Camden county OPEN SPACE and FARMLAND PRESERVATION PLAN

MAY 2004

Camden county OPEN SPACE and FARMLAND PRESERVATION PLAN

MAY 2004

The Bourse Building G 111 South Independence Mall East G Philadelphia, PA 19106-2582 G 215.592.1800 G www.dvrpc.org Acknowledgments

Developing the Camden County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Plan would not have Helen Garcia Arvin been possible without the support of numerous individuals, organizations, and agencies. Doug Griffith Special appreciation is extended to: Mayor Sue Ann Metzner Bart Mueller The Camden County Board of Freeholders: Freeholder Director Jeffrey L. Nash and Freeholders Mayor Gary Passanante Edward McDonnell, Thomas J. Gurick, Louis Cappelli Jr, Riletta L. Cream, Laurelle Cummings, Ted Pisciotta and Joseph Ripa, for supporting the preservation of open space and farmland in the county; Mayor Harry Platt Paul Schopp Doug Griffith, Director, Camden County Division of Planning, for coming up with the idea to Jack Sworaski have DVRPC conduct the Camden County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Plan and Richard Zimmerman arranging the funding; The following DVRPC staff members made significant contributions to the plan: Jack Sworaski, Director, Camden County Division of Open Space and Farmland Preservation, Patty Elkis - project manager and author for being a groundswell of open space and farmland preservation information for the county Glenn McNichol - GIS maps and being on perpetual call to provide the necessary data and details that went into the Mindy Katz (former staff) - GIS maps creation of the plan; Becky Maule - graphic design and layout Carl Barbee - printing and production Peter Fontaine, Chair of the Camden County Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee, for Theresa Southerland - printing and production providing welcomed guidance on the plan's goals and proposed open space system; The Report Cover is an artist's rendering of how Lake Worth Park, a recent county Ed Fox, Director of Smart Growth, Camden County Improvement Authority, for providing acquisition, could be developed for county residents to enjoy. The artist is from the urban thorough and insightful comments during the plan's creation, which resulted in a better final design firm of Brown and Keener Architects in Philadelphia. document; and

Paul Schopp, Camden County Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee, for sharing his expertise on the historic resources of Camden County and providing detailed comments on the draft plan.

Appreciation is also extended to the entire Camden County Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee, with special recognition extended to the following members who actively participated in the development of the plan:

Cynthia Berchtold Mayor Edward Campbell, III Robert Dobbs, Jr. Peter Fontaine

iv funding

This report was funded by the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Camden County Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Commitee through the Camden County Open Space Trust Fund, and through DVRPC. DVRPC is funded by a variety of funding sources including federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Pennsylvania and New Jersey departments of transportation, as well as by DVRPC's state and local member governments. The authors, however, are solely responsible for its findings and conclusions, which may not represent the official views or policies of the funding agencies.

Created in 1965, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is an interstate, intercounty and intercity agency that provides continuing, comprehensive and coordinated planning to shape a vision for the future growth of the Delaware Valley region. The region includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, as well as the City of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties in New Jersey. DVRPC provides technical assistance and services; conducts high priority studies that respond to the requests and demands of member state and local governments; fosters cooperation among various constituents to forge a consensus on diverse regional issues; determines and meets the needs of the private sector; and practices public outreach efforts to promote two-way communication and public awareness of regional issues and the Commission.

Our logo is adapted from the official DVRPC seal, and is designed as a stylized image of the Delaware Valley. The outer ring symbolizes the region as a whole, while the diagonal bar signifies the Delaware River. The two adjoining crescents represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey.

v TABLE OF CONTENTS

Š Executive Summary ...... viii Š Chapter 1: Introduction ...... 1 Š Chapter 2: Past, Present, and Future Open Space Needs in the County . . . . .11 Š Chapter 3: Natural and Cultural Resources Inventory ...... 27 Š Chapter 4: Proposed Open Space System ...... 49 Š Chapter 5: Farmland Preservation in Camden County ...... 69 Š Chapter 6: Action Plan and Preservation Tools ...... 79 appendices

Appendix A: Criteria Ranking for Site Prioritization ...... 90 Appendix B: Recreational Open Space Needs Analysis ...... 91 Appendix C: Inventory of Camden County Water Bodies and Watersheds . . . .93 Appendix D: Inventory of Camden County Rare Species and Ecosystems . . . . .96 Appendix E: Threat Assessment for Camden County ...... 100 Appendix F: Brownfields Table ...... 101 Appendix G: List of Grant Opportunities ...... 103 Appendix H: Stewardship Materials ...... 109 Bibliography ...... 115 maps

Map 01: Protected Open Space in Camden and Adjacent Counties ...... 15 Map 02: Protected Lands 2004 ...... 16 Map 03: Pinelands Management Areas ...... 19 Map 04: Lands Protected with County Open Space Trust Funds ...... 25 Map 05: Proposed Acquisitions ...... 26 Map 06: Base Map ...... 35 Map 07: Watersheds ...... 36 Map 08: Aquifer Recharge Areas and Confining Units ...... 37 Map 09: Prime Farmland Soils ...... 38 Map 10: Remaining Prime Farmland Soils ...... 39 Map 11: Steep Slopes ...... 40 Map 12: Wetlands ...... 41 Map 13: Floodplains ...... 42 Map 14: Natural Heritage Priority Sites ...... 43 Map 15: Groundwater Recharge ...... 44 Map 16: Wooded Areas ...... 45 Map 17: Land Use 2000 ...... 46 Map 18: Historic Resources ...... 47 Map 19: Development Threat Assessment ...... 63 Map 20: Greenways ...... 64 Map 21: Greenways with Trail System ...... 65 Map 22: Focus Areas ...... 66 Map 23: Brownfield Locations Compared to Proposed Greenways ...... 67 Map 24: Agriculture Development Areas - 2003 ...... 73 tables

Table 1: Favorite Outdoor Activities ...... 4 Table 2: Year 2003 Public Protected Open Space by Ownership ...... 14 Table 3: Balanced Land Use Guidelines ...... 24 Table 4: Remaining Prime Agricultural Soils ...... 29 Table 5: Land Use 2000 ...... 31 Table 6: Historic Resources in Camden County ...... 33 Table 7: Camden County Trails ...... 61 Table 8: Farms in Eight-Year Program ...... 72 Table 9: Camden County Municipalities’ Use of Natural Resource Protection Tools ...... 88 Executive Summary

Recognizing the prospect of dwindling To aim high by identifying all the lands open space, Camden County residents that should possibly be preserved voted overwhelmingly in support of a to meet the county's overall goal, referendum to create the Camden County even if the complete vision may Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and not be achievable due to competing Historic Preservation Trust Fund in interests and funding limitations. November, 1998. The Trust Fund raises To prioritize which areas of the an estimated $2 million per year, which, to proposed system need attention first, date, has been used to help protect about based on key factors in meeting the 860 acres of open space, to enhance 26 county's goals, as well as the measured recreational facilities, to restore 16 historic threat of conversion to other uses. properties, and to preserve two farms. The program has been so successful, and the To offer a multi-pronged approach development pressures in the county so to preserving the system, since one intense, that the county recently issued a size does not fit all, and no single $28 million bond dedicated to preserving entity can do it all. the most important remaining open lands, before they are lost to other uses. To accomplish these four items, the

plan lays out a comprehensive Proposed Stafford Farm, photo by Ken Sherman, courtesy of Trust for Public Land Where are those lands? Why were they Open Space System and Action Plan for chosen? And which are the highest Camden County that, if implemented, will priority? This plan was developed to achieve the county's goals and objectives. answer those questions and to propose The proposed open space system consists a strategy to achieve the following of 16 Greenways and 16 Focus Areas. four objectives: The Action Plan presents four tiers of preservation strategies: acquisition, To support the development of a public conservation easement, stronger land use system of open space which forever regulations, and landowner stewardship. preserves the valued environmental, In addition, the plan contains a farmland cultural, historic and scenic features of preservation element to discuss the the county and provides sufficient lands particular trends, forces and obstacles to to accommodate a variety of active farmland preservation in Camden County. and passive recreational activities.

viii chapter 1 introduction

Camden County Background Camden County is one of the most diverse counties in New Jersey in terms of its landscape, which ranges from the very urban City of Camden on the Delaware River to the wilderness of Wharton State Forest, part of the Pinelands National Reserve. In between, the county consists of small towns, first generation suburbs, newer, growing suburbs and rural/agricultural areas. Spreading across the landscape are some of South Jersey's larger creeks and streams, which are often best recognized at points where lakes have been created by man-made dams and the surrounding terrain is parkland. The southeastern, rural part of the county, is dotted with small, family truck farms. 1 ith its proximity to Philadelphia Plan Background and Purpose In December 1999 the Committee additional sections to supplement the W across the Delaware River, Camden produced the Camden County Open Space original 1999 plan. This document, County has been a major growth Recognizing the prospect of dwindling and Recreation Plan for the Camden therefore, contains most of the 1999 plan, engine in the Delaware Valley region since open space, Camden County residents County Board of Freeholders. The plan along with the additional analysis and the end of World War II. Over the last 50 voted overwhelmingly in support of presented the necessary foundation for mapping work needed to qualify for the PI years, the county has grown almost 70%, a referendum to create the Camden open space planning in the county, Program. from 300,743 people in 1950 to 508,932 County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland including an overview of need, a detailed people in 2000, making it the most densely and Historic Preservation Trust inventory of protected state, county and Trends and Forces populated county, by far, in South Jersey. Fund in November, 1998. Through this municipal protected open space, fund approximately two million dollars background on farmland preservation and The landscape of Camden County has This growth has provided a lifestyle for are raised annually to "purchase, historic preservation efforts in the county, changed dramatically over the last 70 many families that includes a single family preserve, and maintain environmentally planning goals and objectives, criteria years, from a county of concentrated house, a private yard, a multitude of sensitive lands, including open space, ranking for site prioritization, and Trust Fund development in the western half coupled shopping opportunities, and a large farmland, historic sites, and recreational application procedures. with low density and rural areas in the east, nearby job market. However, the often areas . . . ". In January 1999, the Camden to a county with few remaining rural random pattern of development has also County Board of Freeholders appointed Although the 1999 plan formed the areas. In 1970, the county was contributed to increasing traffic congestion; the Camden County Open Space Trust foundation for open space planning and approximately 36% developed, with loss of sense of place, Fund Advisory Committee the direction of Trust Fund 52,600 of its 145,586 community and vernacular Recognizing the prospect of (the committee), composed expenditures, the plan did Population and employment acres developed. Thirty heritage; lack of dwindling open space, Camden of representatives of not contain all the elements growth are positive years later, in 2000, the mobility for non-drivers; County residents voted County and local required by New Jersey county had developed deterioration of urban government, environmental Green Acres to be eligible indicators of a strong another 21,000 acres, an areas; and destruction of overwhelmingly in support of organizations, historic for the Planning Incentive economy, but what will they increase of almost 40%. natural resources, scenic a referendum to create the preservation societies, the Grant Program (PI Over the same period, the areas and farmland. Camden County Agriculture Program). The PI Program mean for remaining open population grew from Although an open space Camden County Open Space, Development Board, the offers typically larger space in the county? 456, 291 people in 1970 trust fund and plan cannot Recreation, Farmland and Camden County Board of grants, and a streamlined to 508,932 in 2000, an resolve all the issues Realtors, and interested application process, to increase of 12%. Land, generated from decades of Historic Preservation Trust citizens. The committee was those localities with dedicated open space therefore, developed at over three times the sprawl, the Camden County Fund in November, 1998. charged with assisting the funding and a qualifying open space plan. rate of population growth, an indicator of Open Space and Farmland Freeholders in developing In order to continue remaining eligible for sprawling development patterns. During Preservation Plan is guided by the Board of an Open Space and Recreation Plan, with this program, Camden County was the same time period, the county lost more Freeholder’s desire to preserve the significant establishing criteria by which candidates' required to incorporate a Needs Analysis, than half its agricultural lands, which were environmental features of the county, sites for preservation would be evaluated, Resource Assessment, Action Plan and reduced from 22,112 acres in 1970 to to protect areas of agricultural, historic and with recommending sites for Systems Map into the county open space 9,979 in 2000. This translates into the and scenic significance, and to preservation using Trust Fund monies. plan. Camden County retained the county losing over an acre a day of expand recreational opportunities for County Delaware Valley Regional Planning farmland during the 30 year period. residents where the need exists. Commission (DVRPC) to prepare these Continuing at the same rate, the county will

2 lose all its farmland by 2025 unless Employment in the county is forecasted to and the high standard of livability in protections are put into place. grow by 14% by 2025, but, again, a shift, Camden County for future generations more than an absolute gain, is taking place. to enjoy. Population forecasts to 2025 show Camden Some municipalities, such as Voorhees, County gaining 4,598 people from year Winslow, Gloucester Township and Berlin Benefits of Open Space 2000, or a 1% gain over 25 years. Township are expected to be the winners, Population growth in the county has slowed whereas many other municipalities in the There are numerous environmental, down dramatically from the county's post- western half of the county will lose jobs. scenic, recreational, economic, and even World War II boom years. Instead, there health benefits to preserving open space. is more of a population shift - the City Population and employment growth are Preserving wetlands and buffers along of Camden and the county's first positive indicators of a strong economy, but stream corridors provides natural protection from flooding, improves Development in 1930 generation suburbs are losing population and what will they mean for remaining open water quality and provides a hospitable newer, eastern suburban townships are space in the county? That depends on the area or corridor for wildlife nesting gaining - than a net gain for the county. location and design of the growth. Under and migration. Open space also This has open space trend conditions (the offers scenic relief from the built-up implications in that if first- The recreational responsibilities same low-density, landscape, provides outdoor recreational generation suburbs and random pattern of areas, preserves the integrity of historic the City of Camden are of county government fall development continues) sites and nostalgic places, and enhances made more desirable between the wilderness-oriented about 12,500 acres are people's appreciation of, attachment to, places to live and activities offered by federal and forecast to be consumed and investment in their community. work, for example, by the increases in Preserved open space raises property through improved and/or state facilities and the intense people and jobs to year values of nearby land, simply because people are willing to pay more to live closer additional open space, 2025 (DVRPC Land active recreational facilities to open space. And open space then people may be less Consumption Model improves community health, by providing Development in 1970 inclined to move to newer provided by municipalities. 2002). Under plan suburbs, thereby slowing scenario conditions down the loss of remaining open space lands (densities increase, accompanied by infill in the county. and redevelopment) only 6,500 acres would be consumed by increases in people While the population as a whole is stagnant, and jobs. In other words, smart growth can the elderly population is growing rapidly. By save 6,000 acres of woodlands and 2025, one third of the county's population will farmfields from being paved over, an area be 55 or older. The open space implications almost the size of Voorhees Township. here are that open space that appeals to older Without smart growth, the entire county generations, such as trails and scenic outside the Pinelands Management Area landscapes (which actually appeal to all age could be built-out by 2025. Smart growth, groups) must be planned for, to meet the coupled with smart conservation, can

Development in 2000 needs of a growing elderly population. instead maintain cherished open spaces Source: DVRPC 2003 Laurel Ravine Trail

3 places to exercise, an important asset corridors, wetlands buffer areas, rare and Providing recreational opportunities for in today's automobile-oriented, and endangered species habitats, and mature Camden County's residents is a increasingly overweight society. woodlands is of primary concern. All responsibility shared by all levels of In New Jersey contribute significantly to the maintenance government. Generally speaking, federal Open Space and the Environment: As of biodiversity. It is this sustained biodiversity and state responsibilities with respect to mentioned above, the preservation of open which is a determining factor in the State's recreation focus on wilderness activities space has many benefits for the environment. establishment of the aforementioned such as boating, camping, fishing, and Air and water pollution are minimized, critical Natural Heritage Priority Sites. hiking. Municipal responsibilities focus on groundwater recharge areas are protected providing facilities for more intense active and habitats for indigenous plant and animal Camden County should ensure the recreational pursuits such as baseball, species are maintained. continued survival of these environmentally basketball, football, soccer, softball, and sensitive areas as a means of maintaining swimming, in addition to playgrounds. Such The New Jersey Department of biodiversity and providing succeeding facilities are normally made available to Environmental Protection's Office generations of Camden County residents residents within a municipal park system or of Natural Lands Management (ONLM) lists the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty in cooperation with the local school district. no less than 115 rare and endangered inherent in such areas. plant and animal species which have The recreational responsibilities of county been known to exist in Camden County. Open Space and Recreation: Recreation can government fall between the wilderness- Many of these species have already been be divided into two categories: active oriented activities offered by federal and lost to development or other man-made recreation and passive recreation. state facilities and the intense active alterations of the County's natural recreational facilities provided by landscape. In compiling this list of rare Active recreation includes activities like field municipalities. As such, county parks offer a species (see Appendix D - Inventory and court sports (i.e., baseball, basketball, wide array of both active and passive of Camden County Rare Species football, soccer), swimming in pools, and activities while providing for the protection and Ecosystems), the ONLM has identified other physical activities which require the of regional environmental resources. 15 sites within Camden County as Natural construction of dedicated facilities and a Heritage Priority Sites. These sites are significant change to the landscape. A 1987 study conducted by the Regional designated because they represent "some Plan Association, the results of which were of the best remaining habitats for rare Passive recreation includes activities like published in the 1994 New Jersey species and exemplary natural communities walking, jogging, biking, camping, Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor in the State." birdwatching, environmental education, Recreation Plan (SCORP), identified fishing, historic displays, picnicking, and swimming, walking, tennis, The criteria developed by the Committee other activities or pursuits which may involve baseball/softball, and bicycling as the most and contained in Appendix A – Criteria strenuous physical exercise but do not popular outdoor recreation activities Ranking for Site Prioritization, reflects require a significant change to the landscape among New Jersey residents. The top 24 the emphasis placed on open space or extensive development of dedicated activities are listed in Table 1. Facilities preservation as a means of environmental facilities or programs to be enjoyed. associated with most of these activities protection. The protection of riparian presently exist within the Wharton State

4 Forest, the Winslow Wildlife Management exception to this finding is high-use Area, the Camden County Park System, and recreation areas where noise and light the various municipal park systems. These intrusion are problematic. This negative facilities are supplemented by those effect is avoided by the proper design and controlled by local school districts and placement of active recreation areas. private recreational concerns. The strength of the state's economy is also The Economics of Open Space: While tied to open space. Many New Jersey commonly viewed as an environmental or industries rely on open space for their recreational issue, the preservation of open continued survival. Chief among these space must also be viewed as an issue of industries are Tourism ($18 billion/year), economics. Commercial and Recreational Use of Fish and Wildlife Resources ($5.2 billion/year), The popular belief that increased residential and Agriculture ($4.0 billion/year). (1999 development translates into stabilized or Camden County Open Space and lower municipal taxes by virtue of increased Recreation Plan) tax revenues has been challenged in recent years by a number of studies, including Open Space and Farmland: Probably those conducted by the American Farmland no industry in Camden County has suffered Trust, the American Planning Association, more losses to development than and within the Delaware Valley by the agriculture. Since 1970, half the county's Heritage Conservancy in Bucks County. farmland has been lost to development. The studies concluded that single-family Moreover, the farmland which remains, with detached homes have a negative financial few exceptions, is limited to just four Horse grazing at Auwarter Farm impact on municipal budgets, as such municipalities; Berlin Borough, Berlin development represents the greatest burden Township, Waterford Township, and Historic Preservation: There are These methods include fundraising, on municipal services (police, fire, schools) Winslow Township. numerous instances where properties of solicitation of donations, and various state and infrastructure (roads, sewer, water). local historic significance have fallen prey to and federal historic preservation grants. Chapter 5 contains the Farmland development. It is mostly in the last 20 to 30 Camden County is now making Trust Fund The effect of open space on property values Preservation Element of the plan. Farmland years that concerted efforts have been made monies available to historic preservation has also been the subject of various preservation efforts in Camden County to preserve such properties. These historic groups for "bricks and mortar" restoration studies. Many have shown a direct are guided by the Camden County preservation efforts have largely been a work to historic properties. correlation between a property's proximity Agricultural Development Board (CCADB), function of municipal governments, historic to open space and increased property using the criteria and procedures set forth commissions, committees and societies, and Recognizing the inequities in evaluating values. Knowing that adjacent or nearby by the State Agriculture Development local citizen groups. applications for historic preservation within property is dedicated open space and is Committee and the CCADB. the context of the open space criteria, it was protected from future development makes These organizations have used a variety of determined that a separate and distinct the area a more desirable place to live. The methods to fund their preservation efforts. application form be used. Using the

5 application developed by the New Jersey Objectives: Such lands may be protected by easement other county departments, work towards the Historic Trust, the Committee developed an 1. Acquire by the year 2010 not less than purchase as authorized by the New Jersey same ends rather than work at odds with application form tailored to the County's 2000 additional acres of developable land Agricultural Retention and Development one another. Indeed, many plans' goals needs. It was felt that using this existing New for both the preservation of areas Act. As easement acquisitions are less include intergovernmental cooperation and Jersey application as a model would best of environmental, cultural, historic, or costly than the outright purchase of full title coordination, in recognition of the need for serve the interests of groups seeking funding scenic value and to meet regional to the farm property, the realized savings partnerships in the complex world of land by allowing them to simultaneously apply for recreational needs. can be put toward the purchase of development and open space preservation. State and County funding. additional land or other easements. A major public effort should be made to State Level Consistency: At the state Goals and Objectives conserve not less than 2,000 additional 3. Establish a network of Greenways that level, New Jersey is one of the few states in acres of land to protect the natural interconnects public open space and the country blessed with a statewide plan The 1999 Plan contained the following resources of Camden County including contributes to the conservation and public outlining how New Jersey should develop, goals and objectives, which still hold true: surface waters, groundwater recharge enjoyment of the County's environment. redevelop, and protect its environment over areas, endangered and threatened plant the next two decades. The March 2001, Goal Statement: and animal species, and scenic Greenways are elongated, and in most New Jersey State Development and To support the development views. In addition, areas instances continuous corridors of land under Redevelopment Plan (SDRP), contains eight of a public system of open At the state level, New Jersey of cultural and historic some type of formalized protection. They can major goals and strategies, which are spaces which forever significance must be follow a natural corridor such as a river or further expounded upon as statewide preserves the valued is one of the few states in the preserved for the stream, or follow a man-made corridor such policies. Although all the goals and environmental, cultural, country blessed with a enjoyment and education as a road or an abandoned railroad bed. strategies are interrelated in that together historic, and scenic features of future generations of Greenways provide recreational they provide for a comprehensive plan for of Camden County and statewide plan... Camden County residents. opportunities for pedestrians and bicyclists New Jersey's future, two of the eight goals, provides sufficient lands to Where necessary, additional while exposing them to significant features of in particular, are consistent and accommodate a variety of active acreage should be acquired and dedicated the County including areas of scenic beauty, implemented by the Camden County Open and passive recreational activities. to recreational use so as to afford natural habitats, and historic or cultural sites. Space Plan. They are Goal #2 - Conserve all Camden County residents convenient They help to maintain wildlife populations by the State's Natural Resources and Systems, Camden County should proceed in a access to common recreational amenities not extending their available habitats. and Goal #7 - Preserve and Enhance Areas thoughtful and deliberate manner to otherwise provided by local governments. Greenways can be established in rural, with Historic, Cultural, Scenic, Open expand the public holdings of open space. suburban, and urban areas. Space, and Recreation Value. The Camden In doing so, the County should work with 2. Acquire additional lands through County Open Space Plan serves to municipal officials to develop options which easement acquisition or other measures that Relationship to State, Regional, implement these goals by identifying such strike a balance between future land effectively conserve prime farm areas. County and Local Plans resources within the county and developing development and the need to preserve the strategies to protect them. additional open space and the significant Areas of prime farmland should be protected The Camden County Open Space Plan is environmental, cultural, historic, and scenic to insure both the continued economic consistent with state, regional, county, and Related to the SDRP is the NJDEP's Blueprint features of the County which represent its viability of the agricultural industry in Camden local open space plans. Such consistency is for Intelligent Growth, or BIG Map. The past, present, and future. County and to preserve the valued rural and important to evaluate and document so that BIG Map concept is a work in progress, scenic features which these areas possess. different levels of government, as well as emanating from NJDEP, that is intended to

6 clearly and accurately identify New Jersey's retention of agriculture in New Jersey. the county level, by identifying natural Space and Farmland Preservation Plan is critical natural resource areas that must be resource areas for protection; proposing an also consistent with three regional plans: preserved and protected, and to also depict 2. Recreation Policy: Continue the funding of interconnected system of greenways and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning smart-growth areas for New Jersey, where recreation facilities on state open space and recreational trails that incorporates the Commission's (DVRPC) Horizons: The Year the state wants to encourage development, recreation areas and provide funding to local Camden waterfront and other urban areas; 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan and will streamline and expedite regulatory government and conservation organizations promoting the use of partnerships between for the Delaware Valley, the Trust for permitting, and also dedicate funding for for park and recreation projects. all levels of government, land Public Lands (TPL) River to Bay Greenway, infrastructure and parks. In the fall of 2003, conservancies, and the private sector to and the National Park Service's NJDEP announced that the BIG Map would 3. Urban Open Space and Recreation: acquire and maintain open space; and Comprehensive Management Plan for the not function on its own, but that instead Provide funding for urban public open supporting funding to promote good Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and NJDEP would work with the New Jersey space, parks, and recreation areas. stewardship by land owners and local Recreational River. Office of Smart Growth (OSG) to governments to better care for the county's incorporate the concepts behind the BIG 4. State Resource Areas: Continue the parks and recreation areas. DVRPC's long-range plan includes an open Map into the SDRP and the Plan protection of State Resource Areas space element outlining a vision to preserve Endorsement Process. Upon adoption, the (Pinelands, Historic Resources, and Water Another statewide open space initiative is the the farmland, natural features, and open Camden County Open Space and Resource Lands in Camden County) "Garden State Greenways" project, a joint space identified on the land use plan map. Farmland Preservation Plan should be through land acquisition and preservation, project between the New Jersey Green Acres The map identifies an interconnected open submitted to NJDEP and OSG for their land use planning, participation in regional Department and New Jersey Conservation space network across the region, as well as consideration. projects, promotion of smart growth Foundation (NJCF). The objective of the places to remain rural and agricultural in policies, and continued funding to local initiative is to create a statewide vision for character. The open space network includes Also at the state level, the New Jersey governments and conservation groups. open space in New Jersey, to provide a environmentally sensitive steam corridors, Department of Environmental Protection's planning tool for identifying open space as well as wetlands, woodlands, and 5. Greenways: Promote greenway planning Green Acres Program prepares the New priorities and connections, and to facilitate upland habitat areas that provide an and development statewide. Jersey Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor conservation efforts among different environment for plants and animals. The Recreation Plan (SCORP) to specifically conservation entities. The project uses GIS network proposes open space that can be 6. Partnerships: Continue to partner in guide the expenditure of state and federal data to synthesize environmentally significant used for both natural resource protection cooperative projects with local governments funds for open space and recreation open space hubs and greenway and to meet the recreational needs of the and the private sector. projects. The most recent SCORP was connections. NJCF shared its data for growing population. As a county, rather adopted in March of 2003, and contains Camden County with DVRPC, which used than regional plan, the Camden County 7. Stewardship: Provide funding for the the following seven issues and policy the GIS layers to help identify the two major Open Space and Farmland Preservation operation and maintenance of state public types of proposed open space in the plan: Plan is more detailed, but a visual statements that are necessary to address, in open space and recreation areas and to order to meet the current and projected Proposed Focus Areas and Proposed comparison of the two plan maps shows a provide funding to local governments and Greenways. Since this initiative was a direct high degree of consistency. The regional future public open space and recreation conservation organizations for the needs in New Jersey: data input to the plan, it is described in more plan is especially useful to show where development and rehabilitation of park and detail in Chapter Four - Proposed Open connections beyond the county border recreation areas. Space System. 1. Land Preservation Policy: Continue to should be made. preserve land to protect water resources, The Camden County Open Space and Regional Consistency: In addition to the The Trust for Public Land, a private nonprofit biodiversity, provide statewide public Farmland Preservation Plan serves to state plans, the Camden County Open land conservation organization working recreation opportunities, and for the implement all seven statewide policies, at

7 tributaries became part of the National 3. Land Use: Maintain existing land Wild and Scenic Rivers system. The Wild uses and develop future land uses that and Scenic Rivers Act was established to are compatible with protection and protect selected rivers in free-flowing enhancement of the river. condition and to recognize their importance to our cultural and natural heritage. To 4. Recreation: Enhance the free-flowing qualify for this protection, the Wild and character and conditions for appropriate Scenic Rivers Act requires that rivers must recreational uses of the river. not only be free flowing, but also relatively undeveloped and must possess one or 5. Resources Protection: Enhance the more "outstandingly remarkable" scenic, natural, cultural and scenic resources of the recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, river corridor, and recognize their historic, cultural, or other similar values. relationship to a large ecosystem for today's (Comprehensive Management Plan for and future generations. the Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River, National Park A great deal of attention in terms of Service, 2000). inventorying existing conditions, soliciting public input, and proposing management During the wild and scenic study and strategies has been put into the Great Egg planning process, the study partners (12 Harbor study. The Camden County Open municipalities and four counties - Winslow Space Plan will utilize the information on Township is the only community in Camden the Winslow Township portion of the study County) reached consensus on five goals as where applicable, and strive to reinforce the the framework for both the Local River wild and scenic study goals through open nationwide since 1972 to conserve land for traverse the length of Camden County Management Plans and the Comprehensive space preservation recommendations. public use, initiated the Delaware River to largely along the county's North and South Management Plan. The five major Barnegat Bay (River to Bay) Greenway Branches of the Cooper River. The goals are: County Level Consistency: Camden project in early 2001. The vision of the Camden County Open Space Plan builds County's Master Plan dates back to a River to Bay Greenway is of a multi-use on the work of the River to Bay Framework 1. Public Awareness: Work toward public 1972 document titled "Land Use Plan - recreational route that will span 70 miles of and Concept Plan to help implement this education and awareness of the valuable Comprehensive Planning Program, southern New Jersey to link the Delaware regional vision. natural, cultural, scenic, and recreational Camden County, New Jersey." The Plan River to the Barnegat Bay, providing resources of the Great Egg Harbor River states 19 "Goals and Planning Values," six linkages between existing and proposed Another conservation related effort in corridor and watershed. of which relate to open space and open space sites to form a green Camden County is the Comprehensive environmental protection. Those six infrastructure for urban and suburban Management Plan for the Great Egg 2. River Management: Streamline goals are: residents in Camden, Burlington, and Harbor National Scenic and Recreational existing regulations and coordinate their Ocean counties. The greenway's two major River. In October, 1992, approximately enforcement to balance the protection of 1. Encourage innovative zoning concepts proposed routes, Spine A and Spine B, 129 miles of the Great Egg Harbor and its the river and the rights of property owners. which are based upon performance standards.

