The largest remaining undeveloped property in Princeton is more than 150 acres of mature oak, beech and hickory forest, and contains wetlands. It is now permanently protected, thanks to a partnership among several government agencies and nonprofits It is located on Province Line Road, in the town’s northwest corner.
The purchase price was $8.8 million from the Lanwin Development Corp. and the family of the late Bryce Thompson. The purchase is part of an initiative called “Princeton’s Emerald Necklace” that seeks to connect preserved green spaces in the town and beyond. A partnership of organizations – led by the town of Princeton and including the Friends of Princeton Open Space, Ridgeview Conservancy, The Watershed Institute, Mercer County, the state Green Acres Program and New Jersey Conservation Foundation – worked cooperatively on the acquisition. Nearly $3 million in private donations were received. The land is now jointly owned by Princeton, the Friends of Princeton Open Space, The Watershed Institute and the Ridgeview Conservancy.
It is now open to the public for passive recreation, including hiking, birding and nature observation. It is also an important habitat for endangered and threatened species, including the red-shouldered hawk and barred owl, as well as songbirds, salamanders and other species whose numbers are in steep decline.
The purchase is important since a development of large homes was previously approved on the land, despite local opposition. Approximately 4,000 trees would have been cut down on the site had the land not been preserved.
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