Somerset county surpasses 15,000 acres of preserved open space following hillsborough purchase

Somerset County surpasses 15,000 acres of preserved open space following Hillsborough purchase

Posted by
1 min read
July 9, 2025

HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. — Somerset County has reached a major milestone in its long-standing commitment to land conservation, surpassing 15,000 acres of preserved open space with the recent acquisition of the Hillsborough Country Club property.

The 407-acre purchase marks the county’s largest single open space acquisition in two decades and expands the Sourland Mountain Preserve to over 6,000 acres. The acquisition brings Somerset County closer to its current preservation goal of 24,000 acres, set in its 2022 Open Space Preservation Plan.

“Somerset County is consistently identified as one of the most desirable places to live in New Jersey, and our dedication to preserving open space is one core reason why,” said Deputy Director Melonie Marano.

Somerset County spans over 195,000 acres and includes downtowns, mountain ranges, farmland, and public parks. Preserved open space refers to undeveloped lands—such as forests, grasslands, streams, parks, and farms—that remain unbuilt to support recreation, agriculture, and environmental protection.

Notable properties preserved under the program include the 437-acre Neshanic Valley Golf Course, 411-acre Natirar Park, 359-acre Mountain View Park, and 247-acre Skillman Park.

“The motivated County staff who continue to champion this conservation effort does so with one important goal in mind — keeping Somerset County desirable for all — residents, students, senior citizens, visiting tourists, and businesses,” said Commissioner Paul M. Drake.

The county now oversees a network of recreational facilities including five golf courses, an environmental education center, and public parks offering trails, athletic fields, birdwatching, and fishing access.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version