Hunterdon Land Trust (HLT) is pleased to announce the preservation of a 13-acre property located at 73-77 Oak Grove Road in Raritan Township. The property has been acquired by Raritan Township and added to its public park system, protecting valuable natural resources while expanding the Township’s network of preserved open space.

The property consists primarily of forested wetlands dominated by red maple and pin oak trees. Its understory includes highbush blueberry, dogwood, arrowwood viburnum, azalea, sensitive fern, sedges, and a diverse array of mosses. Along the forest edges, meadow species such as narrow-leaf mountain mint and rough-stemmed goldenrod provide additional habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. 

A tributary of the Wickecheoke Creek, a Category One stream, flows diagonally across the newly preserved property. The land contains wetlands, headwaters, and active river area, making it an important contributor to regional water quality and flood resilience. The acquisition is part of a broader effort to protect the Wickecheoke Creek watershed. The Wickecheoke Creek ultimately drains into the Delaware River, a vital source of drinking water for millions of people. Through years of collaboration with preservation partners including HLT, Raritan Township has helped to protect nearly 400 acres along the Wickecheoke Creek and its tributaries. Expanding these greenway corridors enhances wildlife habitat, improves water quality, supports flood mitigation, and strengthens the overall health of the region’s ecosystems.

HLT contributed funding toward the acquisition through a grant from Hunterdon County.

“Hunterdon County is an invaluable partner in land preservation, and without their funding many projects simply would not happen,” said Jacqueline Middleton, Senior Director of Land Acquisition & Stewardship for HLT. “We are grateful for partners who continually step up to protect land, and we sincerely thank Raritan Township, Hunterdon County, and the New Jersey Green Acres Program for making this preservation project possible.”

“This project demonstrates the power of partnership in advancing land conservation,” said Emily Dunn, Executive Director of HLT. “Every preserved property strengthens the network of protected lands across Hunterdon County, helping to safeguard clean water, support wildlife habitat, and ensure that the natural landscapes that define our region remain intact for future generations.”

This preservation represents another important step toward protecting Hunterdon County’s natural landscapes while advancing long-term conservation efforts in the Wickecheoke Creek corridor.

Hunterdon Land Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to foster healthy ecosystems and communities in the Hunterdon County region through permanent preservation of open space and farmland, stewardship of natural resources, and cultivation of the Dvoor Farm as a center for inspiration, education, and connection. Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, the organization has helped protect more than 12,700 acres. To learn more, visit www.hunterdonlandtrust.org.