8 2. Maintain and improve the County's 6. Minimize ground cover on aquifer systems and inter-municipal connected open This project is evaluating the needs and ecological condition. recharge areas. space. The current county open space and opportunities for new park creation in the City farmland preservation plan fulfills this of Camden. The effort involves a "park gap 3. Set aside areas which would provide These six goals and planning values from recommendation by proposing inter- analysis" for park and open spaces in natural breaks in our urban pattern and 1972 continue today, and are reflected municipal greenways and focus areas. Camden that illustrates how people are needed air sheds through the use of open in the current document's goals and distributed across the city relative to the space planning and preservation of our recommendations: to conserve stream The Camden Hub Plan is a study of the City distribution of parks and open space natural resources. corridors and other environmentally sensitive of Camden and 13 surrounding resources; a "needs analysis" that combines lands, to provide open space for scenic relief municipalities that are working with the demographic and spatial analysis of open 4. Conserve and protect prime agricultural and recreational purposes in the built-up Walter Rand Institute to develop a common spaces to highlight neighborhoods lands and lands in agricultural use. sections of the county, and to conserve prime development plan intended to win underserved by parks; and an "opportunities farmland and the farming industry in the recognition as a "metropolitan complex" analysis" that combines land use and 5. Protect lands at the headwaters of county county. The 1972 Land Use Plan map is under the New Jersey State Plan. As of the community development information to streams to sustain stream flow. shown here. summer of 2003, the Hub Plan consisted of demonstrate potential economic and social a series of maps indicating land use leverage that could be gained from More up-to-date than the Master Plan is the recommendations, but a draft narrative was integrating new parks into other community Camden County Cross-Acceptance II Report not yet available. However, according to revitalization efforts. This project of 1999. This report was required to respond discussions with staff at the Camden County complements the Camden County Open to the New Jersey State Development and Improvement Authority, Space Plan well by Redevelopment Plan Cross-Acceptance II who are overseeing Within Camden County, four identifying the needs and process. Cross-Acceptance is the method by development of the opportunities for parks which the State Planning Commission and the plan, the plan will municipalities - City of Camden, and other open space Office of State Planning obtained information recommend improvement Cherry Hill Township, Voorhees amenities at a much about the level of consistency attained of existing open spaces, smaller scale. Providing between the NJSDRP and the plans of local, maximizing new open Township, and Gibbsboro Borough - more open space county, and regional entities. The report is a space opportunities, have adopted their own open space amenities in urban areas, comprehensive examination of the degree to better storm water and greenway plan and therefore making which municipal and county plans and management, and them more livable projects have incorporated the various brownfield remediation communities, is reasoned provisions of the State Plan, and a detailed list and redevelopment along the Delaware to slow down the tide of suburban sprawl of issues and recommendations regarding River, North and South Branches of the experienced in the other half of the county. those findings. With respect to open space Cooper River, and North and South Branches planning and protection, the 1999 plan of Newton Creek. These policies are all The DVRPC is also conducting the "Central states that Camden County planning and consistent with this Open Space Plan, which Camden County Bicycling Master Plan" for activities are consistent with the goals, makes many of the same recommendations. six municipalities in Camden County: Berlin, objectives, and concepts of the NJSDRP, but Cherry Hill and Voorhees Townships, and could be improved by placing increased Another, more recent TPL effort in Camden Berlin, Gibbsboro, and Lindenwold Camden County Master Plan 1972 Image courtesy of Camden County Improvement Authority emphasis on the development of greenway County is the Camden Greenprinting Project. Boroughs. The bicycle plan will address the

9 needs of all classes of users, and will include Planning Process and Partners Open Space and Farmland Preservation, Public meetings also took place to inform a capital improvements program and design the Camden County Division of Planning, and shape the 1999 plan. On April 12, standards for on-road facilities and The Camden County Open Space and and the Camden County Improvement 1999 a public hearing co-sponsored by the proposed trails. Bicycle parking and safety Farmland Preservation Plan involved Authority took place to keep abreast of Camden County Open Space Trust Fund education needs will also be covered. The extensive mapping, data collection and current county open space priorities, issues Advisory Committee and the Environmental bike plan will follow the open space plan, analysis, interagency coordination, and five and related efforts. The Camden County Commission of Camden County was held and will reference the open space plan's public presentations. Agriculture Development Board (CCADB), to receive comments from the public. Later trail recommendations, accordingly. the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, that year, on December 2, 1999, a second Mapping: A Natural and Cultural and Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service public hearing on the Plan was held. On Local Consistency: Within Camden Resource Inventory (NRI) of the county, were consulted to compile the Farmland December 16, 1999, the Camden County County, four municipalities - City of containing 10 maps, was created based on Preservation Chapter. Freeholders formally adopted the Camden Camden, Cherry Hill Township, Voorhees data from New Jersey Department of County Open Space and Recreation Plan. Township, and Gibbsboro Borough - have Environmental Protection, DVRPC, New For the current plan, six public meetings For the past four years, the Committee adopted their own open space and Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF), were held: September 26, 2002, to present has held monthly meetings which are greenway plans. Each of these plans has and several other sources. The DVRPC Year development trends and the Natural advertised and open to the public. Finally, been reviewed and the recommendations 2000 ortho-digital aerial photography and Resource Inventory; May 1, 2003, to program updates are provided in the incorporated into the county plan. For the NRI were used to create the Proposed present the preliminary proposed focus Camden County Pride newsletter distributed example, the City of Camden has proposed Greenways, and the Proposed Focus Areas areas and greenways; May 8, 2003, to countywide four times per year and a more Camden Greenways, a network of open were based entirely on the NJCF Garden present the proposed focus areas and localized newsletter distributed monthly to space connecting the Cooper River with the State Greenways data files. greenways and ways municipalities can residents of municipalities in proximity to the Delaware River. These greenways are an enhance their local open space planning; site of that month's Freeholder meeting. important part of the county-proposed Data Collection and Analysis: Land use, September 30, 2003, to present the draft greenway network in that they provide vital environmental features, historic resources, plan and receive feedback; March 25, linkages between two major waterways, other open space plans and efforts, and 2004, to present changes made to the they provide much needed green space in municipal open space protection plan; and a final public hearing is being the county's most urban city, and they ordinances were researched as they related planned for summer 2004 to adopt the provide waterfront access along the to open space protection in the county. This final plan. All except the May 8th meeting Delaware River. The Camden Greenways information, along with other concerns were public meetings of the Camden are therefore also shown on the county- and issues posed at meetings, was County Open Space Trust Fund Advisory proposed greenways map. The other three processed and interpreted in order to Committee, which were advertised as such municipal plans recommendations are also propose the most appropriate system of in newspapers and at the county building. shown on the County and Municipal open space that would meet the needs of The May 8th meeting was a special Proposed Open Space Map. Some of the current and future county residents. congregation of mayors and other local recommendations fall within county municipal officials sponsored by the proposed Greenways and Focus Areas, and Interagency Coordination and Public Environmental Commission of Camden are therefore also county priorities. Outreach: Throughout the planning County to engage more municipalities in process, meetings and discussions between local and county open space planning and DVRPC, the Camden County Division of preservation.

Bike path in Gibbsboro

10 chapter 2 Past, Present, and Future Open Space Needs in the County

Open Space Planning History Protecting open space for parks, recreation, and environmental preservation has a long history in Camden County. The Camden County Parks System can be traced back to 1927 when the newly formed Camden County Park Commission committed itself to the establishment of three parks:

The Cooper River Valley parks and boulevards from Camden to Haddonfield and beyond A riverfront park in the vicinity of Gloucester City, and, A park in the lower part of Camden County.

11 hen, as now, there was a recognition by make the human body and mind fit to T government leaders that parks and perform the serious duties of life. natural areas contribute to both the physical and emotional well-being of To a dweller of a congested city, deprived of County residents. This excerpt taken from contact with nature, a park satisfies his the preface of a 1937 publication entitled: yearning for pure air and sunshine. “Camden County Park System as Accordingly, many municipalities have constructed by Camden County Park provided space in the form of circles, Commission” confirms this fact: squares, and triangles, rich in shrubbery and flora, for the enjoyment of the citizens. "...... Out of doors, in the wide open While some of these spaces are decorative, spaces, amidst the purity and beauty of others are recreational. A popular nature, is the environment where is found conception of the utility of such spaces is to the fresh and invigorating air needed to develop the beautiful and the practical.

A park successfully developed to the intent of its purpose is a joy and a pride of the citizens; it establishes improvement, the spirit of which spreads through the adjacent area and enhances the attractiveness and Proposed in the1936 Plan: Cooper River in Collingswood... before and after value of the neighboring properties ...."

To illustrate where these parks would be located, and to plan for future parks in the county, the Camden County Parks Commission prepared a plan showing the existing and proposed park system in 1936. The 1936 plan shows the aforementioned parks, and plans for more parks along the major streams of the county. The 1936 county-proposed linear-oriented park system was ahead of its time in many ways, by recognizing the environmental, scenic, recreational, and economic benefits of creating greenways. Unfortunately, though, while the county had the vision in 1936, the vision was not carried out, and many greenway opportunities have been lost Camden County Parks Commission 1936 Plan or compromised.

12 It is also interesting to note the massive space plan. Other municipalities development plans for parks along the surely have additional lands that are deed Cooper River from the restricted as homeowner pre-World War II period As of the WINTER of 2003, 18% of association governed in the pictures on this and the county was protected as lands, but the data on the previous page. Parks, such sites was not as highly manicured state, county, or municipal available. The county social gathering places, parkland, a permanently does not have any were clearly valued preserved farm, or homeowners federally protected open over protection of natural space lands. Nine other resources, but the association lands farms in the county are ecological functions of under the eight year streams and floodplains were not protection program, but they were not yet well understood. counted here because they are not permanently protected. Current Status of Open Space: The following table shows the most up-to-date Camden County compares well to the eight inventory of protected lands, by type of other counties in the DVRPC region with ownership, in the county: respect to parks as a percent of total land, Proposed in the 1936 Plan: Cooper River in Haddonfield... before and after and as park acreage per 1,000 population. Protected Lands, March 2004 See Map 1 and Table 2. Comparing the State: 18,845 acres total number of acres in parks is not County: 2,640 acres illustrative, since counties vary greatly in Municipal: 4,491 acres total size. Instead, comparing parks as a Permanently Preserved Farms:118 acres percent of total land area, or park acreage per 1,000 population, is more telling. Homeowner Association Lands: When looking at parks as a percent of total 231 acres (HOA land coverage available area, Camden County is second only to for Voorhees Township only) Burlington County, due to the large state Total Protected: 26,325 acres holdings in the Pinelands. Looking at parks per 1,000 population, Camden County As of the winter of 2004, 18% of the also falls at the high end, with 51 acres per county was protected as state, county, 1,000 people. Burlington County is again or municipal parkland, permanently the highest, due to the large state preserved farmland, or homeowners holdings in the Pinelands, which are association lands (HOA). The HOA not readily accessible to the majority of lands were only available for Voorhees the population. However, Camden Township, as documented in their open County also falls into this category, since

13 75% of its parkland is the Wharton State Jersey owns approximately 18,600 acres of Table 2 - Year 2003 Public Protected Open Space by Ownership (acres) Forest and Winslow Wildlife Management unimproved land in Camden County. Of

Area, which are also not very accessible to this total, 18,286 acres are concentrated 2 the majority of the county's population. in Waterford and Winslow Townships. 1 Much of this acreage is dedicated open Map 2: Protected Lands 2004, shows the space within the Wharton State Forest and STATE COUNTY COUNTY FEDERAL MUNICIPAL PUBLIC PROTECTED OPEN SPACE distribution of the parks and other protected the Winslow Wildlife Management Area. PERCENT OF AREA TOTAL

lands in Camden County. It also shows golf These areas are discussed in greater PUBLIC PROTECTED PER ACREAGE 1,000 POPULATION courses and other privately-owned detail below. recreational facilities BUCKS 0 12880 8322 10363 31565 8.12% 52.8 such as the Pine Hill Boy Not included in the above a variety of facilities providing CHESTER 1290 7102 5407 6951 20750 4.29% 47.9 Scout Camp and the Pine totals, are an additional Valley Gun Club, labeled opportunities for both active and 520 acres, all in Winslow DELAWARE 726 2683 844 5197 9450 8.02% 17.2 as private recreational passive recreation can be found Township, which are MONTGOMERY 2166 4349 5920 10981 23416 7.57% 31.2 lands. These private in all types of parks throughout preserved as open space open spaces serve through the New Jersey PHILADELPHIA 365 282 8126 1360 10133 11.72% 6.7 important scenic and the County. Natural Lands Trust. recreational functions, PA TOTAL 4547 27296 28619 34852 95314 6.88% 24.8 but they usually do not have conservation easements, and could be converted to 1. WHARTON STATE FOREST: BURLINGTON 4001 129570 2029 10731 146331 28.42% 345.6 other uses, based on their zoning. These The Wharton State Forest is the largest CAMDEN 0 18845 2640 4491 25976 17.84% 51.0 lands are shown on the map because they single tract of land within the New Jersey State can provide important links or serve as Park system containing 110,000 acres in GLOUCESTER 0 5245 1699 4037 10981 5.28% 43.1 anchors in greenways. There are 1,574 Atlantic, Burlington, and Camden Counties. acres of golf courses in the county, A total of 14,310 acres of the park lie within MERCER 0 3642 7982 7567 19191 13.28% 54.7 including the world-class Pine Valley, and Camden County with 13,771 acres in NJ TOTAL 4001 157302 14350 26826 202479 20.2% 131.4 304 acres of other privately owned Waterford and 539 acres in Winslow recreational lands. Township. REGION TOTAL 8548 185098 42969 61678 297793 12.51% 55.2

Source: DVRPC 2003. All data was acquired from the respective county planning commissions with the exception of the following: Bucks County As evidenced in the park descriptions that Purchased from the estate of Joseph county parkland data was obtained from the Bucks County Dept. of Parks and Recreation; the Fairmount Parks Commission provided county parkland data for Philadelphia; and partial state lands data for Burlington County was furnished by NJ DEP. Population and county acreage was obtained follow, a variety of facilities providing Wharton, a Philadelphia industrialist and from the U.S. Census Bureau. opportunities for both active and passive financier in 1954 and 1955, the majority of NOTES: 1 This calculation is based on county land area only (water area is not included). Source: U.S. Census Bureau recreation can be found in all types of parks the area has remained undeveloped to 2 This calculation uses actual population figures from the 2000 U.S. Census. Source: U.S. Census Bureau throughout the County. preserve the forest's natural habitat. Recreational opportunities are limited to Park Profiles hiking and horseback riding within the Camden County portion of the Forest, State Open Space: The State of New although facilities for camping, swimming,

14 INSERT 11”X17” MAP 1: PROTECTED OPEN SPACE.....COUNTIES

15 INSERT 11”X17” MAP 2: PROTECTED LANDS 2004

16 and picnicking are located nearby at Atsion in five municipalities: Berlin Borough, actively applying the Open Space Trust White Horse Pike, New Freedom Road, and Lake in Burlington County. Berlin Township, Chesilhurst, Waterford, Fund to preserve new properties, so this Park Drive. and Winslow. county parkland number is constantly FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES 2. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS: growing. The eight properties that have Environmental Studies Center a.) Pennsauken Access Area: A 0.68 While development is not prohibited within been preserved with the Trust Fund but have 2 Softball Fields acre site along the Delaware River, this area the Pinelands, it is managed by the not yet been improved with park facilities 2 Lighted Tennis Courts provides facilities for fishing and boating. Pinelands Comprehensive Management are described at the end of the inventory. 2 Playgrounds Plan (CMP). The CMP divides the Pinelands 1 Sand Volleyball Court b.) Rowands Pond: A 19.3 acre site in into nine Management Areas: Agricultural As evidenced in the park descriptions that 1 Bike/Jogging Path - 0.78 miles Clementon, this wildlife management Protection Areas, Special Agricultural follow, a variety of facilities providing 1 Basketball Court area provides facilities for canoeing and Production Areas, Preservation Areas, opportunities for both active and passive 1 Nature Trail fishing on site. Forest Areas, Military and Federal recreation can be found in parks 1 In-Line Hockey Court Installation Areas, Rural Development throughout the County. Hiking - ~ 0.5 miles of trails c.) Winslow Wildlife Management Area: Areas, Regional Growth Areas, Pinelands Fishing One of 107 state-owned wildlife Towns and Pinelands Villages. All but 1. BERLIN PARK (152 acres on Great Egg Parking management areas around the State, the Military and Federal Installation Areas and Harbor River): Berlin Park is located in 3 Picnic Groves Winslow Wildlife Management area Pinelands Towns are represented within Berlin Borough and is bounded by the encompasses 3,967 acres in Winslow Camden County. Both the Wharton State Township (additional acreage is in Monroe Forest and the Winslow Wildlife Township, Gloucester County). On-site Management Area are located within the activities include biking, birdwatching, Pinelands. See Map 3 for the Pinelands canoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, Management Areas. hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and target shooting (archery, rifle, and shotgun). The Pinelands is home to more than 1,200 Additional property acquisition is being plant and animal species of which almost investigated which would increase the total 600 are threatened or endangered. It acreage of this area to more than 4,000 is also underlain by a 17-trillion gallon acres. aquifer, making it the protector of one of the largest freshwater aquifers in 3. THE PINELANDS: The Pinelands North America. National Reserve ("The Pinelands"), consisting of some 1.1 million acres in County Open Space: As of the winter of seven counties, is the largest "open space" 2004, the Camden County Park System along the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard between consists of 19 parks and eight new Boston and Washington DC. Approximately properties that are to become county parks one third of this acreage is publicly owned encompassing approximately 2,640 acres. with the remaining two thirds being The County Open Space Trust Fund privately held. A total of 54,340 acres Advisory Committee and the Camden of the Pinelands lie within Camden County County Board of Freeholders have been A day out at Challenge Grove Park, photo courtesy of Camden County Parks Department

17 Environmental Studies Center: The is bounded by North and South Park Drives, FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES Environmental Studies Center (ESC) offers a Route 130, and Grove Street. 2 Softball Fields variety of educational programs and 2 Basketball Courts informational services to county residents. FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES 1 Baseball Field The ESC houses a reference library and 2 Softball Fields 8 Tennis Courts teacher resource collection on natural 1 Playground - William G. Rohrer Children's 1 Open Play Field history and environmental issues to help Playground 2 Playgrounds teachers integrate environmental lessons 1 Cross-Country Course 1 Spray Pool into the curriculum, develop school-site 4 Volleyball Courts 1 Pavilion environmental study areas, and conduct 1 Restaurant 1 Bike/Jogging Path - 1.5 miles on-site nature programs. 1 Miniature Golf Course 1 Driving Range 5. MARIA BARNABY GREENWALD Roller hockey at Haddon Lake Park, 2. CHALLENGE GROVE (17 acres along 1 1/4 mile Cinder Track MEMORIAL PARK (47 acres along Cooper photo courtesy of Camden County Parks Department Cooper River): Challenge Grove is located 1 Yacht Club River): Greenwald Park is located in Cherry in Cherry Hill and is bounded by the 1 Stadium - Jack Curtis Stadium Hill and is bounded by Park Boulevard, Cooper River and Caldwell and Borton Mill 1 Dog Run Grove Street and Kings Highway. Roads. 1 Multi-Purpose Field Fishing FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES 1 Bike/Jogging Path - 5.15 miles 1 Pavilion 4 Picnic areas 1 Softball Field 1 Boat Launch Area - suitable for trailer and 1 Bike/Jogging Path car-top boats. No gas motors. 1 Track 1/4 mile Bio-filter Wetland 1 Long Jump Indoor Restrooms 2 Playgrounds Sculpture Garden 1 Open Pavilion with indoor restrooms Memorial Grove 3 Picnic Areas Fitness Quad Cooper River hosts many prestigious rowing 1 Basketball Court events. The river provides ideal rowing Bus Parking Lot conditions including a world-class 1 Landscaped Garden Olympic-distance 2000 meter narrow and Bocci Courts sheltered straightaway. A new boathouse is Pathways connecting all facilities being constructed on North Park Drive.

3. COOPER RIVER PARK (347 acres 4. DUDLEY GRANGE PARK (21 acres): along Cooper River): Cooper River Park Dudley Grange is located in Camden City runs through Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, and is bounded by Westfield Avenue, and Collingswood, and Haddon Township and Federal, 32nd, and Dudley Streets. Challenge Grove Park, photo courtesy of Camden County Parks Department

18 INSERT 11”X17” MAP 3: PINELANDS MANAGEMENT AREAS

19 BLANK PAGE BACKSIDE OF 11’X17” MAP 3: PINELANDS MANAGEMENT AREAS

20 FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES either side of the South Branch of the 7. HOPKINS POND (33 acres): Hopkins Hiking 1 Softball Field Newton Creek. Pond is located in Haddonfield on both STAR Building (Safe Teen and Adolescent 1 Parks Administration Building sides of Hopkins Lane. Recreation Program) 4 Volleyball Courts FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES 2 Picnic Areas 1 Softball Field FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES 10. NEW CAMDEN PARK (24 acres on 1 Playground 1 Basketball Court Fishing the Cooper River): New Camden Park is 1 Bike/Jogging Path - 1.2 miles 2 Sand Volleyball Courts Bird Sanctuary located in Camden and is bounded by 1 Cross Country Course 1 In-Line Hockey Court Natural History Tree Trail Wildwood Avenue, Park Boulevard, Baird 1 Watchable Wildlife Nature Trail 3 Playground Areas Boulevard and Line Street, and the Cooper Picnic Areas at all playgrounds 8. KIRKWOOD LAKE (35 acres): Kirkwood River. 6. HADDON LAKE PARK (79 acres along 1 Cross-Country Trail Lake is located in Lindenwold and is South Branch of the Newton Creek and 3 Pavilions bounded by Glendale Road, Washington FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES encompassing Haddon Lake): Haddon Lake 1 Outdoor Amphitheater Avenue, and Lakeview Avenue. 1 Softball Field Park is located in Haddon Heights, 1 Bike/Jogging Path - 3.39 miles 1 Shuffleboard Court Audubon, and Mt. Ephraim and runs from Fishing FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES 1 Handball Wall Station and 10th Avenues to Valley Road on Public Boat Launch (small craft only) Walking Trail 1 Open Play Field Fishing 2 Tennis Courts 1 Playground 9. NEW BROOKLYN PARK (758 acres Bike Path - .5 miles along Great Egg Harbor and New Brooklyn Lake): New Brooklyn Park is located in 11. NEWTON LAKE PARK (103 acres on Winslow Township between New Freedom Newton Lake and Newton Creek): Newton and New Brooklyn Roads, north of the Lake Park is located in Collingswood, Atlantic City Expressway, east of Route 536. Oaklyn, and Haddon Township and runs from Cuthbert Boulevard to the White FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES Horse Pike on either side of Newton Lake. 1 Softball Field 1 Pavilion FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES 2 Playgrounds 1 Matrimony Garden 1 Sand Volleyball Court 2 Playground Areas Outdoor Amphitheater 3 Picnic Areas 1 In-Line Hockey Court 1 Boat Ramp - small car top only Canoe Launch 3 Fishing Piers 2 Picnic Areas 1 Bike/Jogging Path - 3.25 miles Bike Path - 1.22 miles Parking 12. PENNYPACKER PARK (32 acres on Fishing Cooper River, Hopkins Pond and Driscoll Boating Pond): Pennypacker Park is located in Fishing at Hopkins Pond, photo courtesy of Camden County Parks Department

21 Haddonfield and is bounded by Kings 16. SILVER LAKE PARK (16 acres on Silver 1 Marina with 50 slips Laurel Ravine (63 Acres on Mason Run Highway, Park Boulevard, and Grove Street. Lake): Silver Lake Park is located in Fishing tributary of the North Branch of the Big Clementon and is bounded by Trout Run, Timber): Laurel Ravine is a beautiful, heavily FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES Silver Lake, Ohio, and Higgins Avenues. New County Acquisitions: Since the wooded parcel that connects with municipal Pennypacker Park contains the site of passage of the 1998 Open Space Trust parkland on the North Branch of the Big Hadrosaurus Foulkii Leidy, which is listed on 17. VON NIEDA PARK (19 acres): Von Fund, the county has used the funds to Timber Creek where it forms the boundary the National Register of Historic Places as a Neida Park is located in Camden City and preserve eight county properties (plus nine between Lindenwold and Gloucester National Historic landmark. is bounded by 29th Street, Lois Avenue, municipal parks and two farms), as shown Townships. The property contains a trail Harrison Street, and Arthur and Reeves on MAP 4 - Lands Protected with County system wooven throughout it. 13. PILLINGS LAKE (18 acres on North Avenues. Open Space Trust Funds. The eight county Branch of the Big Timber Creek): Pillings properties are: Slims Ranch and Hill Property (120+ Lake is located in Clementon Borough just FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES acres on the North Branch of the Big Timber north of Atlantic Avenue. There are no 2 Softball Fields Kelly, Lange, and Hannigan Properties Creek): Slims Ranch was a former facilities or activities. 4 Basketball Courts (1.1, 4.0, and 2.3 acres respectively on horseback riding facility and is located in 1 Baseball Field Trout Run, tributary of North Branch of Big Gloucester Township. It provides beautiful 14. PYNE POYNT PARK (15 acres on the 2 Playgrounds Timber Creek): These small parcels are views on a cliff overlooking the North Delaware River): Pyne Point Park is located 1 Soccer Field located in Berlin Borough at the headwaters Branch of the Big Timber, and also provides in Camden and is bounded by the 2 T-Ball Fields of Trout Run. The properties are adjacent to an opportunity to construct a natural Delaware River, 6th, 7th, and Erie Streets. 1 Hard Court Surface Play Area Lake Worth, and are wooded with a trail amphitheater, based on the natural 1 Bike Path - .33 miles accessible from the adjacent street. contours found on the site. The wooded FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES 1 Lighted Tennis Court portion of the property (most of Hill 2 Softball Fields Lake Worth (43 acres on Trout Run): Lake Property) contains dirt roadways that lead 2 Basketball Courts 18. WALLWORTH PARK (13 acres on Worth was previously a private swimming down to the creek. 1 Baseball Field Evans Pond): Wallworth Park is located in and picnicking facility located at the 1 Spray Pool Cherry Hill and Haddonfield and is southern edge of Lindenwold Borough. The Municipal Open Space: Municipal parks 1 Handball Wall bounded by Kings Highway, Park only facilities that remain are a large typically provide active recreational Boulevard, Caldwell Road, and Borton Mill pavilion and the parking area. Vegetation facilities, such as ballfields, tennis courts, 15. REVEREND EVERS PARK (45 acres Road. has grown into the lake. Lake Worth could and playgrounds, well-distributed on the North Branch of Newton Creek): FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES be improved to offer canoeing and throughout a municipality's residential Reverend Evers Park is located in Camden 1 Bike/Jogging Path - .3 miles kayaking on the lake and a trail system for neighborhoods. In this way, residents can City and is bounded by Lake Shore Drive, hiking and biking. The report's cover have easy access to a wide array of outdoor Morgan Street, Route 676, Tuckahoe Road, 19. DR. ULYSSES S. WIGGINS rendering shows what Lake Worth could recreation pursuits, close to home. An and Mt. Ephraim Avenue. WATERFRONT PARK look like with park improvements. inventory of municipal parks and facilities is (51 acres on Delaware River): Wiggins Park in the 1999 Camden County Open Space FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES is located in Camden City and is bounded Lake Avenue (9 acres on tributary to North and Recreation Plan. 8 Basketball Courts by the Delaware River, Front Street, Branch of Big Timber): The Lake Avenue Delaware Avenue, and Mickle Boulevard. 1 Playground Property is adjacent to Pillings Lake Park, a Private recreational facilities and those 2 Softball Fields municipal park in Clementon Borough. found on school property were not included FACILITIES / ACTIVITIES 1 Multi-Purpose Field The property is heavily wooded with a trail in the inventory as they do not meet the 1 Riverstage system woven throughout it. definition of dedicated open space. 1 Promenade

