Princeton University Contributes Lands Along D&R Canal; Historic Area Protected

Matthew Hersh

Princeton University has contributed 134 acres of land along the Delaware & Raritan Canal in Kingston as part of an effort that, if successful, will result in 194 structure-free acres in the area surrounding the former Princeton Nurseries.

The preservation represents an agreement between New Jersey Green Acres, Princeton University, and South Brunswick, and on Friday, University trustees formally turned over the deed to the first 10 of the 134 acres of University land to be preserved as open space. Green Acres, the state Department of Environmental Protection agency that facilitates land preservation projects, has purchased 58 acres from the William Flemer family, owners of Princeton Nurseries. The University will retain ownership of 31.5 acres of the land for detention basin use, but University officials have said that those lands will remain open space.

The tract also will include 20 acres housing historic nursery structures that are being preserved, for a total of 214 acres.

"This project reflects goals that we established for Princeton Forrestal Center," said Robert Durkee, vice president and secretary of the University, during Friday's event at what is tentatively called Mapleton Preserve. Those goals, which date back to the 1970s, were put in motion when the University acquired the Forrestal land after the owners of Princeton Nurseries sold it in 1986. "These goals can be described as a commitment to smart growth," he added.

The University has preserved 650 acres in the Forrestal region.

Part of the purpose of Mapleton Preserve will be to establish an "interpretive outdoor, educational, horticultural, and historic preservation center," according to the University.

Congressman Rush Holt (D-12th District) joked that aside from the Flemer family, he had spent more time on the preserved plot of land than anyone else because his headquarters were located there in 1998, during his first Congressional campaign.

"There was a place for rent if I was interested in being in the woods," Mr. Holt quipped. "I feared this land would not be preserved," he said.

Nearby Princeton Township and Kingston residents had long pushed for the land to be preserved in response to worsening traffic conditions along Route 27 and hoped the land preservation would deter further development.

David Knights, director of marketing for Princeton-Forrestal, said the land, once residentially zoned, was more appropriate as open space.

In addition to the land, the University will contribute $100,000 to the carry out the preservation plan.