Additional farmland and open space preserved in Medford

Medford Township officials are most pleased to announce that three parcels in the township have been permanently preserved as open space and farmland under existing state and Burlington County programs.

A large portion (almost 400 acres) of the Brick Farm/Cranberry Bogs have been acquired by the state of New Jersey under its Green Acres program. The property abuts the state’s Wharton State Park and will be added to this state park. This project required no municipal cost share by Medford Township.

The Conti Farm, a 44-acre parcel off of Chairville Road, has been approved for preservation by the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders under their farmland preservation program. Medford was approved last month by the Board of Chosen Freeholders under their park development grant program for $97,000 to utilize as Medford’s required 20 percent matching costs for the preservation of this parcel.

The Rancocas Conservancy has acquired the Sweeney property, a 40-acre parcel off of Jackson Road (near the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge). This acquisition also required no cost share from the township.

“Medford Township will remain proactive in open space and farmland preservation projects, in continued collaboration with the state, Burlington County, and non-profit agencies,” Township Manager Christopher Schultz said. “We appreciate that nearly 500 acres of added lands have been permanently preserved at no cost to Medford residents.

“Added to the already 3,500 acres of preserved land, Medford remains in the forefront of open space and farmland preservation initiatives,” he added.