22 However, it is acknowledged that such In concept, the proposed greenway system around the municipality and permanently reach a consensus as to how much facilities are valuable assets in meeting local will provide a continuous recreation demarcate it from surrounding parkland is optimal for their needs based and regional needs. and open space system along the municipalities. The acquisition of these lands on an evaluation of their recreational aforementioned Cooper and Delaware River and public easements, involving 22 separate needs, resources, and land use patterns. Municiple Greenways: Greenways provide waterfronts, utilizing eight existing city tracts, will quadruple the Borough's existing No single standard can categorically opportunities for both recreation and and county parks (Cooper River, Farnham, open space and will serve to link its parks, determine the best quantitative goal for the management of environmentally Camden, Cornelius Martin, Pyne Poynt, natural reserves, cultural features, and Camden County, rather, all of the above sensitive lands. The development of 22nd and Harrison, von Nieda, historic sites, including the historic Old Egg factors must be taken into account. greenways, along stream corridors in and Wiggins) and other potential shoreline Harbor stagecoach road. particular, can aid in stream bank open space. Nevertheless, DVRPC did conduct stabilization, sediment control, nutrient Lands Protected with County Open Space a recreational open space needs analysis removal, water temperature Proposed improvements Trust Funds: Map 4 shows the 18 properties, for the county using three different control, and the Based on trends and forces, include the development of to date, protected through the Camden methods: a population-based method preservation of wildlife passive waterfront recreation County Open Space Trust based on National Park and Recreation habitats. how much open space is adjacent to the city's Fund. Eight of the properties Association work, a land- needed? Unfortunately, The county previously set a use method from the NJ The following examples are proposed business park are maintained by the county, there is no simple or single in North Camden and a nine are designated as goal, in 1999, of preserving SCORP, and an adjusted used to illustrate the concept land-use method based on 9.5-mile linear waterfront municipal parks, and two are of greenways development at way to make such a not less than 2,000 acres developed land constraints. bikeway/walkway connecting farms. (One property, the the municipal level: All three yield very different determination. various park facilities Stafford Farm, was preserved by 2010. results. The primary and also serving to increase as both a municiple park and Camden Greenways Project: difference between the approaches is that security, maintenance and community access a preserved farm) Together, these lands, The Camden Greenways Project the population-based method sets a goal encompasses the Cooper River, Newton to these parks. along with two state acquisitions that for a finite period of time, based on current Creek, and North Shore Delaware River the county facilitated, total approximately or forecasted population, while the land- waterfronts and involves four distinct City Gibbsboro Greenways Network: The 860 acres. use standards set their goals in perpetuity, neighborhoods; Parkside, North Camden, Borough of Gibbsboro, an acknowledged recognizing that land is finite and any East Camden, and Cramer Hill. leader in open space preservation, has Current Proposed Acquisitions through the preservation efforts now will benefit all proposed the establishment of a greenway Camden County Open Space Trust Fund generations to follow. None of the The city is being assisted in its efforts by network within the municipality as part of its Program: Map 5 shows six properties following methods, however, relate goals to Camden Greenways Inc., a nonprofit Master Plan. The Borough has received proposed for acquisition or development the natural resources of the county, nor do organization with representatives from several a $1,000,000 grant and loan from the New rights through the Trust Fund, totaling they establish standards for specific city departments, the Camden County Jersey Green Acres Program to establish this another 350 acres (approximately). recreation facilities such as swimming pools Division of Open Space and Farmland network. When completed, this network will or tennis courts. These assessments are for Preservation, neighborhood associations, add 218 acres* to the Borough's open space Future Open Space Needs: Based on acres of recreational open space only, with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, inventory and will provide a greenbelt trends and forces, how much open actual uses determined later. In addition, the Trust for Public Land, the of land which will make a complete circuit space is needed? Unfortunately, there the results below are for county parkland Delaware Riverkeeper Network, and various is no simple or single way to make only. There are different requirements, and other groups. * based on the Recreation Element of the Gibbsboro results, for federal, state, and municipal Master Plan dated November 14, 1995 such a determination. Ultimately, communities such as Camden County must parklands, but, as this is a county open

23 built on work of the National Recreation and However, the acquisition of farmland and have been awarded funding for recreational Table 3 : Balanced Land Use Guidelines Park Association. open space for conservation purposes will not needs. Trust fund monies have been allocated reduce the "recreational deficit" indicated for development of or enhancements to Municipal Level County Park Requirements: 3,927 acres from the population needs analysis, and the municipal recreational centers, purchases of 3% of developed and developable area County Deficit: -1,327 acres county cannot totally erase this deficit through playground equipment, improvements to of the municipality* the acquisition of additional land alone. courts and fields, installations of gazebos and New Jersey Balanced Land Use Rather, Camden County should seek to fences, plantings of trees, construction of Guidelines Method* County Level address recreational needs in those areas of trails and promenades, and accessibility 7% County Goal: 7,618 acres the county where a critical shortfall exists, and improvements for the disabled. These 7% of developed and developable area County Deficit: -5,307 acres should strive to develop passive recreational recreational facility enhancements will of the county* opportunities on lands acquired with Trust expand and enhance the utilization of these New Jersey Balanced Land Use Fund monies, where appropriate. Improved facilities, significantly improving the quality of Guidelines, Adjusted Method* inter-municipal and inter-agency cooperation life in Camden County communities. The County Goal of 7% Remaining State Level can also help relieve recreational deficits county should continue to work with Developable: 3,556 acres 10% of the area of the state municipalities which benefit from these new The provision of local recreational facilities * The New Jersey Balanced Land Use Guidelines and or expanded facilities with regard to their Adjusted Guidelines Maethods are based on Land Use and improves the quality of life in communities, administration and maintenance. park data from 2002. The methods do not incorporate the and is an especially important feature in Federal Level County’s most recent acquistions, but this does not densely developed areas where private open The county's 1999 goal of preserving not less significantly affect the results 4% of the area of the state space is more limited. Neighborhood parks than 2,000 acres by 2010 is consistent with The county previously set a goal, in 1999, of with playgrounds, ball fields and courts, the population-based open space gazebos and picnic areas, and trails provide recreational needs method above. To meet * developable areas exclude slopes over 12%, preserving not less than 2,000 acres by wetlands, low density areas of the Pinelands, 2010. This 2,000-acre goal coincided well grounds for children and neighbors to have population needs, this goal makes sense and Federal and State owned open space with the population-based analysis impromptu meetings or organized sports and in that the county's population is leveling off conducted at that time, which was also about events; both necessary features for people to at a 1% growth rate over 25 years. 2,000 acres. Since then, the Trust Fund and make connections and feel part of a The land-use based methods demand higher other sources have been used to create or community. Local parks also provide a goals, with the first land use guideline method space plan, only the county results are expand county parkland by almost 700 mechanism for healthy outdoor exercise, an providing the most challenging goal of over detailed here. See Appendix B for complete acres, thereby bringing the population-based increasingly important need with today's high 5,300 acres, and the second, adjusted tables of methods' results, including the deficit of county parkland down to the current rates of obesity, even among school-age method, providing a more achievable goal of federal and state deficits. measured deficit of 1,327 acres. The county children. However, to attract people and 3,550 acres. In any case, these quantitative trust fund program was also used to protect fulfill their purpose, local parks must be assessments are meant to be guidelines only. Year 2004 Protected Open Space about 330 acres of land that became new or considered safe, well-maintained, scenic, and They do not incorporate data on critical in Camden County expanded municipal and state parklands, otherwise appealing. natural resources, waterfront access, Total Park Area: 25,976 acres plus two farms. A total of about 860 acres greenway opportunities, and distribution of Recognizing the importance of recreational County Parklands: 2,640 acres have been protected, over a four-year period, open space. To ensure that open space goals facilities in local parks, Camden County % of Total Area: 17.84% using the county trust fund program. are connected to these other important makes a minimum of 5% of Trust Fund Maintaining the rate of about 215 acres per considerations, the Natural and Cultural monies available for enhancements to Park Requirements to 2025 year, the county will be able to achieve its Resource Inventory in Chapter Three and the existing recreational facilities. As of the fall of (Population-BBased Method) goal of 2,000 acres by 2010. greenway and focus area analysis of Chapter DVRPC population density-based method 2003, 30 of the county’s 37 municipalities Four were conducted.

24 INSERT 11”X17” MAP 4: LANDS PROTECTED.... FUNDS

25 INSERT11”X17” MAP 5: PROPOSED ACQUISITIONS

26 chapter 3 NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY

A Natural and Cultural Resources Inventory is a compilation of text and mapped information about the natural and cultural resource characteristics and environmental features of a place. The inventory identifies critical natural and cultural resources and provides a major input to the Proposed Open Space maps. The following series of maps (beginning with a Base Map of the local street network for referencing feature's locations) and narrative describes the environmental conditions in the county and why they are important to preserve.

27 he cultural resource inventory consists of Setting: The Natural It was laid down by the ocean and consists Watersheds: A watershed is any area of T mapping the location and names of Environment of Camden County of unconsolidated deposit of quartz sand land that drains into a common water body historic resources from the National and and minor gravel. As glaciers melted and such as a stream, river, lake, or wetland. State Registers of Historic Places, along with Geology: Camden County occupies reformed and sea level rose and fell, layers Each watershed is separated from other some other historic resource survey work 145,586 acres in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of marine sediment were deposited over watersheds by high points in the terrain, carried out by a consultant for the county. physiographic province of New Jersey. The much of the earlier strata. Outer Coastal such as hills and ridges. A watershed Historic resources were included in the state is divided into four such provinces, Plain soils are less fertile than those of the includes not only the water body itself, but inventory and mapping because their ranging from the rocky terrain of the Ridge Inner Coastal Plain and do not hold water also the entire land area that drains into it. preservation, especially in their original and Valley Province at one extreme to the as well. They become progressively less rich Each watershed is a dynamic and unique settings, is also important to the sands of the coast at the other. The Atlantic as one goes east, to the poor agricultural place, where natural resources such as soil, attractiveness and livability of the county, Coastal Plain is the most southerly of these soils of the Pine Barrens, which are sandy, water, air, plants, and animal interact in a and because part of the Open Space Trust four provinces in New Jersey. The region is acidic, and prone to dryness because complex web. Fund is dedicated toward historic characterized by young, weak, rainwater drains through them so rapidly. preservation. unconsolidated sediments consisting of There are seven watersheds that are wholly alternating layers of clay, silt, sand, and Geology also determines stream or partially within Camden County. See gravel. The layers of sand and gravel are characteristics. Waterways in the Coastal Map 7. Two of these consist of the aquifers and the layers composed Plain have sandy streambeds and gentle headwater streams of two large river predominantly of silts and clays are slopes, especially in comparison to those in systems that flow east to the Atlantic Ocean: confining units. north Jersey. Streamflow is less impeded The Mullica River and the Great Egg than in rocky-bottom Harbor watersheds. The The county is divided into the Inner and Outer streams where friction There are seven watersheds other five have streams Coastal Plain regions, with the dividing line between the water and that flow westward to the between these two segments represented by a the channel plays a that are wholly or partially Delaware River, and are belt of low hills called a cuesta, running role. Stream velocity within Camden County. part of the Delaware River northeast and southwest through Pine Hill tends to be less in watershed, or basin. and Berlin Township. The Inner Coastal Plain channels with gentle They are the Big Timber is derived primarily from sediments eroded slopes than in those with steeper gradients. Creek, Cooper River, Newton Creek, from the Appalachian Mountains between Pennsauken Creek, and the Rancocas 150 to 60 million years ago and deposited Headwaters of Inner Coastal Plain streams Creek watersheds. onto the continent shelf. This deposition was and rivers originate at points of slightly interrupted by layers laid down by the ocean, higher elevation and flow northwest to the Slightly more than half of Camden County as the ocean shoreline advanced and Delaware River. Headwaters of Outer is within the Delaware River basin, which is receded over long stretches of time. The Coastal Plain streams and rivers have a 13,000 square miles and covers parts of resulting geology is a stacking of layers of strong hydraulic connection with the four states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, eroded sedimentary, igneous, and Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer and are fed by Delaware, and New York. Although the metamorphic rock interspersed by marine it. Most of the Outer Coastal Plain slopes Delaware River basin occupies only 1% of deposits of sand and other material. Soils of more gradually to the east, with drainage the land of the United States, it supplies the Inner Plain are quite fertile. toward the Atlantic Ocean, although some water to 10% of the U. S. population. Many streams, such as the Rancocas Creek, start municipalities and metropolitan centers, The Outer Coastal Plain, which covers all in the Outer Coastal Plain and, having including Philadelphia, Trenton, and New the rest of southern New Jersey, was formed cut through the cuesta, flow toward York City, get all or part of their drinking more recently than the Inner Coastal Plain. the Delaware. water from the river.

28 Map 9 shows prime farmland soils in the prime, statewide, and locally important county. The map is based on soils data farmland soils. Stafford Farm, the second from the US Department of Agriculture and preserved farm in the county, consists 100% the Natural Resources Conservation of prime farmland soils. Service. Comparing this map to the 2000 land use map shows that the best soils for Steep Slopes: Only a small percentage of farming are also the best soils for growing Camden County has steep slopes over houses, as most prime farmland areas from 10%. The steepest slopes are found along Cherry Hill, Voorhees, and Gloucester stream corridors, especially the North townships, are now developed. See Map Branch of the Big Timber Creek and its 10. In fact, only 46% of prime farmland tributaries. Other steep slopes are found at soils in the county remain. the geological cuesta area, where the Inner and Outer Coastal Plains meet between However, within the Pinelands, much of the Pine Hill and Gibbsboro. See Map 11. prime farmland and farmland of statewide, local and unique importance has not been Inappropriate development of and changes paved over, and most extant farms are to steep slopes, such as excessive tree and located in the Agricultural Production Area vegetation removal and regrading, can of the Pinelands Management Areas. The result in soil instability, erosion, Auwarter Farm, the first farm preserved with sedimentation, increased stormwater County Open Space Trust Funds, consists of runoff, and flooding. This causes habitat Aquifers: Three major aquifers exist the eastern half of the county. The PRM is the beneath Camden County: the Potomac- most productive of the three aquifers, and is Raritan-Magothy aquifer system (PRM), the also the most extensively used confined Table 4 - Remaining Prime Agricultural Soils Mt. Laurel-Wenonah aquifer, and the aquifer in the Coastal Plain. Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system. See Map 8. The Kirkwood- Soils: The differences in Cohansey is unconfined. geology within Camden The other two are confined Wetlands were once more County generate different except where they reach abundant throughout the state, kinds of soils that support ACREAGE the surface or are overlain characteristic vegetation. % PRIME SOILS REMAINING by permeable surficial but draining and filling for On the Inner Coastal SOIL CATEGORY ACREAGE REMAINING ACREAGE AFTER YEAR 2000 AREAS ARE DEVELOPED OUT SUBTRACTED deposits. Because the development activities have Plain, with its more fertile underlying strata slope soils, the county was once PRIME FARMLAND 27,178 12,442 46% downward from west to reduced the amount of wetlands covered with a forest of east, each aquifer layer mixed deciduous trees. FARMLAND OF LOCAL IMPORTANCE 5,835 3,163 54% drops from its outcrop on the surface to the Moving southeast across the county, the southeast. Thus, the PRM, which is the vegetation transitions into Pine-dominated FARMLAND OF STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE 25,025 16,066 64% deepest aquifer, exists from the Delaware varieties that thrive in sandy, acidic soils that River and underlies the entire county. The Mt. drain rapidly. Soils also determine the fertility FARMLAND OF UNIQUE IMPORTANCE 6,205 5,691 92% Laurel-Wenonah underlies a strip of the of land for agriculture. county generally between Mt. Laural and Deptford. The Kirkwood-Cohansey underlies

29 filling for development activities have Wildlife in Camden County: A western half of the county, and in parts of reduced the amount of wetlands and their surprising array of wildlife is found the Pineland areas in eastern townships. ability to provide wildlife habitat and to filter throughout Camden County. Bald eagles Important sites for endangered and out nonpoint source pollution before it have been spotted hunting along the North threatened species, such as the Bog Turtle enters surface or groundwater. Branch of the Big Timber Creek, the and a variety of butterflies and moths, are Cooper River, and most also found in the eastern Map 12 shows wetlands in the county recently on the The primary reason for most of half of the county. categorized into 15 types. Wetlands are Pennsauken Creek. found all over the county, but the largest Great Blue Herons are these species' pending demise is In Pinelands areas of wetland areas are along the Great Egg abundant on county destruction of habitat from Camden County, there Harbor River, the Hidden Lake area of ponds, lakes, and are species of animal life Gloucester Township and Pine Hill, the marshes. Migrating birds encroaching development. that are rare outside this Beagle Club area of Voorhees, the South fly north in spring along ecosystem. These include Branch Cooper River headwaters in the Delaware River corridor. Flights of some small Hair Streak and Elfin butterflies, Gibbsboro and Voorhees, and the Mullica smaller woodland species that are heading a few moths, the Pine Barrens Tree Frog, the River and its branches in Waterford. to New England and Canada to nest are Carpenter Frog, the Northern Pine Snake, often sighted in Camden City and and the Timber Rattlesnack. Floodplains: Map 13 shows floodplains, Pennsauken. Frogs and salamanders breed which are those areas adjacent to in small and remaining wetland areas in the Big Timber Creek, courtesy of www.hoganphoto.com waterbodies that would be flooded by a destruction, degraded water quality, and 100-year flood, or a flood that has the potential damage to lives and property. statistical probability of occurring every 100 Steep slopes raise construction costs and years. A flood of that magnitude can occur restrict the use of individual septic systems at any given time, however. Left untouched, due to the difficulty of installation and the floodplains serve many vital functions and potential health hazards caused by seepage. perform many environmental services. Located between waterways and adjacent Wetlands: Wetlands form where water is at lands with extensive human use, floodplains or near the land surface, most commonly serve to filter out nonpoint source pollutants along rivers and in low-lying coastal areas. before they reach the stream beds. They are characterized by particular types of Vegetated floodplains form a physical vegetation and/or soils. In inland areas, screen for material moving downslope impervious clays can restrict vertical toward streams, thereby also preventing movements of water and thus form wetlands. erosion and maintaining natural fluvial Wetlands can receive water from the morphology. Wide floodplains provide surrounding area, can recharge the areas for water storage during flooding surrounding area, or both. (Winters and events, decreasing the need for costly flood others, 1998) Wetlands are critical habitat for mitigation projects. And finally, floodplains many forms of wildlife and can also serve as left in their natural vegetated state provide water filtering systems and water storage sites. important ecological resources for many Wetlands were once more abundant plants, animals, and microbes, thereby maintaining stream ecology. throughout the state, but draining and Seagulls enjoying a day in Camden County, courtesy of Andrea C.

30 Fish populations in the county have begun a red-headed woodpecker, northern pine slow recovery from the days when snake, and swamp pink. The biodiversity Table 5 - Land Use 2000 the streams flowing to the Delaware River, ranks of the 15 priority sites include one B1 - and the river itself, were extremely polluted. site of outstanding significance, four sites LAND USE CATEGORY ACREAGE % OF TOTAL COUNTY Shad numbers have increased over the past ranked B2- of very high significance, 6 sites 10 years. Fish ladders established on several ranked B3 - of high significance, three sites Single Family Detached 32,408 22% lakes have allowed migrating varieties to ranked B4 - good occurrences of natural return to their historic upstream spawning communities, and one site ranked B5 - of Single Family Attached 999 1% grounds. Although significant improvements general biodiversity interest. Multi-Family 2,593 2% in fish numbers have occurred, there are still State Health Advisories against eating many Many of the species in the database are Light Industry 2,769 2% of the fish species in Camden County waters, globally rare and vulnerable to extinction, Heavy Industry 687 0.5% due to concentration of contaminants such as and all of the species recorded are mercury and polychloryl biphenyls (PCBs) in considered endangered at the state level. Transportation 18,591 13% some fish from river, stream, and lake This means their prospects for survival Utility 1,792 1% sediments. within the state are in immediate danger, requiring immediate assistance, or extinction Commercial 6,446 4% Natural Heritage Priority Sites: Data will probably follow. The primary reason for Community Service 2,327 2% from the Natural Heritage Program at the most of these species' pending demise is NJDEP indicate records for over 115 destruction of habitat from encroaching Military 5 0% occurrences of rare species and natural development. communities, and 15 Natural Heritage Recreation 4,355 3% Priority sites in Camden County, which are Groundwater Recharge: Based on a New Agriculture 9,979 7% shown on Map 14. Of the rare Jersey Geological Society (NJGS) model, species/natural community recordings, 6 are Map 15 shows areas of the county that have Mining 1,178 1% vertebrates, 18 are invertebrates, 3 are high groundwater recharge value based on Wooded 53,387 37% ecosystems, and the rest are vascular plants. land cover, soils and local climate data. The Some of the rare species include the bog highest category of groundwater recharge, 14 Vacant 4,042 3% turtle, peregrine falcon, pine barrens treefrog, to 16 inches per year, is found mostly in the Water 4,061 3% Mullica River watershed in Waterford Township and in Berlin Township near its Total 145,618 100% border with Voorhees. The next highest Developed Land Uses: 74,149 51% category, 12 to 13 inches per year, is found (residential, industrial, mostly in Winslow, Waterford, Chesilhurst, transportation, utility, commercial, community service, Pine Hill, and Berlin Borough. Low recharge military, recreation, mining) is found in the western, largely built-out half of the county. Also note the absence of Undeveloped Land Uses: 71,469 49% recharge along major highways and roads (agriculture, wooded, shown on map 15. The highly urbanized vacant, water)) areas surrounding the City of Camden and This bald eagle has been spotted hunting along the Gloucester City were not even included in the County’s streams, photo courtesy of Camden County recharge model's calculations. Parks Department

31 Wooded Areas: Woodlands, Map 16, fields, courts and recreation centers) and Leidy Site in Haddonfield. (The Hadrosaurus There are various mechanisms to enhance derived from the DVRPC 2000 aerial community services (schools, cemeteries, Site is the location of the first excavated historic preservation from the federal down to interpretation, show where significant patches churches, hospitals, etc). Table 5 lists the dinosaur bones in the country.) Camden the local level. At the federal level, placing of woodlands remain in the county. The acreage and percent of land in each category County also contains other documented sites and districts on the National Register of wooded areas are significant to the for the year 2000. For an analysis of land archaeological sites, but these have been Historic Places affords them added environment in that they may also be part of use trends and forecasts, see Trends and excluded from the map and table for security consideration in the planning for federally floodplains or wetlands, they provide habitat Forces, on page 2 of Chapter One. reasons (some sites have been raided assisted projects, and makes properties and migration pathways for wildlife, provide resulting in lost resources). More information eligible for certain tax benefits and grant groundwater recharge, and offer scenic and Historic Resources: Map 18 shows the on archaeological sites can be gained by programs. It does not, however, prevent recreational opportunities for human use. approximate location of almost 171 contacting the New Jersey Historic properties from being altered or demolished. documented sites and districts from the Preservation Office by appointment. Local historic districts, on the other hand, can Land Use 2000: Map 17 shows all the National and State Registers, as well as from be created by municipalities to preserve developed categories as one color: orange. a survey conducted between 1999 and 2001 Although Camden County hosts many significant historic sites by regulating the The categories that make up developed uses of 10 municipalities. The resources are historic resources, the mere existence of these erection, alteration, restoration, and include all residential, industrial, referenced in Table 6, which indicates the places, as well as preserving them in their demolition of buildings within the historic transportation, and commercial uses. The name, municipal location, designation, and historic context, should not be taken for district. Historical Commissions are map also shows open space categories of map number of the feature. Camden County granted. In fact, many historic structures have government bodies that oversee historic wooded, agricultural, vacant and water, and has two National Historic Landmarks, already been either demolished to make preservation planning and decision making in categories that offer open space meaning the properties have national room for new buildings, have fallen into their community, and the establishment of opportunities, including mining, utilities significance: The Walt Whitman House in the disrepair due to lack of maintenance and these commissions is typically the first step in (power lines), recreation (golf courses, ball City of Camden, and the Hadrosaurus Foulkii investment, have been destroyed by implementing local preservation efforts. vandalism and fire, or still stand but have lost their integrity due to inappropriate alterations Camden County municipalities have and/or inappropriate surrounding benefitted from the historic resource development. Similarly, many potentially documentation work provided by the significant archaeological artifacts may never Camden County Cultural and Heritage be excavated and interpreted because they Commission and the Camden County have been paved over. Historical Society. Some municipalities have gone farther by establishing historical Yet, it is often the historic structures in their commissions, enacting local historic landscape (whether that be an urban historic preservation districts, and even by district, small town Main Street, or farm incorporating Historic Impact Statements or buildings in their agrarian setting) that other similar site plan submission provide Camden County's communities with procedures that require development their unique character and identity. applicants to show the proposed Combined with opportunities for parks, trails, subdivision or land development's impact and waterfront access, historic preservation on historic resources. These local land use efforts are extremely important to maintaining regulations can (and should) also apply to community character, attracting people, the protection of archaeological remains, boosting neighborhood pride, and for which the stream valleys of the county stimulating greater interest and investment in remain an untapped reservoir. these areas. Laurel Ravine foliage

32 Table 6: Historic Resources in Camden County

SITE LOCATION TYPE MAP #SITE LOCATION TYPE MAP # 19 Princeton Avenue Audubon PE 1 Harleigh Cemetery Camden City DOE 48 224 Wyoming Avenue Audubon PE 2 Inter-County Mortgage and Finance Co. Camden City NR and SR 49 256 E. King's Highway Audubon PE 3 James M. Downey Building Camden City NR and SR 50 Audubon Senior Center Audubon PE 4 Jesse Starr School Camden City DOE 51 Breach-Dialogue House Audubon PE 5 Joseph Cooper House Camden City NR and SR 52 Audubon Park Historic District Audubon Park PE 6 Macedonia AME Church Camden City COE 53 Berlin Historic District Berlin NR and SR 7 Marcouse Building Camden City NR and SR 54 Berlin Hotel Berlin DOE 8 Market Street Historic District Camden City DOE 55 Long-A-Coming Depot Berlin NR and SR 9 Morgan Boulevard Bridge Camden City DOE 56 The Saltbox Berlin DOE 10 National State Bank Camden City NR and SR 57 Wooster Manor Berlin DOE 11 New Jersey Battery B Armory Camden City DOE 58 Noreg Village Historic District Brooklawn DOE 12 New Jersey Safe Deposit and Trust Co. Camden City NR and SR 59 107 N. 8th Street Camden City DOE 13 Newton Avenue Garage Camden City DOE 60 109-111 N. 8th Street Camden City DOE 14 Newton Friends Meetinghouse Camden City NR and SR 61 726-728 Cooper Street Camden City DOE 15 Parkside Historic District Camden City DOE 62 A. S. Woodruff and Law Buildings Camden City NR and SR 16 Pomona Hall (Cooper House) Camden City NR and SR 63 American National Bank Camden City NR and SR 17 Public Service Corporation Building Camden City DOE 64 Battleship New Jersey Camden City SR 18 RCA Victor Office Building Camden City DOE 65 Ben Franklin Bridge Camden City DOE 19 Ruby Match Factory Building Camden City DOE 66 Benjamin Cooper Ferry and Tavern Camden City DOE 20 Sears, Roebuck and Co. Camden City NR and SR 67 Benjamin Shreve House Camden City SR 21 Smith-Austermuhl Insurance Co. Camden City NR and SR 68 Berkeley Street Streetscape Camden City DOE 22 South Camden Historic District Camden City NR and SR 69 Broadway Subway Station Camden City DOE 23 South Camden Trust Company Camden City NR and SR 70 Broadway Trust Company Camden City NR and SR 24 St. Joseph's Polish Catholic Church Camden City SR 71 Building 17, RCA Victor Company Camden City NR and SR 25 State Street Bridge Camden City DOE 72 Camden Free Public Library Main Build. Camden City NR and SR 26 State Street Streetscape (400 & 600 Blocks) Camden City DOE 73 Camden Housing Sections 1 & 2 Camden City DOE 27 US Post Office & Courthouse Camden City DOE 74 Camden Safe Deposit & Trust Co. Camden City NR and SR 28 Victory Trust Company Camden City NR and SR 75 Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Camden City COE and SR 29 Volney G. Bennett Lumber Company Camden City NR and SR 76 Central Trust Company Camden City DOE and SR 30 Walt Whitman House Camden City NHL, NR, and SR 77 Charles S. Boyer Building Camden City NR and SR 31 Walt Whitman Neighborhood Camden City NR and SR 78 Concrete Block Streetscape Camden City DOE 32 Westfield Acres Camden City DOE 79 Cooper Grant Historic District Camden City NR and SR 33 Wilson Building Camden City NR and SR 80 Cooper Library in Johnson Park Camden City NR and SR 34 Cooper River Park Historic District Camden City, Cherry Hill DOE 81 Cooper Plaza Historic District Camden City DOE 35 Barclay Farmhouse Cherry Hill NR and SR 82 Cooper Plaza Historic District Extension Camden City DOE 36 Bonnie's Bridge Cherry Hill NR and SR 83 Cooper River Swing Span RR Bridge Camden City DOE 37 Gatehouse at Colestown Cemetery Cherry Hill NR and SR 84 Cooper Street Historic District Camden City NR and SR 38 Inskeep Homestead/Farm Historic Dist. Cherry Hill DOE 85 Cramer Hill Streetscape Camden City DOE 39 Kay-Evans Farmstead Cherry Hill NR and SR 86 Dr. Henry Genet Taylor House and Office Camden City NR and SR 40 Samuel Coles House Cherry Hill NR and SR 87 East End Trust Company Camden City NR and SR 41 Grant AME Church Chesilhurst NR and SR 88 Edward Sharp House Camden City NR and SR 42 122 Ohio Avenue Clementon PE 89 Fairview Historic District Camden City NR and SR 43 2 Cedar Lane Clementon PE 90 Federal Street Bridge Camden City DOE 44 217 Berlin Road Clementon DOE 91 Finance Building Camden City NR and SR 45 315 Berlin Road Clementon DOE 92 First Camden National Bank & Trust Camden City NR and SR 46 Clementon Amusement Park Clementon PE 93 Former US Post Office Camden City DOE 47 Collings-Knight Homestead Collingswood NR and SR 94

33 Table 6: Historic Resources in Camden County (cont.)

SITE LOCATION TYPE MAP #SITE LOCATION TYPE MAP # Collingswood Circle Collingswood DOE 95 201 East Maple Avenue Merchantville PE 142 Collingswood Commercial Historic Dist. Collingswood NR and SR 96 210 East Maple Avenue Merchantville PE 143 Collingswood Residential Historic Dist. Collingswood NR and SR 97 214 Westminster Avenue Merchantville PE 144 Collingswood Theatre Collingswood NR and SR 98 23 Linden Avenue Merchantville PE 145 Excelsior Scottish Rite Auditorium Collingswood COE 99 33 Fithian Avenue Merchantville PE 146 Pure Oil Company Service Station Collingswood DOE 100 401 West Maple Avenue Merchantville PE 147 Stokes-Lee House Collingswood NR and SR 101 9 Centre Street Merchantville PE 148 Thackara House Collingswood NR and SR 102 Arthur Dorrance House Merchantville NR and SR 149 401 Monmouth Street Gloucester City DOE 103 Cattell Tract Historic District Merchantville NR and SR 150 Gloucester City Mill Blocks Gloucester City DOE 104 Centennial House Merchantville NR and SR 151 Gloucester City Water Works Engine House Gloucester City NR and SR 105 Collins & Pancoast Hall Merchantville NR and SR 152 St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church Gloucester City COE 106 Merchantville Town Center Historic Dist. Merchantville DOE 153 Three Timber Crib Wharves Gloucester City DOE 107 The Oaks Historic District Merchantville NR and SR 154 US Coast Guard Training & Immigration Gloucester City DOE 108 Trinity United Methodist Church Merchantville PE 155 Blackwood Historic District Gloucester NR and SR 109 1505 49th Street Pennsauken PE 156 Chew-Powell House Gloucester NR and SR 110 2426 Cove Road Pennsauken PE 157 Gabriel Davis Tavern Gloucester NR and SR 111 Burrough-Dover House Pennsauken NR and SR 158 Solomon Wesley United Methodist Church Gloucester NR and SR 112 Burrough-Lawrence House Pennsauken PE 159 St. John's Episcopal Church & Burying Ground Gloucester NR and SR 113 Griffith Morgan House Pennsauken NR and SR 160 Colonel Joseph Ellis House Haddon Heights NR and SR 114 Sherwood Terrace Historical District Pennsauken PE 161 Glover Fulling Mill Site Haddon Heights NR and SR 115 Universal-Rundle Manufacturing Plant Pennsauken DOE 162 Haddon Heights Post Office Haddon Heights DOE 116 Tomlinson House Pine Hill COE 163 Hinchman-Lippincott House Haddon Heights NR and SR 117 Glendale Methodist Episcopal Church Voorhees NR and SR 164 Isaac Glover House Haddon Heights NR and SR 118 Solid Rock Baptist Church Voorhees PE 165 John Thorn Glover House Haddon Heights SR 119 Voorhees Historical Society Voorhees PE 166 Station Avenue Business Historic Dist. Haddon Heights NR and SR 120 Renault Winery Champagne Bottle Advert. Winslow COE 167 White Horse Pike Residential Historic Dist. Haddon Heights NR and SR 121 Spring Garden Inn Winslow DOE 168 Ebenezer Hopkins House Haddon DOE 122 Woodlynne Log Cabin Woodlynne NR and SR 169 Newton Union Schoolhouse Haddon NR and SR 123 Camden & Atlantic RR Historic District 12 Municipalities DOE The Ritz Theatre Haddon NR and SR 124 City of Camden to Atlantic City Westmont Theatre Haddon COE 125 Camden & Amboy RR Historic District Pennsauken,Camden DOE Maple Avenue Bridge Haddon, Haddonfield DOE 126 City of Camden to Amboy 218 E. Park Avenue Haddonfield DOE 127 Greenfield Hall Haddonfield NR and SR 128 NHL = National Historic Landmark, property has national significance Haddon Fortnightly Clubhouse Haddonfield NR and SR 129 NR = National Register of Historic Places Haddonfield Historic District Haddonfield NR and SR 130 SR = State (New Jersey) Register of Historic Places Hadrosaurus Foulkii Leidy Site Haddonfield NHL, NR, and SR 131 SHPO = State Historic Preservation Officer Indian King Tavern Haddonfield NR and SR 132 DOE = The New Jersey SHPO has determined the site to be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places Lullworth Hall Haddonfield COE 133 COE = Certificate of Eligibility, issued by the SHPO, for properties not already on the SR, the COE satisfies a prerequisite Samuel Mickle House (Hip Roof House) Haddonfield NR and SR 134 to apply to funds from the NJ Historic Trust, as well as several county preservation funding programs Peter Mott House Lawnside NR and SR 135 PE = Potentially Eligible for Listing in the National Register, according to a survey by Kise Straw and Kolodner (KSK) Ephraim Tomlinson House Lindenwold PE 136 of Philadelphia. KSK conducted an historic architectural survey of 10 municipalities in Camden County for the Camden 11 Linden Avenue Merchantville PE 137 County Office of Community Development between 1999 and 2001. The survey built on the recommendations included 127 St. James Avenue Merchantville PE 138 in The Inter-Municipal Preservation Zoning Study prepared in 1992 by Elizabeth Malesich and Gail Greenberg. 15 Morris Street Merchantville PE 139 Those sites identified as potentially eligible were all of local significance and were believed to meet certain National 19 Springfield Avenue Merchantville PE 140 Register criteria for their significance in American history, archaeology, architecture, engineering or culture, 2 East Maple Avenue Merchantville PE 141 and posses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.

