Acquisition of Land for Open Space and Recreational Use

In 1990, Atlantic County voters approved a public question providing for the establishment of the Atlantic County Open Space Preservation Trust Fund.  Subsequently, in 1998 the allowable uses for the Trust were expanded to include:  acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes; development of lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes; acquisition of farmland for farmland preservation purposes; preservation of historic properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas, or objects, and the acquisition of such properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas or objects for historic preservation purposes.

In addition to direct purchases for open space and farmland preservation purposes, Atlantic County initiated the County Municipal Open Space Financial Assistance Program in 2000, to distribute a portion of the Open Space Trust to Atlantic County’s municipal partners in pursuit of open space, recreation, and historic preservation projects.  To date, over $26 million has been awarded through ten funding rounds of this successful program.

In total, over 100,000 acres of land are permanently preserved in Atlantic County, through the following initiatives:  Federal, State, County, Municipal and Non-Profit Open Space Programs; Farmland Preservation Easement purchases through the County and the State Agriculture Development Committee; and the Sale of Pinelands Development Credits, among others.

Do you own a property that you think may be a good candidate for preservation?

View and Print an application for the Open Space Preservation Trust, for potential sale of land to Atlantic County for open space preservation or recreation purposes. 

View and Print an Application for consideration under the Atlantic County Farmland Preservation Program. 

To find out more about Atlantic County’s land preservation initiatives, please contact Ranae Fehr in the Planning Department, at 609-645-5898.  For more information about park facilities and various related amenities that are offered by Atlantic County, please visit our Tourism and Recreation page.