Hillsborough will contribute $500,000 to help Somerset County and a non-profit buy another 348 acres to be added to the Sourland Mountain Preserve in the southwestern Somerset County. At $15,000 per acre, the total cost comes to $5,229,000.
The county, township and the nonprofit New Jersey Conservation Foundation, will permanently preserve the land as open space. NJCF has secured an option agreement to buy the property from Bryce Thompson and asked for money from the county and township to preserve it. The option has been transferred to the county, which will be the owner of record.
Hillsborough will add $500,000, with the county supplying the rest. To move money from its open space account, an ordinance has been introduced. Public hearing is Nov. 27.
With the addition of the property, the preserve will exceed 5,400 acres, making it the largest park in Somerset County’s 13,000-acre park system.
The land is primarily steep or sloped, wooded, with a few open agricultural fields. The property will remain largely in its natural state. No improvements are foreseen, at least immediately, with the most likely possibility be the development of a trail network.
Somerset County and the NJCF will work together to develop a management plan that will outline appropriate uses for preservation and public enjoyment of the land.
The 348 acres are made up of nine parcels, all in Hillsborough Township. The largest tax line item has frontage on Wertsville Road and runs due south. Three line items front on Montgomery Road. The area is contiguous to other open space lands acquired by Somerset County in recent years and will encourage the expansion of the Sourlands Preserve to the Hunterdon County border, where many local, county and nonprofit preservation initiatives are currently under way.
”’’”’”The preservation of this property will allow for the expansion of public access to the western portion of the preserve in Somerset County and will also provide opportunities for connections to public lands in Hunterdon County,” said Freeholder Patrick Scaglione, Park Commission liaison.
”Land preservation has already been a top priority in Hillsborough,” said Hillsborough Mayor Carl Suraci. “Partnering with Somerset County and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation is an opportunity that further realizes that priority, while perpetuating continued economic benefits through reduced development.”
”’”“’’”The Sourland Mountain region is an expansive green swath of intact forest and farmland spanning parts of three largely developed central New Jersey counties. It extends from the central part of Hillsborough Township southwest to the Delaware River in West Amwell, Hunterdon County, and Hopewell Township, Mercer County.
The Sourlands contain more than 20,000 contiguous forested acres, which protect the water supply to the headwaters of several significant streams flowing to the D&R Canal and Millstone, Raritan and Delaware rivers. The Sourlands support many rare plant and animal species, and provide nesting and stopover habitat for more than 100 species of migratory birds.
Somerset County began the preservation of the Sourland Mountain in Hillsborough and Montgomery townships in the early 1970s.
The Far Hills-based NJCF, which preserves open space and farmland, is working to protect more acreage on the Sourland Mountain.