34 INSERT 11”X17” MAP 6: NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY

35 INSERT 11”X17” MAP 7: WATERSHEDS

36 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :8 AQIFER RECHARGE.....UNITS

37 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :9 PRIME FARMLAND SOILS

38 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :10 REMAINING PRIME.....SOILS

39 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :11 STEEP SLOPE

40 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :12 WETLANDS

41 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :13 FLOODPLAINS

42 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :14 NATURAL HERITAGE....SITES

43 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :15 GROUNDWATER RECHARGE

44 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :16 WOODED AREA

45 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :17 LAND USE-2000

46 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :18 HISTORIC RESOURCES

47 BLANK PAGE BACKSIDE OF 11”X17” MAP :18 HISTORIC RESOURCES

48 chapter 4 PROPOSED OPEN SPACE SYSTEM

Camden County has a vibrant recreation and open space system, with 25,976 acres, or 17% of the county in public parkland and another 2,000+ acres of private golf courses, camps, and homeowner association lands. The parks are generally well-distributed throughout the population centers of the county. The county's crown jewel park, Cooper River Park, is centrally situated between the City of Camden and Cherry Hill in a densely populated area and is an excellent example of an existing greenway within the county. Beyond Wiggins Park and the promenade, however, there is very little waterfront access on the Delaware River.

49 espite the large amount and if the complete vision may not be D reasonably good distribution of achievable due to competing parkland in Camden County, the interests and funding limitations; county's sprawling growth pattern since World War II has led to a widespread It should prioritize which areas of the feeling of loss of open space and scenery proposed system need attention first, within the county. Part of these perceptions based on key factors in meeting the are due to development patterns that strip county's goals, as well as measured out development along road corridors, threat of conversion to other uses; leaving little undeveloped road frontage, and to zoning regulations that do not It should define a multi-pronged require meaningful (sizeable, accessible, approach to preserving the system, and useful), if any, open space set-asides in since one size does not fit all, subdivisions. Plus, the bulk of the county's and no single entity can do it all. total parkland (75% of the acreage) are state forest or wildlife management areas To accomplish these four objectives, the rest located in the southeastern, less populated, of this chapter lays out a comprehensive and therefore less accessible, part of the proposed open space system for Camden county. County that, if implemented, will achieve Fishing on the Cooper River, courtesy of Fred Stine the county's goals and objectives. It is far- The Proposed Open Space System for reaching in that it identifies more open Urban Aid Status, Natural Heritage Priority Open Space Prioritization Camden County needs to achieve four space than the county will actually ever Sites, and Regional Projects, projects on objectives: pursue, but, by identifying these which the county places This section further describes the two- countywide open space high value, regardless of pronged prioritization method applied to It should realize the county's overall opportunities, others ...The county's sprawling growth the threat of those areas the Proposed Open Space System: the goal:"To support the development (municipalities, the state, patterns since World War II have being developed for Threat Assessment and Key Factors of a public system of open space non-profits, landowners, led to a widespread feeling of other uses. Finally, a Analysis. There are clearly many ways to which forever preserves the valued etc.) may also choose to multi-pronged approach prioritize open space areas, and, in fact, the environmental, cultural, historic, and plan for them and help loss of open space and scenery is discussed in Chapter 6 application process itself (see Appendix A) scenic features of Camden County achieve the vision. To within the county. for achieving the is designed to rank properties' importance and provide sufficient lands to help prioritize what needs Camden County Open to the county based on agreed-upon accommodate a variety of active and to be addressed first, the plan includes a Space Vision, since no single entity or criteria. The following method is not parcel passive recreational activities"; "Threat Assessment" that measures the source of funding can be expected to specific, but rather landscape-oriented to relative likelihood of any area being realize the vision on its own. qualify, more than quantify, which proposed It should be far-reaching by converted to other uses. Complementing open space areas the county Open Space the Threat Assessment approach to identifying all the lands that Advisory Committee and Division of Open should possibly be preserved to prioritization is a look at "Key Factors". Key Space and Farmland Preservation should meet the county's overall goal, even Factors are Delaware Riverfront access, pursue over others. When more parcel-

50 county, university and non-profit open spaces converted to other uses in the scenic views of Philadelphia, the chance to representatives. The data inputs include near future. The areas under the least watch large ships travel by, and economic population and employment forecasts, the development threat, according to the spinoffs for the communities that provide DVRPC 2025 land use plan, building model, are the Pinelands areas of Winslow the access. Designation as an Urban Aid permit data, simulated travel time to and Waterford townships. These areas municipality by the state is a Key Factor in employment centers, sewer service areas, come up as low threat due to the low the prioritization to ensure that the poorer and a municipality's ability to manage municipal forecast and building permits communities of the county receive their growth based on an audit of its plans and issued relative to municipal size, lack of share of county open space investments. ordinances. The model is somewhat easily sewer service, long travel This is especially timely transferable to other areas within the distance to major The Delaware River waterfront due to the recently DVRPC region, for which DVRPC has the employment centers, and is a Key Factor because it is the announced new Green same data available. Again, it is important the existence of the Acres Open Space Laurel Ravine to note that the model is a "landscape" Pinelands growth major waterway in the area Priorities (NJDEP Press specific information is available, it should approach to show an area’s relative management regulations. Release 7/31/03) which supercede the outcomes of this analysis. development threat, and does not account These are the areas less likely to undergo will allocate greater funding for densely for up-to-date, parcel-specific plan significant changes in the near future, populated, Urban Aid municipalities in the Threat Assessment: submissions or agreements of sale. When according to the model. new Parks for People policy initiative. that data is available, it ,of Due to its excellent road ...all lands in Camden County are Improving quality of life through the network and transit course, supercedes the Key Factors: The Threat Assessment provision of open space amenities in such service, and its proximity under threat of development. model. Instead, the Model shows most of the urbanized areas underprivileged neighborhoods is to Philadelphia and However, not all lands are under model is intended to help of the county under low threat, because important on moral grounds, and as a other major employment the county prioritize its these areas are mostly built-out and simply means to stem the flow of residents to centers, all lands in equal threat. greenway and focus area have little room left for more development. greenfields in other parts of the county. Camden County are efforts. An abridged Yet many of these areas also contain Key Although this plan is not scaled to identify under threat of development. However, methodology is in Appendix E, and the Factors indicating that they should be neighborhood parks for creation or not all lands are under equal threat. complete report on the methodology is prioritized for open space investments. The restoration, it is acknowledged that pocket To determine which parts of the county are available as a separate document from Key Factors are: parks, community gardens, and street trees more likely to be developed than others, DVRPC. within the urban fabric are extremely DVRPC applied its Threat Assessment Delaware River Waterfront Access, important to the livability in Model to show relative development threat The outcome of the model is shown on Map Urban Aid Status, those communities. across the county. The model was originally 19 - Development Threat Assessment. It Natural Heritage Priority Sites, and developed for Southeastern Pennsylvania shows Voorhees Township, Gibbsboro, Regional Project. Another Key Factor is based entirely on under contract to the Media, Pennsylvania- Gloucester Township, and portions of Pine environmental data – the Natural Heritage based Natural Lands Trust, as part of Hill, Berlin Borough, and Lawnside to be The Delaware River waterfront is a Key Priority Sites. Camden County is blessed their Smart Conservation project. The under the highest development threat. Next Factor because it is the major waterway in and entrusted with 15 such sites of globally assessment methodology was developed in are Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Runnemede, the area. It could offer a multitude of or state-endangered species or ecosystems, 2002 and underwent a year of monthly and Berlin Township. According to the recreational and scenic opportunities, and and should therefore give high priority to reviews by an advisory committee of state, model, these are the areas of the county the public should have increased access to preserving them. Finally, regional projects that are most likely to have their remaining it. Increased waterfront access would offer

51 remaining open lands along stream corridors. These are the Proposed Greenways. Second are the larger hubs of open space that still exist, primarily at the southern end of the county, as well as within isolated places within the developed portion of the county. These are the Proposed Focus Areas. Third are serendipitous undeveloped lands adjoining parks and other open spaces which may not otherwise be identified as part of a corridor Big Timber Creek near Clements Bridge Road, or hub. These are the Proposed Adjoining courtesy of www.hoganphoto.com Lands As Opportunities Arise. plan recommends that their reuse as A fourth type of potential open space not parkland (provided necessary cleanup fully addressed in this plan are brownfields. is conducted) be considered. Map 23 - Brownfields are abandoned industrial sites Brownfield Locations Compared to that have some level of contamination, Proposed Greenways is included in the although they are not Superfund sites. As plan to help inform the CCIA's brownfield an older, largely urbanized county, Camden reuse assessment. Appendix F provides Frozen Delaware River from Gloucester City Park, courtesy of www.hoganphoto.com County has 52 preliminarily identified more information on the sites shown on brownfield sites according to a map the map. that extend beyond Camden County are some cases, there may be fewer Key Factors produced by the NJ Office of Smart given Key Factor standing because they present, but they are weighted heavier Growth. More brownfield sites are likely to Proposed Greenways: The proposed provide the ability to protect and connect because they are re-occurring within the be identified in the future. The greenways are based on a detailed analysis even larger areas, to serve more people, to greenway (i.e. more than one Natural redevelopment of brownfields provides of undeveloped corridors of land from the raise the profile of Camden County, to Heritage Priority Site or Urban Aid numerous potential open space year 2000 aerial digital photography and improve intergovernmental coordination Municipality within the greenway). Medium opportunities. The Camden County on four preexisting greenway plans: the and cooperation, and to bring people into rankings are given with two Key Factors and Improvement Authority (CCIA) is currently Camden Greenways Plan, the Trust for Camden County through eco-tourism. moderate threat, and Low Rankings are assessing the best reuse for brownfields in Public Lands (TPL's) River to Bay Greenway; given for one or less Key Factors and low the county, which may, in certain cases, be the New Jersey Conservation Foundation Each greenway is given a priority ranking of development threat. as parkland. However, the CCIA's analysis (NJCF) Garden State Greenways Project, High, Medium or Low, based on a is not yet available, so this plan does not and the National Park Service's Wild and qualitative assessment of the Threat Proposed Open Space System generally include recommendations for Scenic River Study for the Great Egg Analysis and the presence of Key Factors. specific brownfield sites. Nevertheless, Harbor. The greenway system is largely Generally, greenway projects are given The open space remaining in Camden where brownfield sites provide crucial open based on the county's waterways (also High Priority rankings when the area is County tends to be of three types, and is space linkages or would provide needed evidenced in the greenway names). In under high threat of development and there therefore organized, displayed, and open space in underserved areas, this addition, connections between the are at least three Key Factors present. In discussed in three categories: First are the greenways were identified in order to create

52 and greenways with trail connections need showed that development was built right up Deptford would also be needed to create conservation easements with public access to the creek's edge in many cases. The New the greenway. The greenway terminates at or acquisitions. Jersey Turnpike, the 42 Freeway, Route 295, the Delaware River, providing an Route 130 and Route 47 all cross the opportunity to increase access to the 1. Atco Lake Greenway: With Atco Lake creek, further breaking up the continuity of Delaware Riverfront, especially if the in the middle, this greenway connects two the greenway. However, there are also Delaware Waterfront Promenade is major preservation areas - the Great Egg opportunities presented in this greenway achieved in Gloucester City. In addition, Harbor Greenway and the Wharton State area. For example, with proper this greenway links the North Branch Big Forest - along Marshalls Mill Stream, Hays environmental controls, the land fill areas in Timber Greenway and other southeastern Mill Creek and the Mechescatuxin Branch Bellmawr and Runnemede could be re-used greenways connected to it, to the Delaware of the Sleeper Branch of the Mullica River in as greenway lands, and the proposed I- Riverfront. Based on these factors, the Atco Lake Winslow and Waterford Townships. Atco 295/Route 42 connector could provide greenway is a Medium Priority. a true open space network, which functions Lake itself is a Natural Heritage Priority Site right-of-way lands and possible wetland better for both wildlife migration and ranked B3, of high significance and global mitigation parcels to augment the 3. Camden Greenway: The Camden recreational purposes. Linkages along significance. The greenway's main function greenway. Efforts by bordering Gloucester Greenway is being promoted by Camden undeveloped lands were identified where would be for natural resource protection County municipalities Westville and Greenways, Inc. as an urban greenway they were available, and when no such around a Natural Heritage Priority Site and connection could be achieved, an on-road one of the headwaters of the Mullica River. connector was identified. Existing and The greenway would be best achieved proposed trails were incorporated to through a combination of acquisition provide connections as well. Complete around Atco Lake, and local land use connections between greenways were regulations that preserve a minimum 150 identified with the thought that the foot buffer along the stream corridor. greenways themselves would contain a Preservation of the Atco Lake Natural public access/trail component, and that Heritage Priority Site is a High Priority, and they should therefore all be connected. is in fact under review by the Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee as of the Altogether, 16 greenways are proposed. See spring of 2004. The other parts of the Map 20. The following alphabetical list briefly greenway are Low Priority due to their low describes each greenway, its priority status, threat of development. and recommendations for achieving it. Note that not all greenway lands are proposed for 2. Big Timber Greenway: The Big Timber acquisition; many greenways can be Greenway forms a boundary between formalized through land use regulations and Camden and Gloucester counties from the good stewardship by landowners. Only creek's mouth at a cove in the Delaware greenway areas with noteworthy features like River to where the North and South the Delaware waterfront, Natural Heritage Branches fork near Clements Bridge Road Priority Sites, areas appropriate for new parks, (Route 41). The aerial photography analysis Big Timber Creek

53 Philadelphia skyline and shores, it would redevelopment accomplishments include a provide "front-row" seats for waterfront- marina and waterfront park and promenade, related festivals and celebrations, such as the New Jersey State Aquarium and July 4th and New Year's Eve Fireworks, and it Children's Garden, the Tweeter Center would offer unique maritime views of large at the Camden Waterfront, Campbell's ships, barges, tug boats, Field, the battleship New and other, recreational A waterfront promenade would Jersey Museum, One boats that cruise the river. offer beautiful views of the Port Center, and the In addition, this walkway conversion of the Nipper would connect to two Philadelphia skyline and shores... Building into luxury regional projects: the apartments. The Camden Delaware River Heritage Trail and the East waterfront is connected to Penn's Landing by Coast Greenway. The Delaware River the Ben Franklin Bridge, PATCO line, ferry Heritage Trail is a loop trail extending from service, and, in the future, by the proposed Trenton down to Palmyra, across to Tacony aerial tram. and back up the Pennsylvania side to Morrisville. The East Coast Greenway is a The City of Camden's Land Use Plan of their proposed urban equivalent of the Master Plan shows a greenway/green Appalachian Trail, traversing from Maine to corridor from the mixed-use waterfront area Florida. Large portions of the East Coast north to the border with Pennsauken. Most

A foggy day on the Delaware River at Gloucester Park, courtesy of www.hoganphotos.com Greenway are in place, and a Delaware of the greenway hugs the river shoreline, River Promenade would be a welcomed and with the exceptions just north of the Ben along the Cooper River and Delaware River space along the Delaware River, and would exciting contribution to this multi-state effort. Franklin Bridge, where the green corridor is waterfront. The greenway would complete improve the quality-of-life in an Urban Aid inland to the Riverfront Prison and dredging the connection between Cooper River Park municipality, the City of Camden. Due to In support of this idea, each of the three business. The greenway then goes back to and the Delaware River, providing a these Key Factors, the Camden Greenway is municipalities involved has waterfront the shoreline, to the mouth of the Cooper continuous green ribbon from the Delaware a High Priority. redevelopment plans that incorporate public River to Brace Road in Cherry Hill. A walkways along the Delaware. greenway on the south side of Petty Island is 4. Delaware Waterfront Promenade: Like also included here, though Petty Island is many places throughout the United States The City of Camden has been actively actually part of Pennsauken Township. that have boosted their quality-of-life and working toward creating a mixed-use Camden Greenways Inc. proposes that the tourism by re-discovering their waterfronts, waterfront community that includes a wide greenway be created through a combination Camden County should build on and strive offering of family entertainment and cultural of acquisitions and a stream corridor to connect the City of Camden's, Gloucester attractions, as well as office buildings, protection overlay ordinance. The Camden City's, and Pennsauken Township's a hotel-conference center, and new Greenways Plan also includes a trail. The waterfront redevelopment efforts to create a residences since 1984, when Cooper's Ferry Camden Greenway would provide a major promenade along the entire length of the Development Association was formed to connection between an existing park and the Delaware River. A waterfront promenade oversee the process. Since that time, Delaware Riverfront, would add public open would offer beautiful views of the Fisherman on the Cooper River, courtesy of Fred Stine

54 River up to 36th Street. Port-related industry The proposed redevelopment of the site lies south of the mixed-use waterfront area includes a public access walkway around and the land use plan shows only two the water's edge of the pier. Proprietors waterfront access points, one at Jackson Park sits only 170 feet south of the Coast Street and the other at Newton Creek. Guard Station redevelopment site. The proximity of the park to the proposed The county open space plan differs marina/restaurant/commercial complex from the city land use plan by showing presents the city with an opportunity to a conceptual waterfront promenade along create a recreational focal point at a the entire shoreline, including through what prominent location along the Delaware is now port-related industry. The county River in between the Holt Port Facility and plan intends this to be a long-term goal, to the Gloucester Point industrial area. The be implemented over time as land uses city's goal is to ultimately compile a critical change and opportunities arise. Ultimately, mass of river-related recreational uses to a waterfront promenade extending the establish and stabilize the recreational length of the city's shoreline would serve component along the river. A river as a unifying element in Camden's promenade linking up with the City of renaissance. Camden would support the Master Plan recommendation. Gloucester City also has plans to redevelop their waterfront and improve public access. Similar to the City of Camden and Gloucester View from the BIg Timber Creek of the Philadelphia skyline The city has extensive frontage on three City, Pennsauken Township has a bodies of water (Newton Creek including redevelopment plan for the waterfront area, The public promenade along the Delaware north and south branches, Big Timber and will have completed a newer waterfront River shoreline is a High Priority because Creek/Little Timber Creek, and the plan by the summer of 2004. The draft it goes through three Urban Aid Delaware River), but there are only two waterfront plan shows about 5 miles of municipalities (Pennsauken, City of parks that are adjacent to waterfront walking trails, Camden and Gloucester City), it maximizes waterways - the Newton The proposed Delaware including paths on Petty access to the Delaware waterfront, it Creek Recreational Island, boardwalks through incorporates a Natural Heritage Priority Complex and Proprietors Waterfront Promenade, is a wetland areas adjacent to Site, and it is part of two regional projects: Park on the Delaware River. long-term project that can Fish House Cove (a Natural the Delaware River Heritage Corridor and According to the city's be achieved incrementally. Heritage Priority Site), and a the East Coast Greenway. There are a Recreation Element of their continuous walkway up number of brownfield sites along the river current Master Plan, the to the Pennsauken Creek. that are ripe for redevelopment, and having Zoning Board of Adjustment recently The proposed walkways take advantage a plan for a continuous walkway approved plans to redevelop the former of the river amenities to enhance paralleling the river is important to ensure Coast Guard Station as a rack storage, future redevelopments in Pennsauken's that public access and waterfront trails are marina, restaurant, and commercial facility. waterfront area. incorporated into future redevelopment The Federal Street Bridge, courtesy of Fred Stine

55 plans. Fortunately the Cramer Hill the waterfront with a trail component that bounded to the north by the Atlantic City as Rural Development Area in the PCMP. Redevelopment Project proposed by links to other waterfront trails should be Expressway. Although the expressway has This designation permits modest Cherokee Camden in September 2003, incorporated into redevelopment plans. an interchange adjacent to the greenway, development at an overall density of 200 shows a continuous multi-use trail and Although it is a long-term goal, having the the existing development patterns have left units per square mile, or one unit per green buffer from Cooper River to 36th promenade in the county open space plan a swath of open space along the creek 3.2 acres. Street, the border with Pennsauken. helps to keep the vision of a unified Delaware allowing the greenway to be formalized waterfront promenade alive and viable. through additional planning and Because this greenway is largely It is also recognized that there are currently negotiations. Based on its moderate within the Pinelands, Camden County active uses along the Delaware, namely 5. Fourmile Branch Greenway: This development threat coupled with the Urban should work cooperatively with the heavy industry and port uses, that are proposed greenway encompasses a major Aid status of Winslow Township, the Pinelands Commission, which oversees important to the regional economy and are tributary of the Great Egg Harbor River greenway is a Low Priority. all development within the Pinelands. largely incompatible with public access. The which forms part of the boundary between The Greenway is High Priority based on proposed Delaware Waterfront Promenade, Winslow Township and Monroe Township in 6. Great Egg Harbor Greenway: This its regional nature and Urban Aid therefore, is a long-term project that can be Gloucester County. The greenway is proposed greenway follows the delineation status. It can be achieved through achieved incrementally. As land uses change anchored on the west by Fourmile Branch of the Great Egg Harbor Wild and Scenic a combination of acquisitions and and redevelopment occurs, public access to Park, a municipal park in Winslow, and is Study area, anchored by the Winslow land use regulations, including the added Wildlife Management Area to the south and reviews necessary due to its Wild and Berlin Park to the north. This is a uniquely Scenic status. beautiful and ecologically important area of the county, and is part of an even larger 7. Great Swamp Greenway: This is a effort that goes all the way to the Great Egg small greenway within Winslow Township Harbor River's mouth at the Atlantic Ocean. that would connect the Winslow Wildlife Most of this greenway is within the Management Area to Wharton State Forest. Pinelands National Reserve, with permitted The Great Swamp is a branch of the land uses and densities determined by the Mullica River, and it also falls within the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Pinelands Agriculture Production Area, Plan (PCMP). The area directly adjacent to which limits new, non-farm related housing the Great Egg Harbor River is designated as to 1 dwelling unit per 40 acres. The Forest Area by the PCMP. Permitted uses in greenway should be achieved through the Forest Area are forestry, cultivation of vegetated stream buffers of at least 150 feet berries and native plants, and operation of wide, in coordination with the Pinelands recreational facilities, such as canoe rental Commission. Although it is low threat, it is services and campgrounds designed with anchored by Winslow Pond, a Natural minimal impact on the landscape. Other Heritage Priority site ranked as globally limited commercial establishments, and significant, and it is located in an Urban Aid housing at a density of one unit to 15.8 municipality. The Great Swamp Greenway acres is also permitted. The Great Egg is therefore ranked a Medium Priority. Harbor Greenway also has land designed Park Drive

56 development of new non-farm related housing to one unit per 40 acres. Although Hobb Lake is located in Winslow, an Urban Aid municipality, the greenway is ranked a Low Priority based on its low development threat and absence of other Key Factors.

