Township acquires additional 30-acre open space property

By: centraljersey.com
EAST WINDSOR – The township has acquired an additional 30-acre open space property on Disbrow Hill Road along the Millstone Township border, Mayor Janice Mironov announced this week.
The property, located directly across the road from Etra Lake Park, is bordered on the east by the Rocky Brook and is adjacent to a 120-acre township-owned open space site and situated near a 59-acre township open space parcel, of which 20 acres is being developed into new township playing fields using county and state grant funds. "This acquisition has tremendous significance in preserving a large portion of the township in the southeast quadrant of East Windsor as open space and farmland," Mayor Mironov said in a press release. "This 30-acre tract, located within the township’s largest agricultural area, will provide a continuum of open space and maintain the rural character of this attractive green area of East Windsor.
"Preserving this property as open space will directly contribute to and enhance the attractiveness of our community and the living environment for our residents," the mayor continued. "Acquisition of this property is an excellent step in further expanding open space and potential recreational opportunities in the immediate vicinity of the township’s new playing fields and the magnificent 160-acre Etra Lake Park.
"The property was designated for preservation in the township’s Open Space and Recreation Plan, which was prepared to qualify for maximum direct funding under the State Green Acres Program."
The total purchase price of $460,000 to acquire the 30-acre site was underwritten by Green Acres grants, a Mercer County open space grant and by developer contributions from the Township Open Space Fund. No local property taxpayer money was used in the purchase, Mayor Mironov said.
"The township has preserved over 2,600 acres constituting over 25 percent of the township permanently preserved as open space and farmland," she said. "Approximately $8.3 million in Green Acre grants, $5.8 million in Mercer County grants and $1.6 million in developer contribution funds have supported the township’s land acquisitions. Land donations which were used to match Green Acres funds have amounted to over $3 million in value."