A New Jersey town agreed to spend $13.4 million to preserve about 50 acres once eyed for dense housing; the first 17 acres have now become public land

Denville Township in Morris County, New Jersey, has completed the purchase of a 17-acre parcel, beginning a $13.4 million land preservation project that will permanently protect about 50 acres that had once been considered for dense housing development. The first deal secures land at the corner of Diamond Spring Road and Pocono Road, one of the township’s main intersections. Under an agreement between township officials and property owner Springpoint Realty, the town plans to complete the purchase of another 33-acre parcel in October 2026. Together, the properties will turn a former private institutional campus into a large area of public parkland, sports facilities and protected open space.Coverage from local broadcaster WRNJ Radio and community news outlet My Paper Online, along with transaction records from the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, describes the project as one of the biggest environmental and historic preservation efforts in Denville’s history. The deal also ends earlier plans for high-density housing that emerged after the property was sold by its religious owners in 2022.

First parcel secured at major intersection

The first 17-acre parcel covers the northern part of the historic St. Francis property. Township records show that Mayor Thomas W. Andes and Township Administrator Steven Ward completed the final closing after receiving approval from state and county funding partners. The remaining 33 acres, expected to be acquired in October 2026, contain historic farm barns, existing sports fields and long-running community festival grounds along Pocono Road. Together, the parcels will prevent major commercial or residential development at an important intersection while preserving a large area of open land in the centre of the township.Speaking about the first purchase, Mayor Andes highlighted the importance of the deal for the community in comments reported by WRNJ Radio. “This is truly a once-in-a-generation achievement for our community,” Mayor Tom Andes said. “Preserving a property of this size and importance in the center of Denville is an opportunity that may never come again. Thanks to our funding partners and the commitment of Denville residents to open space preservation, this remarkable property will remain a public asset to be enjoyed for generations to come.“Andes said the purchase would protect both the area’s history and its natural environment. “This acquisition is more than preserving land,” Andes said. “It is about preserving Denville’s history, protecting our environment, expanding recreational opportunities, and creating a place where future generations can gather, celebrate, and enjoy everything that makes our Township special.”

Property has deep roots in Morris County

The St. Francis property has more than 130 years of cultural and community history in Morris County. Historical information cited by WRNJ Radio and local preservation archives shows that the land was once part of the Glover estate, known as Rockaway Farms. Colonel John Heyward Glover established the estate in the early 1800s along the Rockaway River. During the 19th century, the property became linked to Jeremiah G. Hamilton, a successful Wall Street investor and one of the few African American millionaires of his time. The land was later owned by Louis Fenn Wadsworth, an important figure in early American sports history who is widely regarded as one of the forefathers of organised baseball. In 1895, the northern part of the property was purchased by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother. They established the St. Francis Residential Community and health resort. For decades, the property and surrounding fields hosted community events, including annual festivals connected with St. Clare’s Hospital. After the campus was sold in 2022, most of the modern institutional buildings were demolished. The original timber barns, open fields, wooded areas and rolling landscape, however, remained.

Public funding helps secure the land

The $13.4 million purchase is being paid for through a combination of municipal, county and state funding. The Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation said county commissioners provided a $5.7 million grant through the Morris County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. Additional money came from the New Jersey Green Acres Program, which supports municipal land conservation, and local tax revenue from the voter-approved Denville Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund. After the senior living community closed, private owner Springpoint Realty considered other commercial uses for the property. Changing market conditions and continued interest from township officials eventually helped move the site towards permanent preservation.Springpoint President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony A. Argondizza welcomed the decision. “Denville is a beautiful place, and we appreciate the township’s interest in conserving its idyllic setting for the future,” said Springpoint President and CEO Anthony A. Argondizza. “The Oaks at Denville will continue the legacy of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother and St. Francis Health Resort by providing high quality programs and services to seniors.” Argondizza said public ownership would create lasting benefits for the wider community. “The township’s thoughtful decision to preserve these properties will contribute to the community’s health, providing open space, a park, and recreational fields for generations to come,” Argondizza added.

Former campus to become parkland

Township officials have developed a broad plan that combines nature conservation with public recreation. According to plans discussed in municipal updates and reported by My Paper Online as part of its coverage of the 2026 State of the Municipality Address, the northern 17-acre parcel will become a public community park. The planned park will include walking paths, quiet seating areas and restored natural habitats. The southern 33-acre parcel along Pocono Road will continue to support local sports programmes. Existing athletic fields will be kept for regional youth leagues that have used them for years. Officials also plan to study ways to stabilise and reuse the historic timber barns. One possible long-term plan is to convert the buildings into a municipal community centre. Environmental studies completed before the purchase also found that the land has important ecological value. Protecting the connected woodland corridor will help safeguard local water resources near the Rockaway River watershed and reduce the stormwater runoff that could come with dense housing development.

Part of wider county conservation effort

The purchase adds to Morris County’s long-running land preservation programme. Since the county’s voter-approved Open Space Trust Fund was established in 1994, the programme has helped municipalities preserve more than 18,440 acres across 39 towns. More than $300 million in taxpayer money has been invested in the effort. Denville was one of the programme’s early participants. In 1994, the township used open space funding to preserve the historic Ayres-Knuth Farm. The St. Francis property is now among the largest single open space investments completed in Morris County in recent years. Mayor Andes said the project would help protect the character of Denville for future generations. “This investment protects not only open space, but an important piece of Denville’s identity,” Andes said. “It is a legacy that today’s residents are preserving for tomorrow.” With the first 17-acre purchase now complete, township officials are finishing surveys and environmental paperwork needed to close the remaining 33-acre purchase in October 2026.