The Delaware Valley Regional Planning The symbol in our logo is Commission is dedicated to uniting the adapted from region’s elected officials, planning the official professionals, and the public with a DVRPC seaal and is designed as a stylized image of the Delaware Valley. common vision of making a great region The outer ring symbolizes the region as a even greater. Shaping the way we live, whole while the diagonal bar signifies the work, and play, DVRPC builds Delaware River. The two adjoining consensus on improving transportation, crescents represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of promoting smart growth, protecting the New Jersey. environment, and enhancing the economy. We serve a diverse region of DVRPC is funded by a variety of funding sources incluuding federal grants from the nine counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, U.S. Department of Transportation’s Montgomery, and Philadelphia in Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Gloucester, and Mercer in New Jersey. departments of transportation, as well DVRPC is the federally designated as by DVRPC’s state and local member Metropolitan Planning Organization for governments. The authors, however, are the Greater Philadelphia Region — solely responsible for the findings and conclusions herein, which may not leading the way to a better future. represent the official views or policies of the funding agencies. DVRPC fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. DVRPC’s website (www.dvrpc.org) may be translated into multiple languages. Publiications and other public documents can be made available in alternative languages and formats, if requested. For more information, please call (215) 238-2871. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................. i. PUBLIC MEETINGS ................................................................................................................... iii. SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................... 1 SECTION 2: COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN EVESHAM TOWNSHIP ................................. 5 2.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 NATURAL RESOURCES .............................................................................................................................. 6 2.3 HISTORIC RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................. 11 2.4 THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................................... 15 SECTION 3: OPEN SPACE GOALS AND EXISTING PLANS IN EVESHAM TOWNSHIP 19 3.1 GOALS OF THE OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION PLAN ............................................................................. 19 3.2 MUNICIPAL, COUNTY, REGIONAL, AND STATE PLAN CONSISTENCY ....................................................... 20 3.3 THE EVESHAM TOWNSHIP OPEN SPACE/RECREATION PROGRAM AND FUNDS ......................................... 29 SECTION 4: INVENTORY OF OPEN SPACE RESOURCES IN EVESHAM TOWNSHIP .. 31 4.1 PUBLIC LAND .......................................................................................................................................... 31 4.2 PRIVATE LAND ........................................................................................................................................ 34 4.3 PRESERVED LAND IN EVESHAM TOWNSHIP—SUMMARY ........................................................................ 36 4.4 EVESHAM TOWNSHIP POTENTIAL OPEN SPACE/PARKS SYSTEM INVENTORY ..................................... 36 SECTION 5: RECREATION ANALYSIS IN EVESHAM TOWNSHIP .................................. 37 5.1 EXISTING RECREATION FACILITIES ......................................................................................................... 37 5.2 RECREATION NEEDS ............................................................................................................................... 45 SECTION 6: OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION NEEDS IN EVESHAM TOWNSHIP ....... 49 SECTION 7: A COMPREHENSIVE PARKS SYSTEM FOR EVESHAM TOWNSHIP ......... 57 SECTION 8: LAND PRESERVATION/PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS .................. 65 SECTION 9: ACTION PROGRAM AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................... 123 SECTION 10: PRESERVATION TOOLS, FUNDING SOURCES, AND POTENTIAL PARTNERS ................................................................................................................................ 129 10.1 PRESERVATION TOOLS .......................................................................................................................... 129 10.2 FUNDING SOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 132 10.3 OTHER POTENTIAL PARTNERS IN OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION .......................................................... 148 SECTION 11: GREENWAYS AND TRAILS—PLANNING AND DESIGN RESOURCES 151 SECTION 12: SOURCES OF INFORMATION ...................................................................... 153 TABLES Table 1: Evesham Township National and State Historic Registers Sites ………………………14 Table 2: Population Estimates for Evesham Township, 2000-2010 …………………………….15 Table 3: Schools in Evesham Township ………………………………………………………...16 Table 4: Breakdown of Evesham School Enrollment by Age, 2000 ............................................ 17 Table 5: Evesham Township Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI) ............................. 32 Table 6: Active Recreation Facilities/Fields in Evesham Township ............................................ 39 Table 7: Recreation Facilities/Fields/Parks by Township Study Area ......................................... 40 Table 8: Recreation Facilities by School ...................................................................................... 42 Table 9: Evesham Department of Recreation and Seniors Participant Numbers, 2010 ...………42 Table 10: Marlton Recreation Council Registration Totals by Sport …………………………...43 Table 11: Explanation of Tax Class Column ……………………………………………………66 FIGURES Figure 1: The New Jersey Pinelands Management Area .............................................................................. 6 Figure 2: Two Trails in the Black Run Preserve ......................................................................................... 38 APPENDICES A. Active Recreation Analysis Table A1 Evesham Township Recreational Needs Based on National Recreation and Park Association Guidelines Table A2 New Jersey Balanced Land Use Guidelines Table A3 New Jersey Balanced Land Use Guidelines Applied to Evesham B. Marlton Recreation Council Board Questionnaire and Responses C. Black Run Preserve Management, Education, and Recreation Plan D. Evesham Parcel Data Tables for Reference Table D1 Tax-Exempt Properties (Classes 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E, 15F) Table D2 Vacant Properties (Class 1) Table D3 Developed Properties over Five Acres (Classes 2, 4A, 4B, 4C) Table D4 Farmland-Assessed Properties (Class 3A and/or 3B) E. Maps Map 1 2007 Aerial Photo & Township Parcels Map 2 Land Use/Land Cover (2007) Map 3 Natural Features and Historic Resources Map 4 Groundwater Recharge Map 5 Landscape Project Habitat Priorities Map 6 Agricultural Development and Sewer Service Areas Map 7 Zoning Map 8 State Planning Areas Map 9 Existing Open Space Map 10 Proposed Parks System Evesham Township Open Space and Recreation Plan ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Funding for the preparation of this Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Township of Evesham was provided by: The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) Smart Growth Assistance Grant Program, funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; The Township of Evesham; and The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Township Council, Township of Evesham Mayor Randy Brown Deputy Mayor Steven Zeuli Councilwoman Deborah Hackman Councilman Kurt Croft Councilman Kenneth D’Andrea Members of the Planning Board of Evesham Township Mayor Randy Brown Jay Parikh Deputy Mayor Steven Zeuli Art Stengel Paul Cortland Stuart Platt, Attorney Robert DiEnna Chris Rehmann, Engineer Patricia Laverghetta H. Richard Orth, Traffic Engineer Eileen Lenihan Leah Fury, Planner Ted Lowden Behram Turan, Environmental Engineer Alicia Marrone Regina Kinney, Planning Board Secretary William McGoey Evesham Township Environmental Commission and Black Run Preserve Planning Committee members who served on the Open Space Committee Gary Toothman, Chair Bradley Sclar John Volpa, Vice-Chair Stephen Sobocinski Nick Italiano Arthur Stengel Robert Kelly Carmen Tierno Karen O’Neil Ila Vassallo Steffi Pharo Regina Kinney, Secretary Earl Phillips Special thanks to: The staff of various Evesham Township departments, including: Tom Czierniecki, Township Manager, who sparked and guided the project; Gloria Recigno, Township Manager’s Office; ` Evesham Township Open Space and Recreation Plan i. Terri Bracchi, Community Development Coordinator; Carlos Martinez, Director of Community Development; Nick Italiano, Department of Seniors and Recreation; Joe Rizuto, Evesham MUA;