Preserve open Space at New Jersey Training School
January 28, 2019
Monroe Township Mobilizes To Preserve Open Space at New Jersey Training School
Mayor’s Task Force moves to protect 663 acres of state land
MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro convened the inaugural meeting of the Mayor’s Open Space Preservation Task Force for the New Jersey Training School on Tuesday evening, January 22 at the Township Municipal Complex.
The task force members included local residents, municipal, county and state officials. The meeting also included a representative of the Office of Governor Phil Murphy who has committed to work with the task force in the coming year.
“When I learned the Training School would eventually be closing, I knew we needed to act quickly to ensure the preservation and protection of the state-owned open space and farmland surrounding the facility,” said Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro. “Secondly, I knew we needed a seat at the table to ensure that, when the state facility closes, any future use benefits Monroe Township and Middlesex County.”
The New Jersey Training School land is owned by the State of New Jersey Department of Treasury and operated under the Juvenile Justice Commission. The state estimates that it may decommission the buildings within four to six years. The land, located between Spotswood Englishtown and Spotswood Gravel Hill roads, is primarily comprised of preserved farmland, wooded forests, flood plains and wetlands. The facility and the land surrounding it comprise 663 acres.
“This will be an important year for the task force. Our mission is to maintain the open spaces, preserve the historical components of the site and chart a path forward for determining any future use of the buildings,” said Mayor Tamburro. “I believe our efforts will be successful because of the support from our residents, the Township Council and our Council President Steve Dalina, our freeholders, who are represented by Freeholder Leslie Koppel and Deputy Director Freeholder Charles Tomaro and, finally and importantly, our legislative delegation led by Senator Linda Greenstein, Assemblyman Dan Benson and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo.”
All media inquiries may be directed to the Monroe Township’s Public Information Officer Stacey Kennedy at 732-521-4400 or