By: Jake Uitti
MONTGOMERY The township has received $250,000 from the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders as reimbursement for the acquisition of the Nicolaysen tract, a 95-acre property located on Cherry Valley Road.
The Nicolaysen tract is adjacent to 275 acres of already preserved open space and farmland in the township, including the county-preserved Dressler horse farm.
The tract is one of the original parcels targeted for preservation in Montgomery. Township officials said they envision extensive pathway connections between residential neighborhoods and township parks and open space.
The County/Municipal Open Space Partnership Program is funded through the county’s open-space, farmland and historic preservation trust, with a portion of the funds being allocated annually to local property acquisitions.
Projects are submitted by municipalities, ranked by the Somerset County Planning Board, the Somerset County Park Commission and the Open Space Advisory Committee, and then presented to the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Once grants are awarded, the municipalities may begin the preservation process, county officials said.
Criteria include the property’s accessibility to the public, its planned use and its value regarding environmental, social, historical and cultural characteristics and features, officials noted.
The county also awarded $275,000 to Bridgewater Township, $100,000 to Franklin Township, $225,000 to Hillsborough Township and $150,000 to Warren Township.
Montgomery also received $25,550 from the freeholders for completion of the developer selection and real estate market analysis for Skillman Village.
That money comes as part of the Municipal Planning Partnership grants program.

