Open Space & Farmland Preservation

About Open Space & Farmland Preservation

In November of 1998, Camden County’s voters overwhelmingly approved passage of the Camden County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland, And Historic Preservation Trust Fund Referendum. Pursuant to the vote, a trust fund of approximately $2M will be established for purposes of ensuring that our children, and their children, will have the benefit of enjoying the remaining open space that exists in Camden County for years to come. The County is committed to preserving parks, natural areas, historic sites, and farmland, not only for their scenic value, but for their use and enjoyment, and for purposes of cultural and ecological enrichment. The Camden County Open Space Preservation Trust Fund Advisory Committee was appointed by the Camden County Board of Chosen Commissioners for purposes of providing guidance regarding implementation of the Trust Fund and the principles of Open Space preservation that it represents. This diverse committee consists of:

• Four mayors of municipalities within the county (with equal representation of both major political parties)
• Three representatives of local recreation offices or organizations
• Three representatives of Camden County government, consisting of the Directors of the Department of Parks, the Division of Environmental Affairs, and the Division of Planning
• One representative each from the Camden County Agricultural Development Board and the Camden County Board of Realtors
• Four at-large representatives consisting of interested citizens not affiliated with any of the of the above groups (including a farm owner within the County)

The Committee meets on the last Thursday of every month at alternate locations in the County. The Committee has conducted an inventory of all existing open space in the County, as well as a guidance document to assist in evaluating properties for potential preservation action through use of the Trust Fund. As with all of our efforts, the Committee seeks public input regarding identification of open space, recommendations for preservation of specific sites, and suggestions pertaining to procedural issues. While notice is provided through various venues, you may join a mailing list for specific notice by Email or regular mail by contacting us at:

Applications

Applications for open space preservation, historic preservation, recreational facility enhancement, and farmland are available in our Frequently Used Forms. Click here to view the applications.