Town gets $400K for more ‘Green Acres’
Money will help fund future purchases in North Brunswick
By dave goldberg
Staff Writer

North Brunswick will receive some assistance in its plan to purchase more open space with an additional $400,000 from the Green Acres Program.

"I am very happy that the residents of North Brunswick will benefit from the recent boost in Green Acres funding," said Councilman Adam Weiss. "The residents of North Brunswick deserve the finest areas for both passive and active recreation and preservation, and these funds will help us advance faster toward the goals set by the town."

Council President Francis "Mac" Womack said that town has worked hard to buy much needed open space in the area.

"It is extremely welcome," said Womack. "Under the leadership of Tom Seilheimer, who has done a wonderful job as chairman, the township’s Open Space Committee has an aggressive plan for open space acquisition. There is still a tendency for everyone to focus on the Otken farm, and while it is an important concern, it is only a part of the total open space picture," he explained.

"If the township ultimately acquires all or part of that farm, the Green Acres funds mean savings to our Open Space Fund. But the Green Acres money can also help us acquire and preserve land along Farrington Lake," Womack continued.

The Open Space Committee has a plan to try to purchase property other than the 105-acre Otken farm off Route 130 to take care of the township’s deficiency.

"It will be wonderful to have that lakefront area properly preserved to allow easier hiking, jogging or biking while maintaining the wooded environment," Wo-mack said. "The Open Space Committee has a plan for doing just that."

Womack said he hopes that the township can succeed with the Hidden Lake properties.

"Consolidation of properties in the Hidden Lake Conservation District to allow a large park in the township’s southwestern section can also be aided by these Green Acres funds," Womack said. "And we shouldn’t forget that in addition to the Otken farm, there are other farm properties the township would very much like to acquire after reaching agreement with willing sellers."

The township condemned the Otken farm as open space earlier this year. The family has gone to court several times since July 2001 to attempt to overturn the decision.

Currently the township owns the property due to the ruling of state Superior Court Judge James P. Hurley.

However, the family is appealing Hurley’s decision.

The new Democratic council has attempted to negotiate a fair price for the land with the family through a negotiating committee. The committee has met several times since the spring, according to Womack, and is still hoping to come to a settlement with the family.