The New Jersey Conservation Foundation is acquiring the 835-acre Black Run Headwaters Property. Evesham has agreed to subsequently accept ownership of the property from the foundation and incorporate the property into its existing 1,300-acre Black Run Preserve.
The New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJ Conservation) recently announced it has entered into a binding contract of sale with the owners of approximately 835 acres in southwestern Evesham Township known as the Black Run Headwaters Property.
The sale ensures that the permanent preservation of the property, which includes areas where the headwaters of the township’s Black Run Preserve are located. The township has also agreed to subsequently accept ownership of the property from foundation once the process is complete.
The foundation is a nonprofit devoted to preserving land and protecting natural resources in the state’s rural, suburban, and urban landscapes. Since 1960, the nonpartisan, statewide organization has preserved more than 140,000 acres of open space, farmland and parks. It manages more than a dozen nature preserves, conducts public outreach and education programs, and advocates for sensible land use and climate policies in New Jersey.
The Black Run Preserve – located between the Marlton Lakes and Kings Grant neighborhoods – is a 1,300-acre parcel of permanently preserved land that is traversed by numerous marked hiking trails and sand roads. Recreation opportunities include hiking, trail running and nature study.
The Friends of the Black Run Preserve is a volunteer organization formed in 2012 to preserve and protect the property and Pine Barrens ecology of Black Run. The nonprofit strives to maintain the quality of its natural resources while promoting healthy outdoor activities, environmental awareness and education.
Linda Samost, a joint owner of the property has agreed – on behalf of her family’s company, Kettle Run Investments LP – with other owners to sell the property to NJ Conservation Foundation for $15 million, approximately $2.4 million less than the property’s full market value.
The township has agreed to subsequently accept ownership of the property from the foundation and incorporate it into the existing 1,300-acre Black Run Preserve, one of the state’s environmental treasures and a popular site for hiking, birdwatching, and other low-impact activities.
“We are thrilled that our property will soon be added to the Black Run Preserve through our agreement with NJ Conservation,” Samost noted. “We are eager to move forward with the project so that the community can experience and appreciate the natural beauty of this land for years to come.”
The Black Run Headwaters Property is located on the western edge of the state-designated New Jersey Pinelands Area and the federally designated Pinelands National Reserve. It has long been a conservation priority due to a high ecological value that is based on research by Pinelands Commission scientists and other experts over several decades.
Since the property contains the headwaters of Black Run, an important freshwater tributary that feeds into the Rancocas Creek, permanently protecting the land will also help protect the rest of the watershed downstream.
“We’re also deeply grateful to the Pinelands Commission, Burlington County and the New Jersey Green Acres Program for establishing a strong foundation of funding that places the property’s purchase price within reach,” said Robyn Jeney, NJ Conservation’s South Jersey regional manager.
“Although we are still finalizing the purchase, NJ Conservation and the sellers are committed to completing the work as quickly as possible to ensure the property will be permanently preserved.”
With a contract of sale now in place, the foundation and the property seller, will move forward with the due diligence process that is typical of a conservation acquisition. That process is expected to take several months due to the size of the property.
The foundation must also secure the remaining funding needed before taking ownership of the property. A fundraising campaign led by the foundation and a coalition of conservation partners will be announced soon. More information about the campaign will be available at njconservation.org.
“This agreement marks a historic milestone for Evesham Township and a victory for every resident who treasures our natural landscape,” Evesham Township Mayor Jaclyn Veasy declared. “Working to bring this property into our protected lands means more than just saving 835 acres from development. It means securing the heart of our local ecosystem for generations to come.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with Burlington County and NJ Conservation to prove that when we prioritize stewardship over sprawl, everybody wins.”
