'Marketplace' Land Could Be Used for Recreation

Now that the 36 acres of land known by residents as "Marketplace" has been acquired by the township, preliminary discussions have begun on ways to incorporate recreational opportunities on the River Road land parcel.

Township Administrator Victor Canning said the discussions are still in the beginning stages and that "there isn't anything concrete for a lot of reasons," the biggest being a lack of funding.

"We haven't put anything into capital yet for that property," Canning said.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, the Montville-based accredited land trust organization that helps municipalities acquire land for preservation, announced the finalization of the "Marketplace" acquisition in a statement last week.

"Known simply as 'Marketplace,' the purchased this undeveloped property for open space and recreation. Plans include utilizing the property for flood storage protection and hiking," the press release said. "River Road has been identified in the 2011 Open Space and Recreation Plan as a proposed bicycle route in the southern part of the municipality. This property would provide a quiet respite for riders along this scenic road across from the Knoll West Country Club in neighboring Parsippany-Troy Hills Township."

The acquisition was finalized June 21 after the land was with a $1.35 million grant from the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund. The land was initially intended to be developed by SMK into between 12 and 14 residential units. As the property is in a flood-prone area, the township sought to acquire the land to prevent the development, which could have worsened flooding situations for residences and businesses located downstream from the property. Some residents have expressed their "

According to the Land Conservancy, more than 1,100 acres of land have been preserved in Montville for recreation and watershed protection since 1990.

"The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is proud of its accomplishments in Montville Township,” Linda Gloshinski, land preservation specialist with The Land Conservancy, said. “From protecting the Towaco Aquifer, to creating new parks for ball fields, to expanding the protected lands along the Rockaway River, the 'Marketplace' property will further enhance the open space and recreational opportunities available to township residents.”

Canning said the township has been in the process of creating recreational opportunities in other areas in the township that have taken priority over concrete plans for the "Marketplace" property. One such property is the Metro Park complex, which township committee and Montville Township Recreation Committee members the past several years.

But much like the "Marketplace" property, Canning said the township must first come up with the funding for these iniatives before the recreational opportunities can be created in the locations.

"The money's short and we're trying to stretch the dollars that we have now," Canning said.