9. Little Timber Greenway: This small greenway extends from the creek's mouth at a cove on the Delaware River, to the municipal border of Mt. Ephraim Borough. Pennsauken Creek After that point, there is little available streamside land according to the aerial and Gloucester City. This is an older, high- photography analysis. A proposed density, built-out area of the county, where realignment of I-295/NJ Route 42 is under the presence of green space is especially review by the New Jersey Department of important to enhancing the quality of life Transportation, providing an opportunity to and livability in the area. This greenway bolster this greenway with excess right-of- is also proposed by Camden Greenways, way and wetlands mitigation parcels. Inc., and can link to the existing greenway Nearby institutional uses with open space, along the Cooper River through Collingswood's Knight Park and Browning Lake Worth such as New St. Mary's Cemetery and the adjacent parochial school could also be Road. A link to the Little Timber Creek 8. Hobb Lake Greenway: This proposed wooven into this greenway. The greenway Greenway to the south is proposed through greenway links the West Atco Greenway borders Gloucester City, an Urban Aid Gloucester City near the Gloucester City with Wharton State Forest, along the Woas municipality, and it terminates at the Junior and Senior High School. and Albertson's Branches of the Pump Delaware River, another Key Factor. It is Branch, a tributary of the Mullica River. under low development threat because the The Newton Creek Greenway can be best Hobbs Lake, also referred to as Bates area is built-out. Meeting the above two achieved through good landowner Sawmill Pond and Lake of the Four Key Factors makes this greenway a stewardship and formalizing the greenway Fountains, is on Blue Anchor Road in Medium Priority. through landowner research and new Winslow Township. The upper portion of conservation easements or public the greenway is in the Regional Growth 10. Newton Creek Greenway: This acquisitions, as opportunities arise. The Area of the Pinelands, which permits base greenway includes the North and South greenway borders two Urban Aid densities ranging from 1 to 3.5 dwelling Branches, Peter Creek, and Newton Lake in communities, City of Camden and units per acre in public sewer service areas. the following municipalities: City of Gloucester City, and it terminates at the (This portion of Winslow is sewered). The Camden, Woodlyne, Haddon Township, Delaware River. It is under low majority of the greenway is in the Collingswood, Oaklyn, Audubon Park, development threat because the area is fully Agricultural Production Area, limiting Audubon, Haddon Heights, Mt. Ephraim Slim’s Ranch

57 12. Pennsauken Creek Greenway: The Bridge Commission. Adjacent to the park is Pennsauken Creek and the South Branch of an approximately 190 acre Redevelopment the Pennsauken Creek form the boundary Area. Plans for the redevelopment area between Camden and Burlington County include creating a buffer along the from the Delaware River to Pennsauken Creek, with Route 70 at the Evesham Focus Areas show the areas trails that would tie into Township border. There is remaining in the county that Palmyra Cove Nature a lot of municipal parkland Park and the Delaware along the South Branch in are important to preserve River Heritage Trail. Cherry Hill Township, and primarily for ecological The Pennsauken Creek the aerial interpretation Greenway is a Medium shows an existing green reasons. Priority based on its buffer along most other moderate threat, Urban parts. Based on the development patterns Aid status for Pennsauken, connection to viewed from the aerial interpretation, it is the Delaware River Heritage Trail, and the suspected that much of this green buffer large amount of existing parkland along may be subdivision set-aside lands rather the creek. than in individual homeownership. Formalizing the Pennsauken Greenway may 13. River to Bay Greenway Spine A : therefore not involve acquisition so much as When the Trust for Public Land conducted ownership research and negotiations. the Delaware River to Barnegut Bay A bike path in Gibbsboro Greenway Framework and Concept Plan, developed. Meeting the above two factors anchors of this greenway - Slims Ranch in the Since the Pennsauken Creek forms the they called the North Branch of makes the greenway a Medium Priority. north and Lake Worth in the south. These two boundary with Burlington County, efforts the Cooper River Spine A and the South parks should be connected through from Burlington County or the Branch Spine B. Spine A continues past the North Branch's headwaters in Voorhees 11. North Branch Big Timber Greenway : acquisitions in order to also provide a trail. municipalities of Palmyra, Cinnaminson, to connect with Wharton State Forest in This greenway is primarily along the North Other areas of the greenway can be Maple Shade, Mount Laurel, and Evesham Waterford Township. The greenway already Branch of the Big Timber Creek, with some protected through a combination of will also be needed to create the encompasses many municipal parks in extensions going north and south to connect easements and land use regulations, such as Pennsauken Greenway. According to Cherry Hill and Voorhees Townships, and with the River to Bay Greenway Spine B and steep slope ordinances to protect the ravines conversations with staff at the Burlington what is not parkland is still open, offering County Office of Resource Conservation, with the South Branch Big Timber Greenway, along the creek. The proposed greenway the possibility of a continuous green respectively. This greenway shows great also incorporates the Hidden Lake Natural the only known Pennsauken Creek connection from the state forest to the potential because it already has a large Heritage Priority Site. The North Branch Big greenway plans are in Palmyra Borough. Delaware River. Because a trail connection number of parks along it, and it is in a Timber Greenway is a High Priority due to its Palmyra Borough hosts the Palymra Cove is part of the concept for the River to Bay developed portion of the county that would high development threat, Urban Aid status, Nature Park, a new, approximately 350 Greenway, acquisition and conservation derive great benefit from additional open incorporation of a Natural Heritage Priority acre state owned park with an easements with pubic access need to be the space and recreation resources. Two recent Site, and its ability to connect two recent environmental center and trails, opened in primary strategy. The Spine A River to Bay county acquisitions form the north and south major county park additions. 2003, and managed by the Burlington Greenway is a High Priority due to

58 its regional nature, relative high threat of Blackwood Lake with Grenloch Lake, and development, connection to the Delaware could incorporate existing open space at River waterfront, and incorporation of the the Camden County Community College Beagle Club Woods Natural Heritage and the Lakeland complex. In addition, Priority Site. four Natural Heritage Priority Sites are adjacent to this greenway: Grenloch Lake, 14. River to Bay Greenway Spine B: In the Campus Swamp, Toms Branch and Gems original TPL framework plan, Spine B Landfill. In addition, the greenway is in a followed the South Branch of the Cooper High Threat area and an Urban Aid River to its headwaters in Gibbsboro, and municipality; Gloucester Township. The then down to Pine Hill South Branch Big Timber Borough, where it then Trails for biking, walking, Creek Greenway is reconnected with Spine A therefore considered a through Berlin Borough jogging, roller blading, and High Priority. and Township. That even cross-country skiing are connection is maintained in 16. West Atco Greenway: the county plan, but Spine becoming ever more popular This greenway connects B is also continued south to forms of exercise, recreation the Great Egg Harbor Wild connect with the Great Egg and Scenic Designated Harbor Greenway. and transportation. Area Greenway with Acquisition and easements Wharton State Forest. This Runners enjoying a trail in Samost with public access are the primary strategies greenway is unique in that it does not follow to provide the trail linkages. The Spine B a waterbody, as all the other greenways do, across the state. The resource The Focus Areas are essentially clusters of River to Bay Greenway is a High Priority due but is instead identified as an existing open considerations included in the hub data GIS different types of NJCF identified hubs of to its regional nature, relative high threat of space corridor that could provide a direct analysis are surface water quality impact, statewide ecological importance. They are development, its incorporation of three connection between two other major open patch size/contiguousness, rare species, given names based on their locations. See Natural Heritage Priority sites (United States spaces. The greenway falls mostly within resource protection/gaps, groundwater Map 22. Avenue, Pine Hill Bsa Site, and Pine Valley the Regional Growth Area of the Pinelands recharge, biologically productive soils, Station, ranked B2, B3, and B4, and could be achieved through and agriculturally productive soils. These Focus Areas show the areas respectively), and its connection to the conservation design ordinances that should remaining in the county that are important Delaware River waterfront. be recommended as part of the Pinelands Four types of Hubs are identified in the to preserve primarily for ecological reasons. 15.South Branch Big Timber Greenway : Excellence Program for Winslow. The West method for Camden County: In most cases, the Focus Areas are also This proposed greenway begins where the Atco Greenway is a Low Priority due to its Farmland/Grassland appropriate for passive recreation (trails, South Branch of the Big Timber Creek forks low development threat. Emergent Wetlands bird watching, fishing, boating, picnicking, from the North Branch, just upstream of Forested Wetlands - Pinelands etc.) which will allow people to enjoy the Clements Bridge Road (Route 41). The Focus Areas: The Focus Areas are based Upland Forest - Piedmont environment without negatively impacting aerial photography analysis showed that on the New Jersey Conservation it. Preservation of the Focus Areas also development was built right up to the Foundation's Garden State Greenways These were mapped for the county, and provides groundwater recharge, farmland creek's edge in many cases, and the area Project, which analyzed existing GIS data to DVRPC drew boundaries around clusters of preservation, and wildlife habitat. lacks parkland. The greenway would link identify hubs of ecological importance the hubs and termed them "Focus Areas."

59 on a map, because the detailed tax parcel Appalachian Trail, and will go from Maine information on where such opportunities to Florida. Another potential regional trail may occur is not readily available. connection opportunity resides at the However, where such eastern end of Route 70, opportunities do arise, they Camden County is blessed with near Marlton in Evesham are intended to be part of some lengthy off-road trails, Township, Burlington the Camden County Open County. A trail along the Space and Farmland AND THERE ARE ONGOING PLANS wide right-of-way of Route Preservation Plan, and the FOR NEW TRAILS THROUGHOUT THE 70 from Marlton to Planning Incentive Grant Medford is proposed in the streamlined process. COUNTY AS WEll. Rancocas Greenway Plan for the Main Branches. Trails in Camden County: Trails for biking, That trail, in turn, would connect from walking, jogging, roller blading, and even Medford to Mt. Holly to Pemberton and cross-country skiing are becoming ever beyond. All told, there are some impressive more popular forms of exercise, recreation intracounty, intercounty, and interstate and transportation. Camden County is trail possibilities. blessed with some lengthy off-road trails, and there are ongoing plans for new trails The Proposed Greenway Network also throughout the county as well. As a form of identifies connections between greenways BIke crossing in Gibbsboro recreation and open space, trail planning for trail and wildlife migration purposes. The NJCF model allows the local user to Low Priority: Mullica River, Sleeper Branch and development is an integral part of Where connections along undeveloped prioritize hubs based on different criteria Headwaters, Great Egg Harbor, Winslow the plan. Map 21 shows existing and lands are possible, the greenway network that are important to the user. However, this Environs, Winslow Wildlife Management proposed trails. shows them. Where no such land was not done for the Camden County Plan. Area Expansion, Farm Belt A, B, and C, connections were found, the greenway Instead, the Threat Assessment is used to Great Swamp Branch Area Table 7 - Camden County Trails, describes network identified on-road connections on help prioritize which Focus Areas should the status of the various existing and what appeared to be low traffic roads. receive attention first, before they are Proposed Adjoining Lands as Opportunities proposed trails within the county. Not These are shown as "On-Road Connectors" developed for other uses. A variety Arise: In addition to the plan's identified included in the table (but indicated on Map on Maps 20 and 21. of acquisition, easement, regulatory, Greenways and Focus Areas, the plan also 21) are connections to three regional trails. and stewardship techniques will be includes the concept of Proposed Adjoining Along the Delaware River in Pennsauken, needed to protect these areas. Lands as Opportunities Arise. The basis for the Pennsauken Riverfront Trail will connect The focus areas are ranked below: their inclusion is that it is almost always with the Delaware River Heritage Trail, a productive to add land to existing parks or planned loop trail between Trenton and High Priority: Headwaters, Hub, Cooper other open spaces to simply enlarge Palmyra, New Jersey, and Tacony and and Rancocas Headwaters, Hidden Lake, existing facilities, to create a critical mass of Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Directly across Natural Heritage Priority Site Hub, Stafford open space for environmental protection the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, Camden Farm Area related purposes, and to help link nearby trails can connect with the East Coast Medium Priority: Rancocas and Mullica open spaces together. Proposed Adjoining Greenway. The East Coast Greenway is River Headwaters, Pine Valley Environs Lands as Opportunities Arise are not shown planned as an urban version of the

60 Table 7: Camden County Trails

TRAIL NAME DEVELOPMENT STATUS TRAIL DESCRIPTION END POINTS/LOCATION LENGTH

ADMIRAL WILSON Complete This 12 to 14 foot wide smoothly paved asphalt The trailhead begins at the sidewalk on the south 1 mile BOULEVARD trail runs along the Cooper River on the south side of the Admiral Wilson Blvd. (Rt. 30) just before BIKE PATH side of Admiral Wilson Boulevard. the interchange with Baird Blvd. The trail crosses over Baird Blvd., continues along between the Cooper River and Rt. 30 and terminates just before the intersection with Kaighns Av., Rt. 130 and Rt. 38.

BERLIN PARK Complete Paved, recreational bike trail running Trail runs from the White Horse Pike to New 0.8 miles BIKE TRAIL through the park. Freedom Road in the Borough of Berlin.

CHALLENGE GROVE Complete Paved, recreational bike trail. The path runs from Grove St. to Brace Rd. along 0.4 miles PARK TRAIL the Cooper River and Evans Mill Rd.

COOPER RIVER PARK Complete (plans exist to extend the trail to the Two bike trails can be found in the park: 1) A The park is bounded by Route 130 and Grove St. 5.3 miles BIKE TRAIL Delaware River, Wiggins Waterfront Park, 3.8 mile loop from Cuthbert Blvd. to Route 130, (running from west to east) and North and South Farnham Park, 29th Street Park, and Pyne and; 2) A 1.4 mile loop from Cuthbert Blvd. Park Drives. The park extends from Pennsauken Poynt Park, see Cooper River Park Trail to Grove St. Parking is available off of North to Cherry Hill. Extension and Cooper River Greenway below ) and South Park Drives. Connections are made with Greenwald Memorial Park, Wallworth Park, and Challenge Grove. (NJ State Trails, p. 25, map).

GIBBSBORO Complete (plans exist to extend the Paved bike path connecting Gibbsboro to The path runs from Foster Ave. to the Lindenwold 1 mile BIKE PATH path to other parts of the Borough ) Lindenwold along a former rail right-of-way. Township border along United States Ave.

HADDON LAKE PARK Complete Purely recreational, exclusively in park. The trail is located within the park in Haddon Heights, 2.1 miles BIKE TRAIL Mt. Ephraim and Audubon townships. The park runs from Station Ave. to the Mt. Ephraim playground.

LINDENWOLD Complete Two short sections of paved bike path running The paths run from Alkmonton Ave. to Egg Path 1- .33 miles BIKE PATH through Lindenwold. These paths are linked Harbor Rd. along United States Ave. and from Path 2- .66 miles via a signed on-road bike facility. Gibbsboro Rd. to Linden Ave. along Berlin Rd.

MARIA-BARNABY Complete This off-road paved trail links Greenwald Grove Street to Kings Highway along the north side 1.2 miles GREENWALD Memorial Park with Wallworth Park and Challenge of the Cooper River. MEMORIAL PARK Grove. It also provides a connection with the BIKE PATH Cooper River Park Trail. The trail runs along the Cooper River.

MERCHANTVILLE Complete This short paved bike path occupies a former Center Street to Euclid Street along 0.7 miles BIKE PATH rail right-of-way in the Borough of Merchantville. Chestnut Avenue.

NEW BROOKLYN PARK Complete Paved, recreational bike trail running through The park is located in southern Winslow Township 1 mile BIKE TRAIL the park. along New Brooklyn-Blackwood Road.

61 Table 7: Camden County Trails (cont.) Source: DVRPC 2003

TRAIL NAME DEVELOPMENT STATUS TRAIL DESCRIPTION END POINTS/LOCATION LENGTH

NEWTON LAKE PARK Complete The Newton Lake Park Bike Trail is a paved, The trail is located within the park in Collingswood, 2.5 miles BIKE TRAIL recreational trail running exclusively through the Oaklyn and Haddon. park. The trail forms a complete loop.

WALLWORTH PARK Complete This a is short, paved, recreational trail running Kings Highway to Caldwell Road. 0.4 miles BIKE TRAIL through the park.

CENTRAL RR OF NJ Proposed The ROW appears to follow Raritan Ave. as a From Atco to Atsion 8 miles RAIL TRAIL dirt road and as an undermined alignment to Atsion. There is housing growth in the area, but it is still relatively undeveloped. (DVRPC Abandoned Railroad Study, #32).

CAMDEN Proposed This proposed greenway would link the planned Kaighns Avenue to 29th Street Park along GREENWAY TRAIL extension of the Cooper River Park Bike Trail with the Cooper River Farnham Park and will continue to Pyne Poynt Park and 29th Street Park. (Identified in DVRPC's Southern New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Plan, B-10, p. 55)

COOPER RIVER PARK Planned An extension of the existing Cooper River Park Rt. 130 to Kaighns Avenue along the Cooper River 0.5 miles BIKE TRAIL Bike Trail from Rt. 130 to Kaighns Avenue is EXTENSION currently in the planning stage.

EAST ATLANTIC The East Atlantic Bikeway is in the design stage. The East Atlantic Bikeway will be a paved 9 mile Trail will run from the Borough of Oaklyn to an 9 miles BIKEWAY A RFP for preliminary and final engineering was multi-use trail running from Oaklyn to Clementon. existing amusement/water park in the Borough issued by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning The trail will be constructed along an existing public of Clementon. Commission during the summer of 2001. ROW between Rt. 727 and an active rail corridor.

GLOUCESTER AND Proposed Glendora-Grenloch section has cinder base and is Glendora to Grenloch and Glendora to Bellmawr 5.5 miles MT. EPHRAIM already being used intensively by local citizens as a RAIL TRAIL bike and walking trail. Parallels Route 168 and passes some schools and playgrounds. Bellmawr to Glendora ROW is overgrown but passable. Area surrounding ROW is residential and built-up (Abandoned Railroad Inventory and Policy Plan,#22).

PENNSAUKEN Proposed A riverfront bike path (Southern New Jersey Bicycle The trail would run along the Delaware River 2 miles RIVERFRONT TRAIL and Pedestrian Mobility Plan, B-12, p. 56). in Pennsauken

RIVER TO BAY Planned The River to Bay Greenway trail, if constructed according GREENWAY to current plans, would extend from the Maria-Barnaby Greenwald Memorial Park Bike Path to the Wharton State Forest along an alignment roughly parallel to the northeastern boundary of the county.

WEST JERSEY AND Proposed Right-of-way still visible. (Abandoned Railroad Haddonfield to Westville 4.7 miles in SEASHORE RAIL TRAIL Inventory and Policy Plan, #21). Camden County

62 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :19 DEVELOPMENT THREAT ASSESSMENT

63 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :20 GREENWAYS

64 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :21 GREENWAYS WITH.....SYSTEMS

65 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :22 FOCUS AREAS

66 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :23 BROWNFIELDS LOCATIONS...... GREENWAYS

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68 chapter 5 FARMLAND PRESERVATION IN CAMDEN COUNTY

The New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) released a preliminary report titled "Strategic Targeting Project" in March 2003 with the primary goals of coordinating farmland preservation/agricultural retention efforts with proactive planning initiatives, updating/creating maps to target preservation efforts, and coordinating farmland preservation efforts with open space, recreation, and historic preservation investments. This farmland preservation chapter of the Open Space and Farmland Preservation Plan for Camden County is aimed at fulfilling those goals. Maps from the SADC report, which were incorporated into the farmland preservation planning for Camden County, are shown on the following pages. 69 70 Maps Courtesy of NJ Department of Agriculture

71 ithin Camden County, the Camden incorporate most of the Farmland W County Agriculture Development Preservation Priorities for Camden County Table 8 - Farms in Eight Year Program Board (CCADB) administers shown on the draft map from the NJ FARM MUNICIPALITY DATE APPROVED the Farmland Preservation Program. Department of Agriculture, above. Some of and RENEWED This program was begun in 1986 to the state farmland preservation priority address the preservation of farmland, areas were not included on the county Stella Winslow Township 3/6/95 renewed 3/6/03 monitor preserved farmland, and promote revised ADAs map because either they were Anthony Melora Winslow Township 3/17/95 renewed 3/17/03 the development of the agriculture considered too small, isolated and industry in Camden County. fragmented, or they were De Silvio Winslow Township August 4 1997 In addition, the county the Camden County no longer in farming funds 50% of the Agriculture Development based on 2000 Bertino Brothers Waterford Township September 25 1997 Rutgers Cooperative aerial interpretation. The Board (CCADB) administers Thomasello Winery Winslow Township March 13 1998 Extension Program, an updated ADAs total the Farmland Preservation educational program to 27,000 acres, whereas the Rosedale Nursery Winslow Township August 3 1998 help farmers improve their Program. original ADAs totaled farms' profitability. 26,000 acres. Even Anthony Grasso Waterford and Winslow Township February 19 1999 though the county lost farmland over the The CCADB has established Agricultural period, the updated ADAs became slightly Bates Run Winslow Township July 22 1999 Development Areas (ADAs) within the larger due to the ability to incorporate more William and Patricia Augustine Winslow Township March 8 2001 County. (See Map 21.) These ADAs are layers of information using GIS. Currently there are approximately 754 owners of areas of prime agricultural land where Source: CCADB 2003 farming is the preferred, but not necessarily 1,224 parcels, totaling about 15,068 the exclusive, use of the land. The original acres, of farmland assessed property in the ADAs were updated for this plan by county. Many, but not all of these lands fall removing blocks of land that have been within the ADAs. developed up to the year 2000 (note that land. Since 1986, the CCADB has acres), Donio Farm (100+ acres), and there is still a patchwork of developed lands Up until recently, the CCADB has focused approved temporary deed restricted Iuliucci Farm (42 acres) have applications within the ADAs due to sprawling its preservation efforts on promoting New plans for 11 landowners pending before the State development patterns), by lining up the Jersey's Eight-Year Farmland Preservation encompassing over 700 Since 1986, the CCADB has Agriculture Development ADAs' boundaries with the Pinelands Program. Applicants who are accepted into acres. The following table approved temporary deed Committee (SADC) direct Agricultural Production Area boundaries this program agree to preserve their shows the nine farms easement program. where they had been off, and by farmland through an eight-year deed currently enrolled in the restricted plans for 11 incorporating nearby blocks of farmland restriction. In return for this restriction, the eight-year program. Two of landowners encompassing The establishment of the that were in prime agricultural soils. landowner is eligible to apply for soil and the farms, Stella and Camden County Open water conservation matching funds, obtains Anthony Melora, had their over 700 acres. Space, Recreation, These updates are GIS based, which was the right to use farm structure designs original eight-year program Farmland and Historic not an available tool when the original developed by Cook College, and is eligible period expire, but they renewed. Four other Preservation Trust Fund is allowing the ADAs were drawn. The updated ADAs to sell a development easement on the farms, Anthony Grasso, Bates Run Farm (56 CCADB to pursue the preservation of

72 INSERT 11”X17” MAP :24 AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ...... 2003

73 BLANK PAGE BACKSIDE OF11”X17” MAP :24 AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ...... 2003

74 Camden County farmland on a permanent Township, in 2002. In early 2004, the 140- proposals. The effort was a partnership basis through the acquisition of acre Stafford Farm in Voorhees Township between the SADC, the Green Acres development rights. This method of became permanently protected through Program, Camden County, Voorhees preservation was heretofore unavailable to SADC's Fee Simple Program. The Stafford Township and the Trust for Public Land (a the CCADB due to a lack of county Farm commanded a very high price - $20.6 non-profit conservation group), who matching funds. The acquisition and million, one of the highest amounts ever brokered the deal. Voorhees contributed preservation of farmland in Camden paid to conserve land in New Jersey. The $7 million to preserve 70 acres of County is guided by criteria and procedures price of $147, 143 per acre was based on woodlands behind the farm, which will developed by the CCADB. The CCADB the farm's prime location, zoning, and become a township passive park for hiking, established a goal of 1,000 acres of consequent development opportunities. bird watching and education. The other 70 Camden County farmland to be preserved Preserving the farm was considered a acres will be auctioned off by the SADC by 2010. priority, despite the high price, due to its with a deed restriction that permanently high visibility, the community's attachment preserves the land for agricultural use. In To date, two farms have been permanently to the picturesque pastureland, its stance as addition to ensuring permanent protected using County Open Space Trust one of the last farms left in a fully preservation of the land, this program also Auwarter Farm in Winslow Township Funds. The first was the 49-acre Auwarter suburbanized area, and neighbors' helps make farmland available for Farm, a horse farm in rural Winslow opposition to any new development purchase by other farmers at more Program, and DVRPC is sharing information affordable prices. on the open space and farmland preservation plan with their consultant. The Coordination: The administration of the county and township are working together CCADB is under the Director of the to identify farmers that may be interested in Camden County Division selling their development of Open Space and Farming in the county is rights. The not-for-profit Farmland Preservation, threatened by encroaching Trust for Public Land (TPL), who administers the which brokered the deal Open Space, Farmland suburban development, the on the Stafford Farm, and Historic Preservation aging of some farmers who may remains instrumental in Trust Fund. The Director working with the county in has established a not have heirs, and economic land preservation relationship with elected competition from corporate negotiations and in officials and municipal identifying supplemental staff in Winslow Township, farms from outside the region funding sources to which has the most that are able to transport their complete the transactions. remaining farmland. products in bulk cheaply Winslow is currently The CCADB/Division of reexamining their land Open Space and use patterns and growth management Farmland Preservation coordinates with strategies under the Pinelands Excellence other county agencies through a sharing of Aerial of Stafford Farm, courtesy of Trust for Public Land

75 responsibilities: all mapping work is 56.1 years in Camden County. Many sales, which may only indicate that more women reported themselves as the principal conducted by the Camden County farms in the county are run by families with people are farming to take advantage of farm operator, a person who manages the Improvement Authority (CCIA), the Director heirs apparent, so a farmer's aging is not an lower farmland tax farm on a daily basis. By of the County Planning Department immediate threat to the farm's continuance. assessment. Statistics for Niche farming, community 2002, almost 40% of the coordinates by membership on the Open However, in cases where heirs are not Camden County (from the farmer's markets, pick- principal farm operators in Space Preservation Trust Fund Advisory apparent, a farm's continuance may be 1997 Census) show that New Jersey were women. Committee meetings, where all farmland threatened. The state administers a Farm about 37% of the county's your-own, and community But farming was the main purchases are reviewed by the Committee, Link Program, which matches farm sellers farms earned less than supported agriculture (CSAs) occupation for only 55% of and legal counsel is provided by the with potential buyers, to assuage this issue. $2,500, and 76% earned are growing trends for these women, reinforcing county's Office of County Counsel. The program also serves as a less than $25,000, the conclusion that many clearinghouse for information on everything indicating that most sustaining farming on the farmers in New Jersey do Farming Trends and Threats from the availability of preserved farms for Camden County farmers do edge of suburbia. not make a living from to Farming in Camden County: Farming sale, to business contacts and resources. not actually make a living farming and have outside in the county is threatened by encroaching out of farming. employment. suburban development, the aging of some Another trend influencing the viability of farmers who may not have heirs, and farming in the county is that the farms are The 2002 release of statewide data also According to Crop Statistics from the 1997 economic competition from corporate becoming smaller, as lots are subdivided off showed a 21% increase in women farmers. Census of Agriculture, 72 Camden County farms from outside the region that are able for offspring, to raise money for the farm, or Between 1997 and 2002, 337 more farms produced nursery and greenhouse to transport their products in bulk cheaply. other purposes. The 2002 Census of The economic competition was identified as Agriculture released statewide data on the biggest problem facing Camden February 3, 2004, showing average farm County farmers by the size statewide declining Rutgers Cooperative The Rutgers Cooperative from 130 acres in 1974 to Extension Agent. According 82 acres in 2002. Of to the agent, the farmers Extension Program helps almost 10,000 farms need to distinguish farmers identify areas that remaining in the state, themselves by producing more than two-thirds are higher quality and unique may improve their small farms, ranging from products in order to profitability. 1 to 49 acres. Only 1% of successfully compete. The farms are over 1,000 Rutgers Cooperative Extension Program acres. At the county level, the most recent helps farmers identify areas that may statistics are from the 1997 Census of improve their profitability. Agriculture. For Camden County in 1997, the average size farm was only 43 acres, As farmers age, a new generation will be and the median size farm was 13 acres. needed to take over management of the The Census of Agriculture county level data farms. According to the 1997 Census of for 2002 will be available in June 2004. Agriculture, the average age of the Another statewide trend shows a 31% principal operators of family farms was increase in farms with less than $2,500 in Stafford Farm, photo by: Ken Sherman, courtesy of Trust for Public Land

76 crops, 38 farms produced hay, 37 No Camden County farms are currently SADC, maintain copies of title policies, employ conservation practices on their produced floriculture crops, 29 produced known to be involved in community surveys, and recorded deeds of easement, farms. Fortunately, there are ample corn, 27 grew tomatoes, and 22 grew supported agriculture, a program where create and maintain farm-related financial and economic incentive programs sweet corn. Some farmers are reported to residents pay a fee at the beginning of the databases, and develop county policies on and technical assistance to help farmers be looking into blueberries and more growing season to the farmer, who then replacement of residential units, plan and use conservation practices on horticulture crops to improve profitability. provides weekly deliveries of just-picked construction of agricultural labor housing, their farms. The United States Department Other main crops in the county are crops back to the community. and subdivision of premises will clearly of Agriculture Natural Resources peaches, sweet peppers, pumpkins, grapes, require more time and effort than the Conservation Service (NRCS) has a Farm and cantaloupes. The Garden State Wine Growers current Division of Open Space and Service Agency office in Hainesport that Association promotes the 17 wineries in Farmland Preservation can provide, given serves Camden, Burlington and Ocean Niche farming, community farmer's New Jersey, of which one is located in the Division's small staff and present scope counties. NRCS staff are available to work markets, pick-your-own, and community Camden County, Amalthea Cellars in Atco. of responsibilities. with farmers to help them identify their supported agriculture (CSAs) are growing The Association has put together conservation goals and then craft trends for sustaining farming on the edge of suggestions for day trips for wine lovers to With the CCADB/Division of Open Space appropriate conservation plans to meet suburbia. In Camden County, there are visit the wineries around the state along with and Farmland Preservation's limited staff those goals. five community farmers markets: Berlin special promotional events such as the resources, the county currently relies on the Farmers Market, Camden Community Wine Trail Weekends, when visitors get a Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service, the Numerous programs provide financial Farmers' Market, Collingswood Farmers chance to learn more about wine, wine Camden County Board of Agriculture, the incentives to help farmers voluntarily Market, Fairview Farmers Market, and tasting, and wine making. eight-year program, and coordination with engage in these practices. Financial Jersey Fresh Farmers Market at the Camden the SADC to promote the development of incentives can include rental payments to Waterfront. These markets benefit both the Administrative Support for Farming and agriculture as an industry in the county. The farmers for reserved land, easement farmers and the community by bringing the Farmland Preservation Program: New Jersey Department of Agriculture also payments, and cost sharing, up to 100% for fresh, locally grown, nutritious produce As the farmland preservation program provides many programs to support the some programs, to develop and follow directly to the community. Five farms in progresses in Camden County, and more overall economic viability and profitability of conservation plans. NRCS programs Camden County also sell directly to the farms are permanently preserved, the the agricultural industry through innovative include the Conservation Reserve Program, public at roadside farms. They are Five R county will need to either add staff, or grant and loan programs, programs for Wetlands Reserve Program, Grassland Farms in Berlin, Parzanese assign more current staff to beneficial insects that reduce the need for Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Brothers in Winslow, Stella it is important for Camden deal with the host of items chemical pesticides and herbicides, far- Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Farms in Winslow, Tony involved in administering reaching commodity promotion and Program, Conservation Security Program, Morelli Produce in County farmers to employ and monitoring a farmland marketing efforts, and a wide variety of other Forest Land Enhancement Program, and Gloucester Township, and conservation practices on preservation program. The programs designed to keep the state's Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program Springdale Farm in Cherry their farms. increased workload agricultural industry thriving. (See Appendix G for a more complete Hill. Springdale Farm also required to conduct annual description of these programs). offers pick-your- own inspections, respond to Conservation Practices and Programs: strawberries, corn, tomatoes, pumpkins and public complaints, track the sale To remain consistent with the Plan's goal to New Jersey has partnered with the USDA to many other vegetables, home-baked of restricted farmland, develop farm "forever preserve the valued environmental help farmers protect water quality by goods, and seasonal entertainment such as conservation plans, provide legal . . . features of Camden County . . ." it is establishing a $100 million Conservation fall hay rides and spring Easter Egg Hunts. assistance, coordinate with the important for Camden County farmers to Reserve Enhancement Program. Under an

77 agreement signed by Governor McGreevey farmland is land waiting to be developed rights acquisitions over the next five to seven The Camden County Improvement in February 2004, the USDA will provide into a "higher and better use" that will bring years. Due to the limited number of farms Authority, the South Jersey Resource $77 million and the state will contribute more tax ratables to the municipality. They that may enter the program, the funding Conservation and Development Council, $23 million for New Jersey farmers to install do not understand that agriculture costs less is considered sufficient to reach the 1,000- Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service, stream buffers in order to in services than it acre goal by 2010. New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the reduce the flow of nonpoint Some officials still perceive contributes in taxes. Pinelands Commission, NRCS, and source pollution into the that farmland is land Municipal future land use Recommendations: The CCADB/Division of nonprofit conservation organizations. Each state's waterways. New plans that do not reserve Open Space and Farmland Preservation plays a role in maintaining and enhancing Jersey's goal is to enroll waiting to be developed into land for agriculture are should continue reaching out to agriculture in the county. The county 30,000 acres of agricultural a "higher and better use" indicative of this mind-set. municipalities with extant farmland, especially departments, in particular, need to focus lands into this state-federal A lack of education about Winslow and Waterford Townships, to identify additional efforts on ensuring the viability of program over a 10-year that will bring more tax the benefits of farmland farmers who may be interested in the the agricultural industry in Camden County. period. Types of buffers to ratables to the municipality preservation programs on farmland preservation program. Farms that For example, the county could help farmers be installed include trees, the part of some farmers are part of the plan's Proposed Greenways establish new market opportunities in local shrubs, vegetative filter strips, contour grass may also be preventing more farmland and Focus Areas are the schools, institutions and strips and grass waterways. Under the preservation from taking place. highest priorities in terms of With the economic viability of restaurants. The county program, a landowner installs and achieving a network of could also assist farmers in maintains approved practices through a 10 In the Pinelands, where most Camden protected open space, but the farming industry in setting up new farmers' to 15 year rental contract agreement. A County farms are located, easement prices all interested farms should Camden County at stake, markets or community landowner entering the state Farmland are lowered by Pinelands Development be considered. Explaining coordination, cooperation, supported agriculture Preservation Program or Green Acres Credits, and this discourages many farmers the Pinelands Valuation (CSA) programs. In Program also may opt for a permanent from pursuing preservation. To compensate Formula will be very technical assistance, financial addition, the county could easement under the Conservation Reserve for this, the Legislature directed the SADC important within the aid and partnerships are key. work with farmers to Enhancement Program. This would provide to develop an alternative method of Pinelands community. The develop strategies additional payment for permanent determining easement values that considers CCADB/Division of Open supporting value-added maintenance of approved conservation a variety of factors relevant to the Space and Farmland Preservation should also products which would increase farmer practices. The program will pay Pinelands. The Pinelands Valuation facilitate farmers' familiarity and use of NRCS participation in the market chain and would landowners annual rental and incentive Formula was consequently designed to preservation and conservation programs. provide additional income beyond the sale payments for participating in the program, result in easement values averaging Furthermore, applying land preservation of harvested products. Finally, the county as well as 100 percent of the cost to approximately 65% of those outside the techniques discussed in the Action Plan will can support the local agricultural industry establish approved practices. Pinelands area. also be important to preservation. by ensuring that county regulations and programs are supportive of the farming Obstacles to Farmland Preservation: Although there are several obstacles, as The CCADB/Division of Open Space and community. With the economic viability of Certain factors may be inhibiting the county described above, to preserving more Farmland Preservation will need to the farming industry in Camden County at from preserving more farmland. They farmland in the county, county funding is coordinate and work with many partners to stake, coordination, cooperation, technical include a lack of understanding on the part not considered a deterrent. The county continue promoting farming in Camden assistance, financial aid and partnerships of certain municipal officials as to the value issued a $28 million bond for open space County. Partners include municipalities, the are key. of agricultural land to their municipal tax and farmland preservation in the fall of Camden County Board of Agriculture, the base. Some officials still perceive that 2002 to fund fee simple and development Camden County Soil Conservation District,

78 chapter 6 ACTION PLAN AND PRESERVATION TOOLS

The Proposed Open Space System identifies the remaining environmentally significant lands in the county to be protected. The amount of lands identified is more than any one entity can protect, and there may never be enough funding to acquire it all. In addition, at the current rate of about 215 acres per year, some of the lands will be developed before they can be preserved. The county has a critical window of opportunity over the next five to 10 years to preserve a significant amount of open space before its character is changed. Camden County must therefore prioritize acquisitions, seek additional ways to preserve open space, and form partnerships to get the job done.

