Frenchtown Greenbelt

The Frenchtown Greenbelt Preserve is now part of the nearby State D & R Canal State Park, managed by the state park system for passive recreation, such as hiking and cross country skiing.

In late 2006 the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance completed the acquisition of 150 acres of land within the borough of Frenchtown, preserving the last large undeveloped tract in this small community. The preservation of this land will benefit generations of residents and visitors to come and will help ensure that this small town retain its charm, and one of its last wild places.

A Group Effort
The Frenchtown Greenbelt Preserve property was zoned for high density housing; it is estimated that over 100 residences could have been constructed on the site. The Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance recognized the importance of this property to the local community, the water protection and species habitat it provided, and the recreational opportunities it presented. The land trust worked to cultivate support for the preservation of this property from a variety of critical partners, the State of New Jersey Green Acres Program, Division of Parks and Forestry, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Frenchtown Borough, Hunterdon County, and the Open Space Institute. With a cost of more than $4,000,000, the property could not have been preserved without these partners. The land trust coordinated the project from initial communication with the owners through to the closing, and contributed over $2,000,000 in grant funding awarded to it for this project specifically.

Water, Scenery, History, and Critters
The Frenchtown Preserve includes 150 acres of open farm fields and a mixture of cedar and hard wood forest, with frontage on State Route 29, the state's first designated Scenic Byway. The views of the river from the high elevation fields are breathtaking, and the protection of this property ensures a scenic car ride, or bicycle trip, for those traversing the byway. The Nishisakwick Creek and its tributaries criss-cross this property, forming deep ravines. This stream system has the highest state classification, Category I, which means the water is of the highest quality. The Nishisakwick stream system supports a stocked trout fishery, attracting anglers from far and wide. The land itself provides an important buffer to public drinking water wells, ensuring a cleaner water supply for residents. The Leni-Lenape Indians are known to have established seasonal camps along the banks of the Delaware River, this property and the surrounding farms bear the evidence of those early residents who fished the streams and river, and hunted the woods and fields of the region. The deep, interior forests of the property provide habitat for a abundance of bird species, such as pileated woodpecker and owls. Black bear have been seen in the area. The high elevation fields provide the perfect spot to view the resident osprey and their young, as they return to a nearby nest every season. This property has long been a closely-held secret destination for locals interested in hiking and nature observation and is a place of significance in the hearts of many long time residents of the community.

The Future of the Preserve
The Frenchtown Greenbelt Preserve is now part of the nearby State D & R Canal State Park, managed by the state park system for passive recreation, such as hiking and cross country skiing.