Environmental Center Breaks Ground On Former Robert Wood Johnson Estate

Matthew Hersh

Who would have thought an old barn would come to symbolize efforts in land preservation, but the one at the former Robert Wood Johnson estate on Rosedale Road is slated to house a major regional land trust, and to be used as an educational center for environmental purposes.

Ground was broken Thursday at Greenway Meadows Park with a ceremony held to commemorate the transformation of the old barn into an education center. Among those in attendance were Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand, Borough Mayor Joe O'Neill, and Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes.

Aptly named the "Johnson Educational Center," the barn, planned for opening next fall, will retain much of its original design, according to Linda Mead, executive director of D&R Greenway. Princeton architect Jerry Ford of Ford 3 Architects designed the Center. The renovation has been tagged by Greenway as a classic example of "adaptive reuse." The barn will retain many of its original structural details including its trademark timber frame.

The acquisition of Greenway Meadows, the 60-acre former Johnson estate, was a result of a $7.4 million effort in 2001 by Greenway, along with Princeton Township and various private donors.

At that time, Greenway introduced the Upmeyer Internship for Land Preservation and Stewardship, intended for the Johnson Center. Dedicated to Neil Upmeyer, the former chair of Greenway who died in April, the internship will be used to train future land preservationists. The internship was created using memorial gifts from Mr. Upmeyer's colleagues and friends, Ms. Mead said.

With development throughout New Jersey on the rise, the Johnson Center will work to "sustain and encourage the work of land preservation, conservation, and environmental organizations throughout the state," Ms. Mead added.

"New Jersey, and specifically Mercer County, are under tremendous developmental pressure," said Mr. Hughes, adding that the region saw an almost $3 billion tax-generating property increase. "On one hand, that's good for our governments that rely on property tax to pay some of the bills; it's also indicative of the amount of pressure that's on central New Jersey in how we need to direct our development in proper places in the correct way."

Mr. Hughes voiced his support of this November's ballot question asking for a one-cent increase in Mercer County's open space tax, an increase of about $14 for the average tax bill.

While praising the physical restoration of the barn, Mayor Marchand praised the efforts the restoration will facilitate. "The materials and staff available are the real bonanza that will happen here. This will be a role model for any environmental initiative."