79 Five-PPoint Action Plan: urbanized/suburbanized areas are limited. Acquire large remaining open space Two identified major open spaces include lands in highly threatened areas first the Kresson Golf Course, which is proposed Invest in open space enhancement in in Voorhees Township's Open Space Plan densely populated areas to promote and has had development plans submitted, urban livability and the Atco Lake/Shendock property Formalize proposed greenways on the Winslow/Waterford Township through planning and negotiations boundary. Both are part of identified Offer subsidized funding for greenways and focus areas. Protection of municipal open space and greenway these properties should continue to be planning through the County Open pursued by the county along with its Space Trust Fund municipal and non-profit partners. Develop facilities in recently acquired county parks, and market The county should also investigate other them to county residents large remaining open space and farmland preservation opportunities within the Action #1: Acquire large remaining open prioritized greenways and focus areas by space lands in highly threatened areas first using tax assessment records and local Camden County should pursue acquiring knowledge of these sites. The county has the limited number of major open space begun this through its effort to create a opportunities remaining in suburban, highly geographic information system (GIS) of all threatened areas of the tax parcels in the county. county before they are Camden County should pursue As sections of the GIS tax The North Branch of the Big Timber running through Slims Ranch permanently lost. To date, acquiring the limited number parcel mapping are the county has successfully completed, they should be subdivision and site development plans are along the Delaware River; the City of identified and acquired of major open space overlaid with the Proposed submitted, which raises the price of the Camden, Gloucester City and Pennsauken about ten major open opportunities remaining in Greenways and Focus Area properties and prolongs negotiations. Township, all have plans completed or space properties (major maps to identify the larger largely underway that are consistent with properties are defined as suburban, highly threatened remaining unprotected Action #2: Invest in urban open space to this county plan to increase access to the large remaining open areas of the county before parcels. Although there are enhance urban livability At the same time Delaware Riverfront by creating waterfront spaces under single they are permanently lost. many factors that go into the county is pursuing protecting large pathways. In addition, the open space ownership in suburbanized the decision to pursue a remaining suburban open spaces, it should recommendations for the City of Camden, areas. Examples are parcel for acquisition, size also advance projects in urban areas to Gloucester City and Pennsauken Township Stafford Farm, Slims Ranch and Lake Worth. is a legitimate criteria because it can take enhance urban livability. This is important deserve priority attention and investment See Map 4 - Lands Protected with County as much time and effort to pursue a small from an environmental justice standpoint as because all three meet three Key Factors: Open Space Trust Funds on page 25. property as a large one. In addition, it is well as to stem the flow of population and all three have Urban Aid status, access to In a highly developed county like important to identify and pursue jobs from built-out areas to greenfields. the Delaware Waterfront, and are part of Camden, major open spaces in preservation on selected parcels before Fortunately, three large urban communities regional projects (the River to Bay

80 Other ways to improve urban livability environmental constraints, much of the land related to open space and enhancing the can continue to be protected through good environment are planting street trees and stewardship by landowners. The Division of developing community gardens on former Open Space and Farmland Preservation vacant lots. The environmental, scenic, and and local watershed associations should economic benefits of trees are well continue to play a role in disseminating documented by American Forest, Inc., and information about land stewardship others, and include measurable benefits to techniques to streamside adjacent air quality, stormwater management, and landowners. Information about temperature control of urban heat islands. maintaining a vegetated buffer along The spin-off benefits of urban community stream banks, minimizing use of pesticides gardens on former vacant lots are well and fertilizers on lawns, planting native documented by the Pennsylvania species, cleaning up pet wastes and Horticultural Society, and include creating backyard habitats is important to community beautification, improved relay to property owners adjacent to community relations, and fresh, streams. The Environmental Commission of inexpensive, nutritious home-grown Camden County recently commissioned the produce. The Open Space Preservation Delaware Valley Regional Planning Trust Fund Advisory Committee may wish to also consider offering grants to urban areas for street trees and community gardens as a means to promote the quality of life in Enjoying a show at the New Brooklyn Park amplitheateer urban areas. Greenway and East Coast Greenway). In parks in urban areas is one of maintenance Action #3: Formalize proposed addition, Pennsauken has a Natural and safety. Older, cash-strapped communities greenways through planning and Resource Priority Site on the Delaware River often lack the funds to properly maintain their negotiations Greenway creation does not called Fish House Cove. parks, resulting in a vicious cycle of always require acquisition - there are deterioration as parks become unkept, numerous ways to "formalize" greenways. The Division of Open Space and Farmland unused, and eventually unsafe. One solution Formalizing a greenway means preserving Preservation should also coordinate with the being proposed by the Trust for Public Land in the corridor through a concerted effort to Camden County Improvement Authority on the City of Camden is to create “Friends promote good stewardship, protect through the Camden Hub Plan and CCIA's efforts to of Parks” groups to monitor the upkeep, land use regulations, or create through identify brownfields appropriate for conversion lobby for park improvements, and conduct negotiations piecing together remnants of to public open space. For example, plans to clean-ups, plantings, and organized activities subdivision set-aside lands. clean up the Harrison Avenue Landfill in the to help the neighborhood regain “ownership” Cramer Hill neighborhood of Camden and and productive use of the park. The County Because most of the land adjacent to convert it into a public golf course are should assist in the creation and support Hidden Lake streams is difficult to develop due to consistent with this plan. Another issue facing of these groups.

81 Commission to compile a Teacher's Guide areas of the county may be subdivision set- to the Watersheds of Camden County. The asides from the development process, or Teacher's Guide covers many of these issues homeowner association lands. The aerial and is one way to disseminate this type of photography review of the Pennsauken information. The Division of Open Space Creek greenway, for example, indicated this and Farmland Preservation type of land use pattern. should work with local there will never be enough Researching the ownership watershed associations to of these parcels, and target dissemination of this funding to acquire all pursuing access and type of information to all the open space identified conservation easements streamside landowners in in the plan, and more through talks and the county. In addition, as negotiations, can create a another source, concise municipal open space continuous preserved and easy to duplicate planning and use of local greenway with public landowner stewardship access. Developing trails, flyers can be found in land use regulations are (many informal trails along Appendix H. needed to help protect creeks have already been greenways and focus areas. created) where they don't Another way to formalize already exist, branding greenways is through them with names, and implementation of land use regulations such providing appropriate and accessible entry as stream corridor protection ordinances, points (signed entrances mapped on a Lake Avenue Trail Official Greenway Maps, and conservation county park brochure and website) can municipal open space planning and use of have open space and greenway plans, design ordinances. These are all discussed formalize the greenway. local land use regulations are needed to seven have natural resource inventories, six in greater detail in the next section on help protect greenways and focus areas. have open space trust funds, one has a Protection Tools. Currently, most Formalizing greenways through any of the Since all land use control in New Jersey is stream corridor protection ordinance, and municipalities in Camden County are not actions described takes time and effort, local, municipalities are key none outside the Pinelands taking advantage of these tools, which are more than dollars and cents. One way to partners in preserving open improve and market the use have open space design explicitly enabled by the New Jersey facilitate this happening is through the next space through the planning of newly acquired county ordinances requiring Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL). Action Item. and regulatory process. preservation of at least However, most of the 37 parks to show county 50% of the tract. The above two methods protect the Action #4: Offer subsidized funding for municipalities in Camden residents firsthand where environmental values of stream corridors, municipal open space and greenway County are currently not To facilitate municipal use but do not necessarily provide public planning through the County Open Space using the open space their tax dollars are going of these tools, the Camden access. Even when public access is desired, Trust Fund The fourth action item planning and regulatory and how it benefits them. County Open Space acquisition may still not be necessary. recognizes that there will never be enough tools that they are enabled Preservation Trust Fund Many of the streamside lands making up funding to acquire all the open space to use by the New Jersey MLUL. (See Table Advisory Committee and Camden County proposed greenways in the older suburban identified in the plan, and that more 9). For example, only four communities Board of Freeholders should consider

82 offering small grants of $2,500 - $7,500 which county residents may exercise, relax, per municipal application to help fund the and commune with nature. Such places creation of open space and greenway plans greatly improve a community's quality of life and environmental protection ordinances. and its ability to maintain and attract Increasing the number of municipalities in residents and employers. the county with Green Acres Planning Incentive Grant Status and/or communities The Camden County Parks Department using the development process to preserve website has an informative list of park open space will further county open facilities, and the website could include space goals. maps from this report, as well, to help residents understand the Open Space Plan. Action #5. Improve and market the use of These efforts are necessary to inform newly protected county parklands The fifth residents about how to access their park action item is to improve and market the system and to garner continued support for use of newly acquired county parks to show the Open Space Tax and possible county residents firsthand where their tax referendums to increase it. dollars are going and how it benefits them. The County should develop the recent Preservation Strategies: There are four acquisitions into accessible parks with trails, tiers of preservation, ordered from most water access, picnic facilities, and other permanent, costly, and likelihood of Lake Worth: Current conditions and how it could look after proposed improvements features. The county should also invest in providing public access to least permanent, county park signage (including permanent plaques about funding from the Open Space Trust Fund and temporary displays of any landscape architect's plans for park improvements) at park entrances, and continued articles about the parks in municipal and county newsletters.

The cover of this Plan is a rendering of what Lake Worth Park could look like after it is developed as a park. The improvements include a picnic pavilion, pathway for walking and biking, docks for fishing, and dredged lake for canoeing or kayaking. With improvements, Lake Worth Park, as well as the other newly acquired properties, can become new outdoor destinations in

Patinos Lake

83 costly, and likelihood of providing public Variations include a reserved life estate, access: where land is transferred immediately, but the owner reserves the use of the property Acquisition for his or her lifetime, and a bequest, where Conservation easements the landowner conveys the deed of the Stronger land use regulations property at the time of his or her death. Good stewardship Fee Simple Purchase: Under a fee Acquisition: Acquisition by a public simple purchase, the transfer of full title to a agency or non-profit is typically the most property is made to the purchaser. The costly, but the most permanent means to purchase price is negotiated based on an protect open space from development. The appraisal and the establishment of fair acquisition of open space can be market value. Variations on this method accomplished in a number of ways. of acquisition include installment purchases These include donation whereby a set number of by property owner, fee The success of any open space acres are purchased simple purchase, and, periodically until full title is purchase by private plan requires cooperation obtained, and bargain conservation organization. among county and municipal sales where purchase is at Camden County evaluates governments and local less than market value A picturesque view of Lake Worth recommended acquisitions because the owner on a case-by-case developers in order to satisfy donates a portion of the Conservation Easements or Purchase conservation easement whereby the basis to determine the the interests of both the public purchase price. Fee simple of Development Rights -- Purchase of difference in the highest and best use of most financially beneficial purchase is typically the Conservation Easement: A conservation undeveloped land before and after the method to pursue in and private sectors. most costly method of easement identifies certain rights or restrictions creation of the easement is paid to the negotiations with the acquisition. Public access on the use and development of a property. owner. In return, the owner agrees to abide property owner(s). In many instances, to the property is typically granted under a Easements may be donated by a property by specific rights and restrictions on the use partnerships with municipalities and private fee simple purchase. owner or purchased by a local government, and development of the property. This is the conservation organizations are formed to charitable organization, or conservation primary method used in the acquisition of facilitate acquisition and subsequent Purchase by Private Conservation organization/land trust. The holder of the farmland. Public access to the property administration and maintenance of the Organization: Private conservation easement agrees to perform periodic may or may not be granted by the purchase property. organizations can play a significant role in inspections of the property to ensure that the of development rights. the acquisition of open space. By forming provisions of the easement are being met. Donation by Property Owner: A informal public-private partnerships with Public access to the property may or may not Land Use Regulations and Using the property owner elects to donate his or her such organizations, significant amounts be granted under a conservation easement. Development Process to Preserve property to a local government or private of open space can be preserved. Public Open Space: The success of any open conservation organization. Public access to access may or may not be granted by Purchase of Development Rights: The space plan requires cooperation among the property may or may not be granted. the organization. purchase of development rights is a form of county and municipal governments and

84 local developers in order to satisfy the within the Pinelands Area, under the areas, an "audit" of the county's and intensity of activities within the corridor. interests of both the public and private jurisdiction of the Pinelands Commission. municipalities' use of open space and Buffer widths typically range from 25 to 300 sectors. While these interests may at times (See Map 2 - Pinelands) The Pinelands natural resource protection tools was feet, depending on the community's goals. appear to be at odds with respect to open Protection Act of 1979 requires municipal undertaken. The following 11 techniques space preservation, much can be plans and ordinances to be consistent with were reviewed, and the results of the audit Wetlands Mapping: by requiring accomplished if all parties are willing to the Pinelands Comprehensive Management are shown in Table 9. wetlands mapping as part of the site plan work together. Plan (PCMP). A municipality is able to submission requirements, municipalities exercise more flexibility in applying the Environmental Resource Inventory can determine where wetlands may be Opportunities exist for neighboring PCMP to local conditions by participating in (ERI): is a compilation of text and mapped threatened by inappropriate development, municipal governments to work the conformance process. Once a locality information about the natural resource and can request site plan changes as cooperatively in the development of revises its plans and ordinances to conform characteristics and environmental features appropriate. Although the NJDEP regulates intermunicipal greenways to the PCMP, the Pinelands of a municipality. An ERI identifies critical development on wetlands, locally reviewing along rivers, streams, out The county's municipalities are Commission Executive natural resources and provides a policy impacts on wetlands can result in more of service rail beds, etc. for not taking advantage of the Director certifies the plans basis for the development of resource thorough and comprehensive protection. the common use and and ordinances as being protection ordinances. enjoyment of their variety of local regulatory in conformance with Steep Slope Ordinance: regulates residents. Camden County techniques available to the PCMP. The five Open Space Plan: is a comprehensive development on areas of steep slope, with should be a facilitator for municipalities within the document that serves as a guide for 8% typically the minimum gradient such projects. preserve the significant Pinelands in Camden open space protection and preservation in classified as steep. environmental features within County have received this a municipality. An open space plan As municipalities govern their boundaries. certification. examines a community's needs and goals, Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) development within their analyzes preserved and unpreserved open Ordinance: allows municipalities to preserve respective jurisdictions, In addition, all development spaces, and lays out a set of priorities and rural and natural features while protecting Camden County must work with local applications within the Pinelands Area are strategies for preservation. property rights and allowing some growth. A planning and environmental commissions reviewed by the Pinelands Commission to TDR program takes development that would and zoning officials to encourage their ensure that the resources of the Pinelands Floodplain Management Ordinance: normally occur in rural areas (sending support for land use planning strategies are not adversely affected by construction. regulates development activities in the 100- areas) and transfers it to other parts of a which encourage development along with When the Pinelands Commission completes year floodplain. They typically limit nearly municipality where growth is more open space preservation. its review and determines that the proposed all new forms of residential, commercial, acceptable (receiving areas). Previous state development meets environmental and industrial construction in the legislation only permitted TDR programs in Another partner in preservation is the standards, the applicant is issued a floodplain, and require flood-proofing Burlington County, but new legislation that Pinelands Commission, which provides "Certificate of Filing", which enables the where development does occur. enables TDR programs in the rest of the another level of environmental protection applicant to apply for other state and local state was approved by the Assembly and and land development review. Five permits needed. Stream Corridor Protection Ordinance: Senate and signed into law by Governor municipalities in the county (Berlin ensures that vegetated riparian buffers are McGreevey on March 29, 2004. Borough, Berlin Township, Chesilhurst To determine the role that local land use maintained by requiring development to be Borough, Waterford Township and planning and regulations could play in set back from stream banks, floodplains, WinslowTownship) are wholly or partially creating the proposed greenways and focus and wetland areas and by limiting the use

85 space programs promote preservation by open space plan, there may not be leveraging limited available funding . adequate information on which to judge the EIS. Assessment: The county's municipalities are not taking advantage of the variety of Voorhees Township has ordinance local regulatory techniques available to language resembling a stream corridor preserve the significant environmental protection ordinance - Section 131-11 of features within their boundaries. The five their code states "Unless otherwise specified Camden County communities in the and indicated on the Zoning Map, no Pinelands benefit from the added structure shall be erected on land which environmental protection is less than 4 feet above provided by the municipal Another tool that can assist the normal or average certification and certificate municipalities in protecting level of any adjacent of filing system for lands running stream, lake or within the Pinelands areas. significant lands through the body of water, including Of the county's 32 land development approval tidewaters, nor closer than municipalities outside the 50 feet to such stream, Pinelands, 9 communities process is an Official Greenway lake or body of water, Stafford Farm, photo by: Ken Sherman, courtesy of Trust for Public Land employ floodplain Map. whichever conditions shall management ordinances impose the greater Open Space/Cluster Development/Conservation districts with 10 to 20-acre minimum lot and 13 require wetlands mapping as a site requirements." This zoning language Design Ordinance: enables developers to sizes and those with 20 acre or larger plan submission requirement. Two appears to have the effect of a stream increase densities on one portion of a tract minimum lot sizes. municipalities (Cherry Hill and Voorhees corridor protection ordinance requiring in return for preserving open space on townships) have an environmental a minimum setback of 50 feet. However, another portion of a tract. This audit Environmental Impact Statement: is a resources inventory (ERI), four have an open because it is a small section somewhat considered ordinances that require the requirement usually found in the Land space plan (Cherry Hill, Voorhees, buried in the code, it may not be preservation of at least 50% of a given tract Development and Subdivision Ordinance Gibbsboro and the City of Camden), five well understood or even known. A as open space. Conservation Design that is intended to highlight the impacts of a have an open space trust fund (Cherry Hill, separate chapter that refers to the ERI Ordinances go one step further by development proposal on air, water, soil Clementon, Gibbsboro, Gloucester is recommended. facilitating the creation of an and on aquatic and terrestrial life. Each Township, Voorhees, and Berlin Township, interconnected network of open space municipality has its own standards for which is partially within the Pinelands,) one Gibbsboro, alone, is the only community in throughout the municipality, via the determining the types of development (Gibbsboro) has a stream corridor the county with a steep slope ordinance. development process. proposals that will require an EIS. protection ordinance, and none have open However, there are places in the county space ordinances requiring preservation of outside Gibbsboro that have severely steep Agricultural Zoning: is a technique that Local Open Space Funding Program: at least 50% of the tract. Fifteen slopes in excess of 25%, such as the slopes allows municipalities to protect their rural provides dedicated funds, through special municipalities require an Environmental recently preserved along the North Branch and agricultural areas by establishing large taxes or bonds, for local open space Impact Statement (EIS) for certain of the Big Timber in Slims Ranch and the minimum lot sizes. This audit considered initiatives. Combined with county and state developments, but, so few have an ERI or Hill Property. municipalities with agricultural zoning funding programs, locally funded open

86 Since it is cost prohibitive to protect all the The official map usually comes into play at greenway and focus areas identified for the time a land development or subdivision preservation through fee simple acquisitions is proposed. The municipality then has the or even conservation easements, option, for up to one year after final plan municipalities should consider using land approval, to negotiate various ways to keep use tools such as the aforementioned the land open. Types of preservation ordinances to help protect environmentally agreements that may be pursued include sensitive lands. Good examples of these fee simple acquisition, purchase of ordinances from within the Delaware Valley easement, bargain sale, and property can be viewed on DVRPC's website at donation. However, unless otherwise www.dvrpc.org. agreed upon, the law specifically states that the property owner is entitled to full market Another tool that can assist municipalities in compensation. One municipality that has protecting significant lands through the taken advantage of the tool is Washington land development approval process is an Township in Gloucester County, which Official Greenway Map. Official maps for adopted an Official Greenway Map that open space and greenways are largely facilitated the dedication of several hundred misunderstood and therefore quite acres of streamside land throughout the underutilized, even though they are township. Lake Avenue expressively authorized by the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law in Article 5 - The Official Map, and Article 6, Section 40:55D-44 - Reservation of Public Areas.

An official greenway map is essentially an ordinance, in map form, adopted by the municipality, that designates existing and proposed areas for open space protection. By identifying these areas on an official map, the municipality is announcing its intentions to preserve these areas for flood control, streambank stabilization, provision of wildlife habitat, and/or recreational facilities. Once adopted, the official greenway map gives notice to property owners and developers of the municipality's intentions, but does not in and of itself serve to acquire the land for public purposes. Lafferty/Connoly Park, courtesy of Trust for Public Land Park Drive

87 Table 9 - Camden County Municipalities' Use of Natural Resource Protection Tools EIS ERI TDR WETLANDS MAPPING AG ZONING AG (ACRES) STEEP SLOPE ORDINANCE STREAM CORRIDOR PROTECTION ORDINANCE MUNICIPALITY FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE LOCAL OPEN LOCAL FUNDING SPACE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE PLAN OPEN SPACE

AUDUBON BOROUGH NO NO YES NO YES NO NO NO NO YES NO

AUDUBON PARK BORO. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

BARRINGTON NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO

BELLMAWR NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

BERLIN BOROUGH* YES NO YES NO YES NO YES** NO NO YES NO

BERLIN TOWNSHIP* YES NO YES NO YES NO YES** NO NO YES YES

BROOKLAWN NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO YES NO

CAMDEN YES YES YES NO*** NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

CHERRY HILL YES YES YES NO YES NO NO NO NO YES YES

CHESILHURST* YES NO NO NO NO NO YES** NO NO YES NO

CLEMENTON NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES

COLLINGSWOOD NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES NO

GIBBSBORO NO YES YES YES YES YES NO NO NO YES YES

GLOUCESTER CITY NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP NO NO YES NO YES NO NO NO NO YES YES

HADDON HEIGHTS NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO

HADDON TOWNSHIP NO NO YES NO YES NO NO NO NO YES NO

HADDONFIELD NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES NO

HI-NELLA NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

LAUREL SPRINGS NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES NO

88 Table 9 - Camden County Municipalities' Use of Natural Resource Protection Tools (cont.) EIS ERI TDR WETLANDS MAPPING AG ZONING AG (ACRES) STEEP SLOPE ORDINANCE STREAM CORRIDOR PROTECTION ORDINANCE MUNICIPALITY FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE LOCAL OPEN LOCAL FUNDING SPACE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE PLAN OPEN SPACE

LAWNSIDE NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

LINDENWOLD NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

MAGNOLIA NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

MERCHANTVILLE NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES NO

MOUNT EPHRAIM NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO YES NO

OAKLYN NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO YES NO

PENNSAUKEN NO NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO YES NO

PINE HILL NO NO YES NO YES NO NO NO NO YES NO

PINE VALLEY NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO

RUNNEMEDE NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

SOMERDALE NO NO YES NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO

STRATFORD NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

TAVISTOCK YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

VOORHEES YES YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES

WATERFORD* YES NO YES NO YES NO YES** YES 40 YES NO

WINSLOW* YES NO YES NO YES NO YES** YES 40 YES NO

WOODLYNNE NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

* Municipalities wholly or partially within Pinelands Area, subject to conformity with the Pinelands Comprehensive Master Plan and Certificate of Filing procedure, which applies strict environmental standards to ensure protection of environmental resources. See Map 2 for Pinelands Management Areas ** Pinelands Development Credits *** A Stream and River Corridor Protection and Managemaent Overlay Zone is under consideration in the City of Camden Source: DVRPC 2003

89 APPENDIX A: CRITERIA RANKING FOR SITE PRIORITIZATION

OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION RANKING PROCEDURE 2) Wetlands buffer area present . . . . .3 IV. Greenway/Open Space 3) Adjacent to wetlands buffer ...... 2 Characteristics scale of -4 to +5 is used for purposes of evaluating the factors set forth below for each site 4) Neither wetlands buffer, nor adjacent for which an application has been submitted. Points assigned for each factor are then tabulated to wetlands buffer ...... 0 a) Proximity to Greenway/Protected . . . A to determine an aggregate point total for that site. This number provides guidance in assessing Open Space: the viability of the site for funding from the Camden County Open Space Recreation, Farmland and b) Riparian Corridor/Water Frontage: Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Note that while the point system plays a significant role in evaluating 1) Contiguous to existing protected . . . a site, it is not dispositive for purposes of an application. Rather, the ranking procedure is part of an 1) Exceptional water frontage ...... 4 greenway or existing protected overall assessment of each application. The overall assessment includes consideration of all 2) Some water frontage ...... 3 open space ...... 4 reasonable and relevant facts that are known to, or brought to the attention of, the Open Space Trust 3) Protects water frontage ...... 2 2) Contiguous to unprotected greenway Fund Advisory Committee. 4) No water frontage or protection of or open space ...... 3 water frontage ...... 0 3) Significant potential to connect to Also note that to be ranked, municipal applications must be accompanied by documentation existing greenway or protected indicating the municipality's commitment to funds not less than 25% of the cost of preservation through c) Presence of Woodlands: open space ...... 2 acquisition or easement. Such funding shall be exclusive of any state funding (i.e. Green Acres). The above requirement may be waived by Camden County in the event of a municipality's demonstration 1) Mature woodlands over major area 4 b) Proximity to Farmland: of financial hardship resulting in an inability to provide funding. 2) Mature woodlands over minor area 3 3) Less mature woodlands present over 1) Contiguous to protected farmland .4 CRITERIA RANKING b) Market Availability: major area ...... 2 2) Within ½ mile radius of protected 4) Less mature woodlands present over farmland ...... 3 I. Land Use 1) Property listed for sale w/knowledge minor area ...... 1 3) Contiguous to unprotected of offer ...... 4 farmland ...... 2 a) Present Land Use : (circle predominant 2) Property under market investigation . .3 d) Contamination: 4) Within ½ mile radius of unprotected use only) 3) Property not for sale ...... 2 farmland ...... 1 4) Other ...... 1 1) Environmental assessment/initial . . . 1) Open Space ...... 4 investigation conducted: c) Proximity to Scenic Views: 2) Farmland ...... 3 c) Suitability for Development: 3) Recreation ...... 2 a) Extensive hazardous waste . . . . . 1) Contains scenic views ...... 3 1) Subdivision approved/previously . . . contamination confirmed ...... -4 2) Compliments scenic views ...... 2 b) Proposed Use: (circle predominant subdivided ...... 4 b) Limited hazardous waste ...... 3) No significant contribution ...... 0 use only) 2) Subdivision application filed: minor . contamination confirmed ...... -3 impediments ...... 3 c) Municipal waste/non-hazardous . V.Ease of Acquisition/Conservation 1) Conservation/Passive Recreation . . .2 3) Subdivision application filed: minor . debris confirmed ...... -2 2) Active Recreation ...... 1 impediments ...... 2 a) Other Funding Applied For: (circle all 4) Subdivision application pending . . .1 2) No detailed initial investigation . . . . 1) 80 + acres ...... 5 that apply) 5) No subdivision application pending conducted, contamination ...... 2) 60 - 79 acres ...... 4 or approved ...... 0 suspected/possible ...... 1 3) 40 - 59 acres ...... 3 1) Green acres ...... 2 4) 20 - 39 acres ...... 2 2) Farmland preservation ...... 2 d) Infrastructure Availability 3) No detailed initial investigation . . . . 5) 0 - 19 acres ...... 1 3) Historic preservation ...... 2 conducted no known or 4) Community Development Block Grant .2 suspected contamination ...... 0 II. Development Pressure 1) Available roads, public water and . . 5) Rails-to-Trails ...... 2 sewer ...... 4 6) Matching municipal funds or services 2 a) Ownership: 2) 2 of the above ...... 3 e) Endangered or Threatened Species . 7) Other ...... 2 3) 1 of the above ...... 2 Habitats: 1) Estate Sale/Foreclosure ...... 4 4) None of the above ...... 0 b) Public Support:* 2) Corporation or Partnership ...... 3 1) Known endangered/threatened 3 Resident Ownership ...... 2 III. Environmental Factors species habitat ...... 4 1) Application is endorsed by municipality 5 4) Other (i.e. municipality, tax-exempt 2) Suspected endangered/threatened . . non-profit organization) ...... 1 a) Proximity to Wetlands: species habitat ...... 2 *Strongly suggest you ask your municipality for a Letter 3) No known endangered/threatened . of Endorsement or Resolution supporting the sale of your property to the County Open Space Preservation Program. 1) Wetlands present ...... 4 species habitat ...... 0

