Chatham Township—The Open Space Institute is under contract to purchase 163 acres of open space at Giralda Farms for $14 million. The property, which was once part of the Geraldine R. Dodge estate, will be owned by Chatham Township and maintained by the Morris County Park Commission (MCPC). This is the largest contiguous undeveloped tract of land left available for preservation in Chatham Township, and perhaps in all of southeast Morris County.
Located within walking distance of two local colleges, plans for preservation will include an expansion of trails for passive recreation.
The property will provide an important corridor connection to MCPC’s Loantaka Brook Reservation, and its open meadows and forest will expand and improve wildlife habitat in the area. It will help protect the quality of water flowing into nearby Loantaka Brook, and its value as open space is enhanced by its close proximity to the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. GSWA is pleased to support this important acquisition and we encourage Morris County to fund the grant request to enable its preservation.
