History & Mission

Dennis Davidson, Sam Hamill, Bob Johnston, Rosemary Blair & Jim Amon are founding members of D&R Greenway Land Trust

D&R Greenway Land Trust is central New Jersey's non-profit land preservation organization, founded in 1989 through the collaboration and vision of four organizations: the Stony Brook - Millstone Watershed Association, Friends of Princeton Open Space, Regional Planning Partnership, and the Delaware & Raritan Canal Commission. Founders, including Jim Amon, Rosemary Blair, Dennis Davidson, Sam Hamill, and Bob Johnston, realized that our region's open space was threatened with extinction. Their vision of an organization dedicated to the preservation of our remaining natural areas led to the creation of this small grassroots organization that completed the first nonprofit acquisition using Green Acres funds in 1992. Originally named Delaware & Raritan Greenway, we changed our name in 2004 to better reflect our preservation work as a Land Trust, and to account for the expansion of our work beyond our traditional focus along the Delaware & Raritan Canal.

We permanently preserve watershed lands and large-scale landscapes, thereby preventing the loss of open space to development. Our operating region consists of over 1,500 square miles, encompassing portions of the Delaware, Raritan and Millstone River watersheds and the Delaware & Raritan Canal. This includes Mercer, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Burlington and Monmouth counties. Preservation work is also underway in Salem County, New Jersey. We have a staff of eight full-time and eight part-time professionals. There are also interns working on stewardship of preserved lands.

Mission

D&R Greenway Land Trust's mission is to:

• Preserve and protect a permanent network of natural lands and open spaces, creating the conditions for a healthy and diverse environment to flourish
• Provide the public with appropriate access to these areas, encouraging active lifestyles and a greater appreciation of the natural world
• Inspire a conservation ethic promoting policies, educational programs and partnerships that result in a public commitment to land preservation
  

Funding Land Preservation
Land acquisition dollars are accessed through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Green Acres Program and the State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC) - both funded by the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT); county and municipal open space funds, and, in some cases, donated by foundations and individuals. Our operating budget is funded entirely through private donations from individuals, local businesses, corporations and foundations. These critical operating funds are contributed through sponsorships, special events and galas, annual donations, Taplin Circle membership, and bequests.

Record of Success
Since 1989, D&R Greenway Land Trust has preserved over 10,333 acres of land valued over $343 million. We have preserved 190 different properties and serve as the continuing steward of 41 preserves and 49 conservation easements. We head the list of non-profits in New Jersey to successfully complete land transactions with State Green Acres funds.

D&R Greenway Land Trust also provides technical assistance to citizen groups and municipalities in creating local greenways throughout many counties. We consider it a vital component of our mission to provide education and promote awareness about the need to preserve land appropriately, how to conduct transactions, and how to be good stewards of the land. The Johnson Education Center is helping us take this goal a step further by providing adequate space and tools to create better conservation programs across the State of New Jersey. In addition, we are working hard to foster the development of trails and parks that enable individuals to enjoy the land we've worked so diligently to preserve. To ensure the accomplishment of these goals, we have developed a stewardship program to actively manage land our preserved lands for wildlife conservation and as valuable bird habitat. We have created two organizations for which we provide staff support and guidance: New Jersey Trails Association and Friends for the Marsh.

For more information, please call 609-924-4646. D&R Greenway Land Trust headquarters are located at the Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ 08540.