90 APPENDIX b: RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS

PARK REQUIREMENTS TO 2025 (POPULATION-BASED METHOD - 2003) STANDARDS FOR PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS (acres/1000 population) POPULATION BY DENSITY CATEGORY

DENSITY (persons/square mile) 0-499 REGION > 10,000 0 to 499 COUNTY > 10,000 500-4,999 CATEGORY 5,000-9,999 500 to 4,999 TOTAL POPULATION 2025 5,000 to 9,999 REGIONAL PARK REQUIRMENT (ACRES) SUB-REGIONAL DEFICIT/ SURPLUS REGIONAL DEFICIT/ SURPLUS SUB-REGIONAL REQUIREMENT PARK (ACRES) REGIONAL - - - - 25 BUCKS 70,560 651,890 25,670 0 748,120 6,075 2,247 SUB-REGIONAL 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 -

CHESTER 116,370 394,970 20,290 18,530 550,160 4,519 888 LOCAL 3.08 6.17 8.0 6.0 -

DELAWARE 4,100 305,580 223,994 14,110 547,784 3,886 -3,042 Source: DVRPC 2003

MONTGOMERY 15,280 742,650 99,100 0 857,030 6,689 -769

PHILADELPHIA 0 0 529,270 970,730 1,500,000 7,059 1,027

PA TOTAL 4,203,094 28,228 -3,811 105,077 -73,234

BURLINGTON 107,830 19,970 19,970 0 513,450 4,283 -2,254

CAMDEN 12,490 103,110 103,110 0 513,530 3,927 -1,327

GLOUCESTER 48,470 0 0 0 322,520 2,677 -978

MERCER 23,050 14,100 14,100 86,500 404,850 2,911 5,071

NJ TOTAL 1,754,350 13,798 -4,559 43,859 117,441

REGION TOTAL 5,957,444 42,026 -8,370 148,936 -73,234

91 APPENDIX b: RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS cont.

NEW JERSEY BALANCED LAND USE GUIDELINES 2002 ADJUSTED LAND USE GUIDELINES (2002) WETLANDS AREA STATE AREA COUNTY FEDERAL COUNTY WETLANDS REMAINING DEVELOPABLE DEVELOPABLE COUNTY DEFICIT/SURPLUS 7% COUNTY GOAL EXISTING PARKS, EXISTING PARKS, PRESERVATION AREAS AND LANDS DEVELOPED COUNTY PARKS AS COUNTY PARKS % OF EXISTING AND DEVELOPED PRESERVED A-F-S-W=D OF COUNTY GOAL 7% OF REMAINING DEVELOPABLE

BUCKS 389,056 0 12,156 18,250 358,650 25,106 -16,784 BUCKS 389,056 174,360 214,696 15,029 4.77%

CHESTER 483,776 1,182 6,791 7,825 467,978 32,758 -27,804 CHESTER 483,776 159,959 323,817 22,667 3.10%

DELAWARE 118,080 701 3,145 5,274 108,960 7,627 -6,904 DELAWARE 118,080 86,024 32,056 2,244 0.84%

MONTGOMERY 308,992 2,199 4,287 5,625 296,881 20,782 -15,012 MONTGOMERY 308,992 177,514 131,478 9,203 3.25%

PHILADELPHIA 86,464 319 255 5,534 80,356 5,625 3,061 PHILADELPHIA 86,464 79,850 6,614 0 10.88%

PA TOTAL 1,386,368 4,401 26,634 42,508 1,312,825 91,898 PA TOTAL 1,386,368 677,707 708,661

TOTAL -66,504 TOTAL 49,143

BULINGTON 514,880 4,001 128,856 10,432 371,591 26,011 -24,045 BURLINGTON 514,880 364,568 150,312 10,522 0.54%

CAMDEN 142,272 0 18,642 14,798 108,832 7,618 -5,307 CAMDEN 142,272 91,472 50,800 3,556 2.53%

GLOUCESTER 208,064 0 5,108 13,164 189,792 13,285 -11,598 GLOUCESTER 208,064 83,813 124,251 8,698 2.01%

MERCER 144,516 0 3,464 16,045 125,007 8,750 -987 MERCER 144,516 82,636 61,880 2,353 9.39%

NJ TOTAL 1,009,732 4,001 156,070 54,439 795,222 55,666 NJ TOTAL 1,009,732 622,489 387,243

TOTAL -41,939 TOTAL 25,128 AREA STATE STATE STATE DEFICIT/ SURPLUS FEDERAL DEFICIT/ SURPLUS 10% STATE GOAL 10% STATE 10% STATE GOAL 4% FEDERAL GOAL

PA 1,386,368 138,637 -112,003 55,455 -51,054 4% FEDERAL GOAL

PA 677,707REMAINING DEVELOPABLE 708,661 70,866 3.99% 28,346 0.65% TOTAL PARKS, TOTAL DEVELOPED AND PRESERVED LANDS FEDERAL PARKS AS % OF EXISTING PARKS, AND DEVELOPED LANDS PRES.

NJ 1,009,732 100,973 55,097 40,389 -36,388 PARKS STATE AS % OF EXISTING PARKS, AND DEVELOPED LANDS PRES. NJ 622,489 387,243 0 25.07% 15,490 0.64% Source: DVRPC 2003 Source: DVRPC 2003

92 APPENDIX C INVENTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY WATER BODIES AND WATERSHEDS

amden County is bordered by the Delaware River, is home to approximately 450 lakes Brooklawn Borough Watershed and ponds, and contains six major waterways: the Cooper, Great Egg Harbor, and Lakes/Ponds (4) Mullica River C Mullica Rivers, and the Big Timber, Newton and Pennsauken Creeks. Together, these All Unnamed waterways and their many tributaries travel through 36 of Camden County's 37 municipalities. Clementon Borough The county is drained by seven watersheds: Big Timber Creek, Cooper River, Great Egg Harbor, Rivers/Streams, etc. (2) Lakes/Ponds (7) Bottom Lake Mullica River, Newton Creek, Pennsauken Creek and Rancocas Creek. The Great Egg Harbor Big Timber Creek Little Timber Creek Clementon Lake and the Mullica River watersheds flow easterly into the Atlantic Ocean. The other five watersheds Watershed Pillings Lake drain westerly to the Delaware River Basin. Big Timber Creek Silver Lake Watson Lake The following pages identify the number and where available, the names of the various lakes, Camden City 2 Unnamed Lakes ponds, rivers, streams and tributaries found in each municipality. Also listed are the watershed(s) Lakes/Ponds (0) Rivers/Streams, etc. within each. None Big Timber Creek (N.B.) Rivers/Streams, etc. (3) Trout Run Cooper River Watershed Delaware River Big Timber Creek Newton Creek Audubon Borough All Unnamed Watershed Collingswood Borough Lakes/Ponds (2) Rivers/Streams, etc. (3) Cooper River Lakes/Ponds (4) Audubon Lake; Beaver Branch Newton Creek Newton Lake Big Timber Creek Haddon Lake 3 unnamed lakes Little Timber Creek Rivers/Streams, etc. (2) Cherry Hill Township Rivers/Streams, etc. (2) Newton Creek (S.B.) Watershed Lakes/Ponds (19) Cooper River Peter Creek Big Timber Creek Evans Pond Newton Creek Watershed Wallworth Lake Watershed Newton Creek Berlin Borough (17) Unnamed Cooper River Lakes/Ponds (5) Rivers/Streams, etc. (9) Newton Creek Audubon Park Borough All Unnamed Cooper River; Lakes/Ponds (0) Rivers/Streams, etc. (2) Cooper River (N.B.) Gibbsboro Borough None Longacoming Branch of the Great Cooper River (S.B.) Lakes/Ponds (12) Rivers/Streams, etc. (1) Egg Harbor River Cuffys Run Bridgewood Lake Peter Creek Watershed Holly Swamp Branch Clement Lake Watershed Great Egg Harbor River Long Branch Edgewood Lake Newton Creek Big Timber Creek Mill Creek Linden Lake Mullica River Pennsauken Creek (S. B.) Silver Lake Barrington Borough Tindall Run Woodland Lake Lakes/Ponds (5) Berlin Township Watershed 6 Unnamed Lakes All Unnamed Lakes/Ponds (4) Cooper River Rivers/Streams, etc. (5) Rivers/Streams, etc. (1) All Unnamed Pennsauken Creek Cooper River (S.B.) Rivers/Streams, etc Beaver Branch Haney Run Kettle Run Watershed Chesilhurst Borough Hillard Creek Big Timber Creek Mullica River Lakes/Ponds (1) Nicholson Branch Cooper River (minor) Watershed Unnamed 1 Unnamed Stream Big Timber Creek Rivers/Streams, etc. (1) Watershed Bellmawr Borough Great Egg Harbor River; Wildcat Branch Cooper River Lakes/Ponds (2) Mullica River Rancocas Creek

93 APPENDIX C INVENTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY WATER BODIES AND WATERSHEDS cont.

Gloucester City Haddonfield Borough Laurel Springs Borough Merchantville Borough Lakes/Ponds (7) Lakes/Ponds (5) Lakes/Ponds (1) Lakes/Ponds (0) All Unnamed Evans Pond Laurel Lake None Rivers/Streams, etc. (4) Hopkins Pond Rivers/Streams, etc. (2) Rivers/Streams, etc. (0) Delaware River Wallworth Lake Big Timber Creek (N.B.) None Little Timber Creek 2 unnamed lakes Quaker Run Watershed Newton Creek Rivers/Streams, etc. (5) Watershed Cooper River Newton Creek (S.B.) Cooper River Big Timber Creek Watershed Cooper River (S.B.) Mt. Ephraim Borough Newton Creek Lamkins Run Lawnside Borough Lakes/Ponds (2) Big Timber Creek 2 Unnamed Tributaries Lakes/Ponds (1) Audubon Lake Watershed Unnamed Haddon Lake Gloucester Township Big Timber Creek (Minor) Rivers/Streams, etc. (1) Rivers/Streams, etc. (2) Lakes/Ponds (76) Cooper River Cooper River (S.B.) Little Timber Creek Blackwood Lake Newton Creek Watershed Newton Creek (S.B.) Lake Clementona Big Timber Creek (Minor) Watershed George Lake Haddon Heights Borough Cooper River; Newton Creek Big Timber Creek Grenloch Lake Lakes/Ponds (0) Newton Creek Hidden Lake None Lindenwold Borough Jones Lake Rivers/Streams, etc. Lakes/Ponds (7) Oaklyn Borough Nashes Lake Newton Creek (S.B.) Kirkwood Lake Lakes/Ponds (3) 69 unnamed Lakes Watershed Laurel Lake Newton Lake (8 within Log Valleybrook Golf Course Big Timber Creek Linden Lake Peter Creek 1within Freeway Golf Course) Newton Creek Pine Lake 1 Unnamed Rivers/Streams, etc. (16) Lake Worth Rivers/Streams, etc. (2) Big Timber Creek (N.B.) Haddon Township 2 Unnamed Lakes Newton Creek Big Timber Creek (S.B.) Lakes/Ponds (4) Rivers/Streams, etc. (4) Peter Creek Bridge Branch Crystal Lake Big Timber Creek (N.B.) Watershed Chestnut Branch Newton Lake Cooper River (S.B.) Newton Creek Farrows Run 2 Unnamed Lakes Mason Run Gardners Run Rivers/Streams, etc. (4) Trout Run Pennsauken Township Gravelly Run Cooper River Watershed Lakes/Ponds (2) Holly Run Newton Creek Big Timber Creek Tippins Pond Jeremys Branch Newton Creek (S.B.) Cooper River Fish House Cove LogBridge Branch Watershed (cove in Delaware River) Mingus Run Cooper River Magnolia Borough Rivers/Streams, etc. (6) Otter Branch Newton Creek Lakes/Ponds (0) Delaware River Pines Run None Hell Run Signeys Run Hi-NNella Borough Rivers/Streams, etc. (2) Pennsauken Creek Smallwoods Branch Lakes/Ponds (0) Cooper River (S.B.) Pennsauken Creek (S.B.) Toms Branch None Lamkins Run Pochack Creek Watershed Rivers/Streams, etc. (1) Watershed Rattlesnake Run Great Egg Harbor River Signeys Run Big Timber Creek Watershed Big Timber Creek Watershed Cooper River Pennsauken Creek Big Timber Creek Cooper River

94 APPENDIX C INVENTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY WATER BODIES AND WATERSHEDS cont.

Pine Hill Borough Signeys Run Hays Mill Creek Woodlyn Borough Lakes/Ponds (10) Quaker Run Marshalls Mill Stream Lakes/Ponds (0) All Unnamed Watershed Mechescatuxen Branch/Sleeper Branch None Rivers/Streams, etc. (3) Cooper River Mullica River Rivers/Streams, etc. (1) Big Timber Creek (N.B.) Big Timber Creek Blue Anchor Branch Newton Creek (N.B.) Mason Run Prices Branch Watershed Sharps Branch Tavistock Borough Pump Branch Newton Creek Watershed Lakes/Ponds (3) Tusco Musco Branch Great Egg Harbor River All Unnamed Wildcat Branch Big Timber Creek Rivers/Streams, etc. (1) Watershed Sources: 1999 Camden County Open Space and Lamkins Run Mullica River Recreation Plan; Waterways of Camden County - A Pine Valley Borough Watershed Historical Gazetter by William R. Farr, 2002; and Lakes/Ponds (5) Big Timber Creek (Minor) Winslow Township mapped stream and lake names provided by Ed Fox, Camden County Improvement Authority All Unnamed Cooper River Lakes/Ponds (172) Rivers/Streams, etc. (1) Anchor Lake Big Timber Creek (N.B.) Voorhees Township Hobb Lake Watershed Lakes/Ponds (46) New Brooklyn Lake Great Egg Harbor River Cedar Lake Virginia Lake Big Timber Creek Kirkwood Lake 168 unnamed Kresson Lake Rivers/Streams, etc. (21) Runnemede Borough Lion Lake Albertson Branch Lakes/Ponds (4) Oles Lake Big Bridge Branch Runnemede Lake Sunshine Park Lake Blue Anchor Branch 3 Unnamed 40 unnamed Cedar Branch Rivers/Streams, etc. (2) Rivers/Streams, etc. (7) Clark Branch Beaver Branch Back Run Four Mile Branch Big Timber Creek Bortons Run Great Egg Harbor River Watershed Cooper River (N.B.) Great Swamp Branch Big Timber Creek Cooper River (S.B.) Kays Branch Cuffys Run Longacoming Branch Somerdale Borough Holly Swamp Branch Marshalls Mill Stream Lakes/Ponds (0) Nicholson Branch Murrell's Branch None Watershed Penns Branch Rivers/Streams, etc. (3) Cooper River Penny Pot Stream Cooper River (S.B.) Rancocas Creek Prossers Pond Branch Gravelly Run Sharps Branch 1 unnamed Waterford Township Spring Branch Watershed Lakes/Ponds (47) Tinkers Branch Cooper River Atco Lake Town Branch Big Timber Creek Burnt Mill Pond Wildcat Branch 47 unnamed Woas Branch Stratford Borough Rivers/Streams, etc. (13) Watershed Lakes/Ponds (0) Albertsons Branch Great Egg Harbor River None Clark Branch Mullica River Rivers/Streams, etc. (2) Coopers Branch Big Timber Creek (N.B.) Gum Branch

95 APPENDIX D:Inventory of Camden County Rare Species and Ecosystems

his inventory of Camden County's rare species and habitats is taken from the Camden County Open Space and Recreation Plan of 1999, which derived its data from the New T Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry's Natural Heritage Database. The list includes 23 animal species, 89 plant species and 3 ecosystems.

NATURAL LANDS MANAGEMENT: CAUTIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON NATURAL HERITAGE DATA

The quantity and quality of data collected by the Natural Heritage Program is dependent on the research and observations of many individuals and organizations. Not all of this information is the result of comprehensive or site-specific field surveys. Some natural areas in New Jersey have never been thoroughly surveyed. As a result, new locations for plant and animal species are continually added to the database. Since data acquisition is a dynamic, ongoing process, the Natural Heritage Program cannot provide a definitive statement on the presence, absence, or condition of biological elements in any part of New Jersey. Information supplied by the Natural Heritage Program summarizes existing data known to the program at the time of the request regarding the biological elements or locations in question. They should never be regarded as final statements on the elements or areas being considered, nor should they be substituted for on-site surveys required for environmental assessments. The attached data is provided as one source of information to assist others in the preservation of natural diversity.

This office cannot provide a letter of interpretation or a statement addressing the classification of wetlands as defined by the Freshwater Wetlands Act. Requests for such determination should be sent to the DEP Land Use Regulation Program, Post Office Box 401, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0401.

This cautions and restrictions notice must be included whenever information provided by the Natural Heritage Database is published.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry

96 APPENDIX D:Inventory of Camden County Rare Species and Ecosystems

RARE SPECIES AND NATURAL COMMUNITIES IN CAMDEN COUNTY

NAME COMMON NAME FEDERAL STATUS STATE STATUS REGIONAL STATUS VERTEBRATES Clemmys Muhlenbergii Bog Turtle Threatened Endangered Falco Peregrinus Peregrine Falcon Endangered Endangered Hyla Andersonii Pine Barrens Treefrog Endangered Melanerpes Erythrocephalus Red -Headed Woodpecker Threatened Pituophis Melanoleucus Northern Pine Snake Threatened INVERTEBRATES Anax Longipes Comet Darner Celithemis Martha Martha's Pennant Enallagma Pictum Scarlet Bluet Enallagma Recurvatum Pine Barrens Bluet Epitheca Spinosa Robust Baskettail Erynnis Martialis Mottled Dusky Wing Gomphus Apomyius Banner Clubtail Helicodiscus Singleyanus Smooth Coil Hesperia Attalus Slossonae Dotted Skipper Incisalia Irus Frosted Elfin Lampsilis Radiata Eastern Lampmussel Leptodea Ochracea Tidewater Mucket Libellula Axilena Bar - Winged Skimmer Ligumia Nasuta Eastern Pondmussel Nicrophorus Americanus American Burying Beetle Endangered Endangered Pieris Virginiensis West Virginia White Polygonia Progne Gray Comma Spartiniphaga Carterae Carter's Noctuid Moth VASCULAR PLANTS Aeschynomene Virginica Sensitive Joint-Vetch Threatened Endangered LP * Agastache Scrophulariifolia Purple Giant Hyssop Amianthium Muscitoxicum Fly Poison Aristida Basiramea Var Curtissii Curtis' Three-Awned Grass Aristida Lanosa Woolly Three-Awned Grass Endangered Aristida Virgata Wand-Like Three-Awned Grass Asclepias Rubra Red Milkweed LP * Asclepias Variegata White Milkweed Asclepias Verticillata Whorled Milkweed Aster Infirmus Cornel-Leaved Aster Aster Radula Low Rough Aster Endangered Bidens Bidentoides Bur-Marigold Endangered Botrychium Oneidense Blunt-Lobed Grape-Fern Cacalia Atriplicifolia Pale Indian Plaintain Endangered Cacalia Muehlenbergii Great Indian Plaintain Calamovilfa Brevipilis Pine Barren Reedgrass LP * Calystegia Spithamaea Erect Bindweed Endangered Carex Aquatilis Water Sedge Endangered Carex Barrattii Barratt's Sedge LP * Carex Cumulata Clustered Sedge Endangered Carex Mitchelliana Mitchell's Sedge

* LP Indicates taxa listed by the Pinelands Commission as endangered or threatened within their legal jurisdiction

97 APPENDIX D:Inventory of Camden County Rare Species and Ecosystems cont.

RARE SPECIES AND NATURAL COMMUNITIES IN CAMDEN COUNTY (CONT)

NAME COMMON NAME FEDERAL STATUS STATE STATUS REGIONAL STATUS VASCULAR PLANTS (CONT) Carex Rostrata Beaked Sedge Castilleja Coccinea Scarlet Indian Paintbrush Cercis Canadensis Redbud Endangered Chenopodium Rubrum Red Goosefoot Endangered Coeloglossum Viride Long-Bracted Green Orchid Commelina Erecta Slender Dayflower Endangered Coreoposis Rosea Pink Tickseed LP * Crotonopsis Elliptica Elliptical Rushfoil LP * Cuscuta Polygonorum Smartweed Dodder Cyperus Engelmannii Engelmann's Flatsedge Cyperus Lancastriensis Lancaster Flatsedge Cyperus Retrofractus Rough Flatsedge Endangered Desmodium Strictum Pineland Tick-Trefoil LP * Desmodium Viridflorum Velvety Tick-Trefoil Diodia Virginiana Larger Buttonweed Endangered Draba Reptans Carolina Whitlow-Grass Endangered Epilobium Strictum Downy Willow-Herb Eriocaulon Parkeri Parker's Pipewort Eriophorum Tenellum Rough Cottongrass Endangered Eryngium Yuccifolium Rattlesnake Master Eupatorium Capillifolium Dog-Fennel Thoroughwort Endangered Eupatorium Resinosum Pine Barren Boneset Endangered LP * Gentiana Autumnal's Pine Barren Gentian LP * Glyceria Grandis American Mannagrass Endangered Gnaphalium Helleri Heller's Everlasting Endangered Helonias Bullata Swamp-Pink Threatened Endangered LP * Hemicarpha Micrantha Hemicarpha Endangered Heteranthera Multiflora Mud Plantain Hydrastis Canadensis Golden Seal Juncus Caesariensis New Jersey Rush Endangered LP * Juncus Torreyi Torrey's Rush Kuhnia Eupatorioides False Boneset Endangered Lemna Perpusilla Minute Duckweed Endangered Limosella Subulata Mudweed Endangered Linum Intercursum Sandplain Flax Endangered Listera Australis Southern Twayblade LP * Lythrum Hyssopifolia Hyssop Loosestrife Melanthium Virginicum Virginia Bunchflower Endangered Micranthemum Micranthemoides Nuttall's Mudwort Endangered Muhlenbergia Torreyana Pine Barren Smoke Grass LP * Myriophyllum Tenellum Slender Water-Milfoil Endangered Nelumbo Lutea American Lotus Endangered Nuphar Microphyllum Small Yellow Pond Lily Endangered Onosmodium Virginianum Virginia False-Gromwell Endangered Plantago Pusilla Slender Plantain Endangered

* LP Indicates taxa listed by the Pinelands Commission as endangered or threatened within their legal jurisdiction

98 APPENDIX D:Inventory of Camden County Rare Species and Ecosystems cont.

RARE SPECIES AND NATURAL COMMUNITIES IN CAMDEN COUNTY (CONT)

NAME COMMON NAME FEDERAL STATUS STATE STATUS REGIONAL STATUS VASCULAR PLANTS (CONT) Plantanthera Flava Var Flava Southern Rein Orchid Endangered Pluchea Foetida Stinking Fleabane Endangered Polygala Incarnata Pink Milkwort Endangered Polygonum Glaucum Sea-Beach Knotweed Endangered Prunus Angustifolia Chichasaw Plum Endangered Puccinellia Fasciculata Torrey's Meadow Grass Pycnanthemum Clinopodioides Basil Mountain Mint Endangered Rhynchospora Globularis Grass-Like Beaked Rush Endangered Rhynchospora Inundata Horned Beaked Rush LP * Rhynchospora Knieskernii Knieskern's Beaked Rush Threatened Endangered LP * Rhynchospora Pallida Pale Beak Rush Sagittaria Teres Slender Arrow Head Endangered Scheuchzeria Palustris Arrow-Grass Endangered Schizaea Pusilla Curly Grass Fern LP * Schwalbea Americana Chaffseed Endangered Endangered LP * Scirpus Longii Long's Bulrush Endangered LP * Scirpus Maritimus Salt Marsh Bulrush Endangered Spiranthes Odorata Fragrant Ladies' Tresses Stellaria Pubera Star Chickweed Endangered Thaspium Barbinode Hairy-Jointed Meadow Parsnip Verbena Simplex Narrow-Leaved Vervain Endangered Vulpia Elliothea Squirrel Fescue Endangered Xyris Fimbriata Fringed Yellow-Eyed Grass Endangered ECOSYSTEMS Coastal Plain Internittent Pond Vernal Pond Freshwater Tidal Marsh Complex Freshwater Tidal Marsh Complex Pitch Pine Lowland Forest Pitch Pine Lowland Forest

* LP Indicates taxa listed by the Pinelands Commission as endangered or threatened within their legal jurisdiction

99 APPENDIX E:THREAT ASSESSMENT for CAMDEN COUNTY

I. INTRODUCTION

The Threat Assessment component is designed to consider growth trends and other conditions Each component is then weighted as a whole based upon its significance to the overall threat that reveal the likelihood of development in any location within Camden County. Although the assessment. A composite map is formed when the individual scores of a municipality or entire county is said to be under development threat, the task of the Threat Assessment is to polygon are adjusted depending on the relative importance of the factor. The following table lists relative weights of the components. incorporate the most important indicators of likelihood of development into a useful index that quantifies relative threat across the county. Trends from places outside the county, but within the Philadelphia / South Jersey region, are also used where relevant in determining growth and COMPARATIVE WEIGHTS development patterns for Camden County. The methodology of this Threat Assessment component is based on a Southeastern Pennsylvania Threat Assessment performed by the COMPONENT WEIGHT Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission in conjunction with The Natural Lands Trust in TREND FRICTION MAP 25% January, 2003. EMPLOYMENT CENTER TRAVEL TIME 25% II. OVERALL PROJECT APPROACH BUILDING ACTIVITY 25% Based on available data and previous research for the Regional Threat Assessment, the VULNERABILITY INDEX 10% following five (5) analyses, or components, were chosen to combine into a composite threat assessment map. The five components vary from municipal-based scores to geographically SEWER SERVICE AREAS 15% specific spatial analysis, but all five components can still be combined to create one analytical score-based map. The five analyses are:

™ Trend Friction Map The details of each component are reported in a separate report titled Threat Assessment for ™ Employment Center Travel Times Camden County, NJ, available through DVRPC. ™ Building Activity - Permitted Housing Units Relative to Municipal Size and Available Land ™ Vulnerability Index ™ Sewer Service Areas

These five analyses account for multiple variables including: Population and employment forecasts; designated growth, rural, and open space areas; land use consumption trends; employment center growth, location and actual travel times to; permitted housing units over a seven (7) year period, total municipal size, and developable land by municipality; municipal use of natural resource protection tools; and existing and proposed sewer service areas. The compilation of data for each component is followed by translating results into workable indices that lend themselves to a composite map created by GIS spatial analyst software. Three of the components (Trend Friction Map, Building Activity, and Vulnerability Index) result in municipal raw scores, which are ultimately categorized into a 10-point scale.

The Travel Time and Sewer Service components are also on a 10-point scale, but scores are assigned specific polygons created by GIS layers rather than municipalities. The sewer scoring system differs by using a qualitative category (the existence of public sewers or not).

100 APPENDIX F -BROWNFIELDS TABLE

The following pages were excerpted from metadata on brownfields that was previously downloaded from a NJDEP website. The information provided here was obtained in 2002, and is not currently available on the DEP website. The database is presently being updated by the NJ Office of Smart Growth. For additional information on Brownfields, consult the NJDEP website at: www.nj.gov/dep/srp/brownsfields/ or contact the Office of Smart Growth, Brownsfields Inventory Coordinator Mark Schulz at 609-341-3141 or [email protected]

Originator: New Jersey Office of State Planning (Note: this office is currently called the Office of Smart Growth)

Publication_Date: 20010703

Title: Brownfield sites identified by the NJDEP-Site Remediation Program (SRP) for which quality control and marketing-related information is being added by the NJBrownfields Redevelopment Task Force.

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Abstract: This dataset is a GIS data layer of points representing the location of brownfield sites as identified by the NJDEP-SRP (file date: 12/2000). The Brownfields Redevelopment Task Force has been verifying the status of these sites and collecting additional marketing-relevant data.

Purpose: This is a working file used by the Brownfields Redevelopment Task Force to verify the status of the brownfield sites listed by NJDEP and to collect additional marketing-related data.

Use_Constraints: Please contact, JoAnn Petrizzo, the Brownfields Program Manager, at (609)633-7536 for further information about these sites.

Completeness_Report: These points are a subset of sites submitted by NJDEP as brownfields in 12/2000. Additional attribute data for these sites are contained in a separate Microsoft Access database maintained by the NJOSP. This additional information is currently being collected from the municipalities.

