encourage additional funding from other sources for this significant project. Both Madison and Drew University remain committed to working towards a market-value conservation deal that meets the long-term needs of the university while protecting the forest’s future.
As the fate of the Drew Forest hangs in the balance, the decision by the Morris County Commissioners will have a profound impact on the preservation efforts and the future of this biodiverse woodland.