101 APPENDIX F -BROWNFIELDS TABLE .

CSL_ID SITE_NAME SITE_ADDRESS CITY STATUS NJL800127227 LINDENWOLD INDUSTRIAL PARK ARLINGTON AVE LINDENWOLD BOROUGH CLOSED NJL800166290 FIRE INSURANCE BUILDING 430 FEDERAL ST CAMDEN CITY CLOSED NJL800166308 GREYHOUND BUS TERMINAL 1311 TO 1317 ADMIRAL WILSON BLVD CAMDEN CITY CLOSED NJL800170839 ABC BARREL COMPANY 314 TO 322 N FRONT ST CAMDEN CITY CLOSED NJL800184129 GRACE HOUSING PROJECT YORK & 4TH & LARCH & 3RD STS CAMDEN CITY CLOSED NJL800187320 RIVER ROAD & EAST STATE STREET RIVER RD & E STATE ST CAMDEN CITY CLOSED NJL800249674 BLACKWOOD SHOPPING CENTER 1001 BLACKHORSE PK GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP CLOSED NJL800291874 147 PINE STREET 147 PINE ST GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP CLOSED NJL800297202 C&S ASSOCIATES 380 & 400 HICKSTOWN RD GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP CLOSED NJL800302820 EMPIRE VENDING INCORPORATED 610 CHERRY ST GLOUCESTER CITY CLOSED NJL800307217 7400 MAPLE AVENUE 7400 MAPLE AVE PENNSAUKEN TOWNSHIP CLOSED NJL800315293 NICKS AUTO PARTS INCORPORATED 1501 EAST STATE ST & HARRISON AVE CAMDEN CITY CLOSED NJL800363319 1800 FERRY AVENUE 1800 FERRY AVE CAMDEN CITY CLOSED NJL800365033 ABARRY STEEL COMPANY 450 COVE RD PENNSAUKEN TOWNSHIP CLOSED NJL800262933 FAIRWAY CORPORATION CENTER 4350 HADDONFIELD RD PENNSAUKEN TOWNSHIP CLOSED NJL800183451 EVERGREEN PRODUCTS 948 N FRONT ST CAMDEN CITY CLOSED NJL800197196 1311 TO 1325 ADMIRAL WILSON BLVD. 1311 TO 1325 ADMIRAL WILSON BLVD CAMDEN CITY CLOSED NJ0000048983 CAMDEN AMPHITHEATER FOOT OF CLINTON ST CAMDEN CITY ASSIGNED NJD000310417 DEVOE MARINE COATING COMPANY 9155 RIVER RD PENNSAUKEN TOWNSHIP ASSIGNED NJD000573469 PRESSWELL RECORDS MANUFACTURING CO. EHRKE RD & WHITE HORSE PK (RTE 30) WINSLOW TOWNSHIP CASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY NJD000692194 JOHNSON MATTHEY INCORPORATED PINEY HOLLOW RD WINSLOW TOWNSHIP ASSIGNED NJD002334084 MAGNETIC METALS CORPORATION 21ST ST & HAYES AVE CAMDEN CITY ACTIVE NJD002347664 GULF & WESTERN NATURAL RESOURCES GROUP 851 WATER ST GLOUCESTER CITY ASSIGNED NJD002352060 CHAMPION AUTO GENERATOR SERVICES GRAND AVE & HIGH ST GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP CASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY NJD002355105 CLEMENT COVERALL COMPANY 619 VAN HOOK ST CAMDEN CITY ACTIVE NJL000031872 UNIVERSITY & MEMORIAL AVENUES UNIVERSITY & MEMORIAL AVES GLOUCESTER CITY ACTIVE NJD065702847 HOLMAN ENTERPRISES 9040 BURROUGHS DOVER RD PENNSAUKEN TOWNSHIP ACTIVE NJD136929163 PURATEX COMPANY INCORPORATED 6714 WAYNE AVE PENNSAUKEN TOWNSHIP ACTIVE NJD980532972 OWENS CORNING FIBERGLAS CORP. 300 SOMERDALE RD GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP AWAITNG NJD981134836 NJ TRANSIT BUS OPERATIONS INC. 350 NEWTON AVE CAMDEN CITY ACTIVE NJD981560725 ADAMS OIL INCORPORATED 1435 RIVER AVE CAMDEN CITY ASSIGNED NJL000037564 CHAMPION AUTO GENERATOR SERVICES 201 LAKELAND RD GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP CASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY NJL000051367 PENN JERSEY RUBBER & WASTE COMPANY 1112 CHESTNUT ST CAMDEN CITY AWAITNG NJL000065680 SCRITT ENTERPRISES 101 WHITE HORSE PK S WINSLOW TOWNSHIP ACTIVE NJL600155782 LIFE SUPPORT AMBULANCE 5050 CENTRAL HWY PENNSAUKEN TOWNSHIP ACTIVE NJL600156731 INDCO INCORPORATED RAILROAD AVE N & ESSEX ST GLOUCESTER CITY ACTIVE NJL800121915 CONNER TIRE & SERVICE CENTER 425 RTE 73 S WINSLOW TOWNSHIP ACTIVE NJL800153389 RUG FACTORY POWELL & SIXTH & HUNTER STS GLOUCESTER CITY ASSIGNED NJL800153397 POPCORN FACTORY HUNTER & 6TH STS GLOUCESTER CITY ASSIGNED NJL800153405 GLOUCESTER CITY SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT BRICK ST GLOUCESTER CITY ACTIVE NJL800157307 COOPER WATER FRONT HOMES 9TH & STATE STS CAMDEN CITY ACTIVE NJL900000613 KNOX GELATIN INCORPORATED 4TH & ERIE STS CAMDEN CITY ASSIGNED NJL800167546 MOFFA FARMS 500 ALMONESSON RD GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP ASSIGNED NJL800180523 JONESIES WELDING SERVICE 446 WILLIAM ST CAMDEN CITY ACTIVE NJL800184210 STEED SCRAP PAPER & METAL 1115 NORTH 16TH ST CAMDEN CITY AWAITNG NJL800212409 10TH STREET SOUTH EAST & STATE STREET E 10TH SE & STATE ST E CAMDEN CITY ACTIVE NJL800224941 BONTEVEGLIO & SONS PAPER COMPANY 259 DIVISION ST CAMDEN CITY ACTIVE NJL800224966 WILLIAM BRYEN COMPANY 2ND ST CAMDEN CITY ACTIVE NJL800224982 HARRY PAPE & SONS 1427 HADDON AVE CAMDEN CITY ACTIVE NJL800235889 EXPORT MACHINE SALES NEWTON & DIVISION ST CAMDEN CITY ACTIVE NJL600240071 SPORTSMANS OUTPOST FRIES MILL RD WINSLOW TOWNSHIP ACTIVE

Source: NJDEP, 2002 102 Appendix G: LIST of GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING OPEN SPACE PLANNING and ACQUISITION

COUNTY acquisitions to a halt when funding expired, until voters authorized additional bond acts. The legislation establishes the Garden State Preservation Trust, a nine-member board that will 1. Camden County Open Space Trust Fund Tax receive applications and approve projects submitted by Green Acres and the State Funds raised through the collection of a maximum tax of one cent per $100 of assessed Agriculture Development Committee twice a year. valuation in any given year will be used for open space and farmland preservation land Website: www.state.nj.us/dep/grantandloanprograms/ acquisition or easements, recreational facility development, and historic preservation projects. This funding, estimated at about $2 million per year, will supplement the county's 1. New Jersey Green Acres Program participation in the State's Farmland Preservation Program and Green Acres land acquisition program. Eligible applicants: Municipalities and counties

Contact: Jack Sworaski, Camden County Division of Open Space and Farmland Eligible projects: Open space acquisition and outdoor recreational facility development Preservation, 856-858-5211 Application round: Year-round REGIONAL Project categories: 1. Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Open Space and Natural Resource Planning Services for New Jersey Municipalities a. Standard Program - Offers 2% loans over 20 years and grants (typically 75% loan, 25% grant), to finance eligible costs associated with the acquisition and Eligible applicants: New Jersey municipalities in the DVRPC region development of recreation lands. Eligible projects: DVRPC offers the following services: Natural Resource Inventory, Open Space and Recreation Plan, Master Plan Conservation Element, Natural Resource Protection b. Planning Incentive Program - Offers 50% loan, 50% grant to those local Ordinance Assistance, Municipal Assessment, Community Vision. governments that have enacted an open space tax and have adopted an open space and recreation plan. Application round: open year round c. Urban Aid Program - Offers 50% loan, 50% grant. This category is limited to Grant amount: DVRPC subsidies range from about $1,000 to $5,000, depending on acquisition and development projects sponsored by local units eligible to receive the project type. The grants are non-competitive – all DVRPC region municipalities in NJ state aid pursuant to P.L. 1978, c. 14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.) Camden City, are eligible Gloucester City, Gloucester Township, Lindenwold Borough, Pennsauken Township . and Winslow Township are listed as Urban Aid Eligible Municipalities. Contact: Patty Elkis, Manager of Environmental Planning, 215-238-2838 d. Nonprofit Organization Program -The Green Acres Program also runs Green Trust Website: www.dvrpc.org Funding Rounds for nonprofit charitable conservancies. The program offers 50% grants, with the match being made with cash or a donation of land. Maximum STATE grants are $500,000.

Voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum in November 1998 to dedicate $98 million e. Tax Exempt Program - Program provides exemption from local property taxes to annually in dedicated state taxes toward land preservation over the next 10 years. A bill eligible nonprofit organizations which own recreation or conservation lands and authorizing the spending, the Garden State Preservation Trust Act, was passed June 30, open their private lands to the public. 1999, annually allocating $55.2 million for Green Acres acquisitions of open space, parks and greenways, $36.8 million for farmland purchases, and $6 million for historic Contact: Fawn McGee 609-984-0570 preservation projects. The bill guarantees the distribution of $98 million each year for the next 10 years, eliminating the previous year-to-year uncertainty that used to bring land Website: www.state.nj.us/dep/greenacres/

103 Appendix G: LIST of GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING OPEN SPACE PLANNING and ACQUISITION cont.

2. New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (Clean Water Financing) 5. Universities and colleges 6. Interstate agencies of which New Jersey is a member Eligible applicants: Municipalities, counties, sewerage or utility authorities, improvement 7. Watershed and Water Resource Associations and other local Non-Profit 501(c)(3) authorities or local government units constructing new or improving existing wastewater, organizations stormwater or nonpoint source management facilities. In order to be eligible for these funds, the applicant must have: 1. Staff and resources with the capability, expertise and environmental experience to Eligible projects: Included in the universe of projects that are currently eligible for the EIFP perform the proposed work are: wastewater collection and conveyance facilities, combined sewer overflow abatement 2. Ability and authority to implement the proposed project facilities, rehabilitation of existing sewer systems, pump stations, stormwater basins, sewer 3. Ability to establish and maintain partnerships to ensure project implementation as maintenance equipment, lake restoration activities, landfill closure facilities (such as capping well as long term maintenance/management. systems or leachate collection and treatment systems), new landfill facilities (such as double- composite liner systems and leachate collection and treatment systems), salt domes and Eligible projects: Specifically, funds are available for projects that: 1) identify and address others. The Financing Program also includes activities such as land purchase and nonpoint source pollution in a defined project area with priority given to those projects conservation, remedial action activities (including brownfields) and well sealing. Although the addressing 303(d) listed impairments, and 2) implement measures to protect currently EIFP does not directly finance planning and design costs, an allowance (calculated as a unimpaired waters that are threatened by reasonably foreseeable degradation. The focus of percentage of the allowable building costs) to assist in defraying these costs is provided by the projects should be on specific measures that will mitigate or prevent adverse impact to the EIFP as part of the loan package lakes, bathing areas, drinking water intakes, shellfish beds, special aquatic habitats, and . stream corridor integrity. Examples of eligible projects include urban retrofit, stream bank Maximum grant: Financing is provided by two sources, the New Jersey Department of restoration, nonstructural and structural stormwater management and/or water quality Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (the Trust). measures, development and implementation of regional stormwater management plans, The Department provides loans at 0% interest for approximately 20 years for up to one source assessment leading to remediation, and projects to effect the nonpoint source load half the allowable project costs. The Trust offers loans at about the market rate or less for allocation implementation plans for established Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). the remaining allowable project costs, also for a 20-year term. Between these two (Please note the EPA 319 guidelines (Federal FY 2002/ State FY 2003) regarding the current funding sources, the rate on the loans is essentially half the market rate. Approximately shift in emphasis on funding TMDL and watershed based projects.) Eligible activities include $100 million-$200 million is available per year. construction activities, design, monitoring (to assess the success of specific nonpoint source implementation projects), and resource restoration to prevent the need for future Application round: Deadline: on or about March 1st, Notification: early September remediation. of same year Priority will be given to those projects which propose implementation of a nonpoint source or Contact: Nicholas G. Binder, Assistant Director 609-292-8961 stormwater management measure to improve an existing impairment on the 303(d) list, prevent future impairment at an Ambient Biological Monitoring Station currently assessed as Website: www.njeit.org "non-impaired"or implement a stormwater management and/or water quality measure that has been identified under previous assessment projects, such as TMDLs and regional stormwater management plans. 3. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Non-PPoint Source Pollution Control 319 (h) Grants Interested parties should submit projects that target the priority impairments in each region and involve some activity related to assessment and/or implementation of NPS pollution Eligible applicants: Entities that may be eligible for funding include but are not limited to: issues, whether through prevention or reduction. 1. Municipal and County planning and health departments or boards 2. Designated water quality management planning agencies Section 319 funds may not be used for the following purposes: 3. State and regional entities entirely within New Jersey 1. Funding the purchase of land, major capital improvements, or computer hardware. 4. State and Federal government agencies 2. Implementation of permit application requirements of Federal, State, or local storm water regulations.

104 Appendix G: LIST of GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING OPEN SPACE PLANNING and ACQUISITION cont.

3. Implementation of activities required by the NJPDES regulations. 4. Implementation of lake dredging, weed harvesting, or dam maintenance without 5. NJDEP Clean Lakes Program (may not be currently funded) addressing the sources of the NPS pollutants causing the impairment. 5. Funding may not be used on private lands with the exception of demonstration Eligible applicants: Municipal, county and regional government agencies projects, or if maintenance, access, and conservation easements have been obtained for the area by an eligible entity. Demonstration projects reflect innovative Eligible projects: Projects that improve the recreational water quality at public lakes methods in addressing nonpoint source pollution. 6. Education and Outreach. For projects involving implementation, education and Maximum grant: Up to 70% USEPA funding for Phase I Diagnostic Feasibility Projects; outreach may be funded as a de minimus component of the project and no greater up to 50% state funding for Phase I Diagnostic Feasibility Projects. Up to 50% USEPA than 3% of the grant amount requested. funding for Phase II Implementation Projects; up to 75% state funding for Phase II 7. Funding food or promotional items. Implementation Projects. 8. Other ineligible activities based on current EPA guidelines for Section 319(h) grants. Application round: Typically September 1 each year. Application round: Varies yearly. 2004 intent to apply forms were due April 30, 2004. Contact: Bud Cann, Supervising Environmental Specialist, Water Monitoring Management, Contact: Helen Rancan, statewide NPS coordinator, NJDEP, 609-292-2723 609-292-0427 or [email protected] Website: www.state.nj.us/dep/grantandloanprograms/clp.htm Website: www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/319grant.htm 6. National Recreational Trails Act Projects - Administered through NJDEP, Division 4. New Jersey Office of Environmental Services Matching Grants Program of Parks and Forestry, Office of Natural Lands Management

Eligible applicants: Local environmental agencies Eligible applicants: Public agencies and nonprofit organizations

Eligible projects: Projects that promote the protection of natural resources by documenting Eligible projects: Trail proposal must be located on land that is publicly owned or privately those resources, preparing policy recommendations to protect those resources, and by owned with a government agency holding an easement or lease for public access. Projects preparing and disseminating information about the ways in which the public can participate must be completed within 3 years. in protecting the environment. Examples of previously funded projects include: natural resource inventories, water quality studies, master plan and zoning ordinance amendments, Maximum grant: $25,000 open space plans, greenway planning, environmental trail designs GIS mapping projects and public education programs. Match required: 20% of total project, may be cash or fair market value of labor or materials. Maximum grant: $2,500 Application round: Varies yearly. Required match: At least 50% Contact: Office of Natural Lands Management, 609-984-1339. Application round: Typically, deadline is December 1, with notification on March 15 of following year 7. New Jersey Local Coastal Planning Grant Program (may not be currently funded)

Contact: John Rogers, Program Manager (609) 984-0828 or: [email protected] Funds projects that promote sustainability and environmental protection in the coastal zone. The program is dependent on the availability of funds. For updated status of the grant Website: www.state.nj.us/depgrantandloanprograms/beamglea.htm program, call Dorrina Frizzera of the Coastal Planning Unit, Office of Environmental Planning, NJDEP, at 609-292-2662.

105 Appendix G: LIST of GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING OPEN SPACE PLANNING and ACQUISITION cont.

FEDERAL f. Conservation Security Program (CSP): A conservation security plan is required to install and/or maintain conservation practices on working lands. 1. National Parks Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program g. Forest Land Enhancement Program ( FLEP): Develop and implement a management plan Eligible applicants: Community groups, municipalities, partnerships. h. Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program ( FRPP): A one-time payment for a permanent easement on the land, which continues to be used for Eligible projects: Greenway plans, stream restoration, trail design, conservation workshops, agricultural purposes. inventories of natural, cultural and recreational resources. Application round: On-going Maximum grant: Staff involvement (technical assistance) rather than financial assistance. Contact: USDA NRCS at 609-561-3223 Required match: Projects are undertaken as partnerships, and costs are shared with other organizations. Cost-sharing arrangements may involve money and/or in-kind services. Website: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov Application round: On-going assistance offered to applicants developing proposals, July deadline for formal application for assistance 3. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Education Grants Program

Contact: Robert Potter, Program Manager, 215-597-1787 Eligible applicants: Government agencies, school districts, colleges or universities, nonprofit organizations, and noncommercial educational broadcasting entities Website: www.nps.gov/chal/rtca/intro1.htm Eligible activities: Include, but are not limited to: Training educators; designing and 2. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Programs demonstrating field methods, educational practices and techniques, including assessing environmental and ecological conditions or specific environmental issues or problems; Eligible applicants: Landowners (NRCS determines final eligibility) designing, demonstrating or disseminating environmental curricula; and fostering international cooperation in addressing environmental issues and problems in the U.S., Eligible projects: curbing water erosion, wind damage, conserving soil and water resources, Canada and/or Mexico. stabilizing streams, managing manure, managing grasslands, establishing wildlife habitat, managing forest lands Maximum grant: Approximately $3 million was available in past years; 25% of available funds must go to small grants of $5,000 or less, maximum limit of $250,000 for any Maximum grant: up to 100% for certain programs, depends on program. Rental payments to single grant. landowners for reserving land depend on length of agreement Required match: A minimum of 25% of total cost of project required. Program Categories: a. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP): Develop and follow a plan for the conversion Application round: Varies yearly. of cropland to a less intensive use. b. Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP): Develop and follow a plan for the restoration and Contact: Terry Ippolito and Josephine Lagenda, USEPA Region 2, [email protected] maintenance of the wetland or [email protected], or Customer Service hotline: 1-800-438-2474. c. Grassland Reserve Program (GRP): Develop and comply with a plan for the easement or restoration agreement of the grasslands Website: www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html d. Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP): Prepare and follow a wildlife habitat development plan e. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): Develop and follow an EQIP plan that describes the conservation and environmental purposes to be achieved

106 Appendix G: LIST of GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING OPEN SPACE PLANNING and ACQUISITION cont.

FOUNDATIONS 3. Environmental Endowment for New Jersey

1. Conservation Fund Kodak American Greenways Award Eligible applicants: Preference for nonprofits with 501(c)(3) designation, but other nonprofits also eligible. Eligible applicants: Primarily nonprofit organizations, although individuals and local governments may apply. Eligible projects: Research, litigation, public education and other activities that will promote the conservation, preservation and improvement of the air, land, water and Eligible projects: Mapping, assessments, surveying, conferences and design activities, other natural resources. printed and audio-visual interpretative materials, building paths or bridges and other creative projects. Maximum grant available: $20,000 Maximum grant: $2,500 Required match: None Required match: None Application round: Typically announced in November with applications due in January. Application round: Typically in June with notification in fall. Contact: Richard Sullivan, President, 609-737-9698 Contact: 703-525-6300 4. New Jersey Conservation Foundation Grants-IIn-AAid Program Website: www.conservationfund.org/pagespinner.asp?article=2106 Eligible applicants: Nonprofit organizations such as emerging land trust, citizen groups 2. Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and greenway planning groups (organizations do not need nonprofit status).

Eligible applicants: Non-profit organizations with 501 (c)(3) status Eligible projects: Land planning, land acquisition, conservation easements. . Eligible projects: Projects that fit under the foundation's "Public Issues" category that focus Maximum grant available: $10,000 on issues of sustainability, ecosystem preservation, energy conservation, pollution prevention and reduction, and environmental education and outreach that lead to enlightened Required match: 50% environmental policy. Application round: Varies Maximum grant: Grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000. Contact: Stephanie Monaham 908-234-1225 x 111 or [email protected] Required match: None Website: www.njconservation.org/html/frame_news.html Application round: A one-page letter of inquiry by the applicant is encouraged to determine if a project falls within the foundation's guidelines. Applications for Public Issues 5. Pew Charitable Trust Grants must be post-marked by September 15 of each year. Eligible applicants: Organizations classified as non-profit under section 501(c)(3) of the Contact: 973-540-8440 IRS Code, and as charitable under 509(a) of that Code.

Website: www.grdodge.org/environment.html Eligible projects: Projects whose goals are to reduce the use and production of highly persistent toxic substances that adversely affect the environment and public health, and projects that halt the destruction and further degradation of forest and marine ecosystems in North America.

107 Appendix G: LIST of GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING OPEN SPACE PLANNING and ACQUISITION cont.

Maximum grant: Majority of grants range from $50,000 to $250,000. Maximum grant: Land Acquisition - grants may be used toward all or part of the 50% match for Green Acres grants, usually up to $500,000. Other projects generally range from Required match: None $8,000 to $50,000. Required match: Land acquisition - Green Acres grant; Other grants - No. Application Round: Proposals accepted year-round and reviewed on rolling basis. Application Round: Ongoing Contact: Joshua S. Reichert, 215-575-4740 Contact: 973-748-5300 Website: www.pewtrusts.com/grants/index.cfm?image=img3 Website: www.victoriafoundation.org/application.htm 6. Schumann Fund for New Jersey 8. William Penn Foundation Eligible applicants: Non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Eligible applicants: Non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Eligible projects: Projects that support protection of natural resources, environmental quality and wildlife. Eligible projects: Projects that support the goals of promoting open space preservation, promoting development, maintenance and use of natural areas within the Philadelphia Maximum grant: No maximum was stated in the foundation's annual report, but previous region, and that support environmental education. environmental protection grants ranged from $10,000 to $80,000. Maximum grant: Grants range from a few thousand to several million, depending on the Required match: No, but preference given to proposals indicating a high level of time size of the organization and the scope of the project. and/or money contributed from the group to be served. Required match: None, but the Foundation prefers to make grants for projects that receive Application round: No yearly deadline; proposals are reviewed quarterly. support from several sources and that do not depend upon the Foundation for total funding.

Contact: 201-509-9883 Application round: Accepts grant requests throughout the year.

Website: www.fdncenter.org/grantmaker/schumann/env.html Contact: Geraldine Wang, 215-988-1830

Website: www.wpennfdn.org/what_we_fund/natural.asp 7. Victoria Foundation Other sources of information on grants: Eligible applicants: Non-profit organizations with 501 (c)(3) status.

Eligible projects: For land acquisition - projects must be eligible for consideration by the Environmental Grant Making Foundations, published by Resources for Global State Green Acres Program, must have passed their initial screening process and must be in Sustainability, Post Office Box 22770, Rochester, NY 14692-2770. Telephone: 1-800-724- active consideration by Green Acres. Special consideration is given to projects that will 1857; Fax: 716-473-0968; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.home.eznet.net/ Costs protect wetlands and transition areas, farmland, critical wildlife habitats, headwaters, about $90. exceptional ecosystems, watershed lands, and aquifer recharge areas. Other eligible projects involve environmental education and leadership training, environmental research, public The Mitchell Guide to New Jersey Foundations, published by Janet Mitchell, 430 Federal education and advocacy, and resource conservation in New Jersey. City Road, Pennington, NJ 08534-4209, 609-737-7224. The guide profiles 412 private foundations which donated more than $200 million to 18,000 charitable agencies.

108 appendix H: examples of stewardship brochures

uch has been written about good land stewardship. The following materials have been included as examples of stewardship information designed for easy reproduction and M dissemination. These flyers and pamphlets were developed, respectively, by: 1. Community Forest Network (CFN), authored by Don Zimar of The Care of Trees in Manassas, Virginia, and Brain LeCouteur of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Call 202-962-3393 for more information.

2. The New Jersey Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides and the New Jersey Environmental Federation, with printing costs funded by Whole Earth Center

3. Jennifer Robinson, compiled from a 1994 newsletter of the Wildlands Conservancy, Emmaus, Pennsylvania

4. The Media Area League of Women Voters in cooperation with the Darby Creek Valley Association and the Chester/Ridley/Crum Watersheds Associations

Another excellent source of information too lengthy to include here is "The Clean Water Book - Lifestyle Choices for Water Resource Protection" produced by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Environmental Planning. Copies of this booklet can be obtained by calling Kyra Hoffman at 609-633-1179.

109 appendix H: examples of stewardship brochures

110 appendix H: examples of stewardship brochures cont.

111 appendix H: examples of stewardship brochures cont.

112 appendix H: examples of stewardship brochures cont.

113 appendix H: examples of stewardship brochures cont.

114 Bibliography

Borough of Gibbsboro, NJ Planning Board. Recreation and Open Space Element of the Fox, Edward. Camden County Improvement Authority. Several conversations between 2002 Master Plan Borough of Gibbsboro. Gibbsboro, NJ. May 14, 2002. and 2003 and detailed data provided on waterway names, historic resources, and various other items contained in the plan. Brownfields information accessed at: www.nj.gov/dep/srp/brownfields/ Hajna, Lawrence. "Stafford Farm Sold for $20.6 million: Land to be Preserved," Courier Post, Camden County Division of Planning. New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment January 14, 2004. Plan: Examination and Report and Preliminary Plan Camden County Cross-Acceptance II Report Comparison Phase Camden County Planning Board. Camden, NJ. June 25, 1997. JCA Associates, Inc. Redevelopment Plan for Township of Pennsauken - Waterfront Study Area Phase I. 2001. Camden County Open Space Trust Fund Committee. Camden County Open Space and Recreation Plan. December 1999. Karabashian, Peter Associaties. Gloucester City Master Plan Recreation Plan Element. December 1995. Camden County Park System as Constructed by the Camden County Park Commission. C. Oscar Brown, editor. 1937. Kise Straw and Kolodner Planning Consultants. Historic Resource Survey of 10 Municipalities in Camden County, New Jersey. August 2001. Camden County Parks Department. Recreation and Open Space Inventory. February, 1999 and 2003. Lenaz, Mueller and Associates Planning Consultants. Maps from City of Camden Land Use Plan. Camden County Planning Department. Proposed Land Use Plan. Camden, NJ. February, 1972. Mednick, Adam. "Garden State Greenways a 21st Century Blueprint for Open Space in NJ." Report prepared by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. 2003. Cherokee Camden. Cramer Hill Redevelopment Project Proposal - Statement of Qualifications Submitted to Camden Redevelopment Agency, September 30, 2003. National Park Service and the Great Egg Harbor River Planning Committee. Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Great Egg Harbor National City of Camden Waterfront Development website accessed at: www.Camdenwaterfront.com Scenic and Recreational River. NPS Philadelphia Support Office. Philadelphia, PA. May 2000. Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. "Characterization and Assessment Report for Watershed Management Area 18- Lower Delaware Tributaries." Prepared by DVRPC. Pinelands National Reserve website accessed at: www.nj.gov/pinelands/cmp.htm Philadelphia, PA. October 2001. Schopp, Paul. Detailed data on historic resources in Camden County, September 2003, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Horizons: The Year 2025 Land Use and and May 2004. Transportation Plan for the Delaware Valley. Philadelphia, PA. June 2002. State of New Jersey. Department of Agriculture, State Agriculture Development Committee. Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. A Teachers' Guide to the Watersheds of Strategic Targeting Project - Preliminary Report. Trenton, NJ. March 2003. Camden County. Philadelphia, PA. July 2003. State of New Jersey. Department of Agriculture website accessed at: www.state.nj.us/agriculture The Delta Group- Environmental Planning and Landscape Architecture. "The Camden and links to http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropmap/newjersey/counties/camden.html Greenways Plan." Prepared for the City of Camden, Division of Planning. Philadelphia, PA. July 1997. State of New Jersey. Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Smart Growth Plan for New Jersey. Trenton,NJ. November 2003. Farr, William R. Waterways of Camden County. Camden, New Jersey. Camden County Historical Society. 2002.

115 Bibliography cont.

State of New Jersey. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. New Jersey Agriculture - 2003 Annual Report - Agricultural Statistics. USDA/NRCS. Conservation Practices and Programs for Your Farm. Farm Bill 2002 - What's in it for you. May 2003. State of New Jersey. Department of Environmental Protection website at: www.state.nj.us/dep State of New Jersey. Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry, Wallace Roberts and Todd. Camden County Strategic Plan Maps. June 2002. Office of Natural Lands Management, Natural Heritage Program.

State of New Jersey. Department of Environmental Protection. Division of Parks and Forestry, Historic Preservation Office. Report of State and Federally Registered Historic Places, Properties, and Districts. Trenton, NJ. February 13, 2003.

State of New Jersey. Department of Environmental Protection. Green Acres Program. 1994 New Jersey Open Space and Outdoor Recreation Plan. Trenton, NJ. 1994.

State of New Jersey. Department of Environmental Protection. Green Acres Program. 2003-2007 New Jersey Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Trenton, NJ. March 2003.

State of New Jersey. Department of Environmental Protection. Green Acres Program. Website at: www.nj.gov/dep/greenacres/

State of New Jersey Press Releases: January 9, 2004. DEP Historic Preservation Office Adds Battleship New Jersey to New Jersey Register of Historic Places. October 17, 2003. State Joins Forces with Non-profit and Local Governments to Preserve Horse Farm in Developed Area of Camden County.

Sworaski, Jack. Camden County Division of Open Space and Farmland Preservation. Numerous conversations between 2002 and 2004.

The Trust for Public Land. River to Bay Greenway: Framework and Concept Plan. Prepared for New Jersey Field Office by Strauss and Associates/Planners and BLOSS Associates. Morristown, NJ. August 17, 2001.

The Trust for Public Land. Parks, Greenspace and Smart Redevelopment in Camden, New Jersey. A Proposal from the TPL to the Ford Foundation. March 11, 2003 - Revised.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2002 Census of Agriculture - Preliminary Data, New Jersey.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. 1997 Census of Agriculture - County Data for New Jersey.

116 Title of Report: Camden County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Plan

Publication No.: 04008

Date Published: May 2004

Geographic Area Covered: Camden County, New Jersey

Key Words: Open space preservation, farmland preservation, natural resource inventory, natural resource protection, recreation, trails, historic resources, greenways, focus areas, action plan, preservation tools, land use regulations, funding opportunities

Abstract: The Camden County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Plan identifies an interconnected network of open space and focus areas to keep open for environmental protection, scenic value, recreation, and farming purposes. The plan presents a prioritization strategy based on development threat and presence of four Key Factors: Delaware River Waterfront Access, Natural Heritage Priority Sites, Urban Aid Status, and Projects of Regional Stature. Preservation techniques include acquisition, conservation easements, land use planning and regulations, and landowner stewardship.

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission 8th Floor — The Bourse Building 111 South Independence Mall East Philadelphia, PA 19106-2582

Phone: 215-592-1800 Fax: 215-592-9125 Internet: www.dvrpc.org

Staff contact: Patty Elkis, PP, AICP, Manager of Environmental Planning Direct phone: 215-238-2838 E-mmail: [email protected]

117 Camden county OPEN SPACE and FARMLAND PRESERVATION PLAN

The Bourse Building 111 South Independence Mall East Philadelphia, Pa 19106-2582

MAY 2004