From greens to green space: Golf course becomes N.J. state park

With the first day of summer came the dedication of Gloucester County's first state park.

The Department of Environmental Protection on Monday formally opened the Tall Pines State Preserve, which used to be a golf course. The new park's 110 acres are in Deptford and Mantua Townships, with the Mantua Creek rolling through it.

The preserve is New Jersey's 40th state park, said Bob Martin, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection.

"As a conservationist, it is my job to preserve the treasures of the state of New Jersey," Martin said. "Tall Pines will be for the next generation of all of us."

The creation of the park resulted from all levels of government and the community coming together, he said.

The park is a "rich, diverse, natural treasure," Martin said. More than 70 species of birds - including the bald eagle - frequent the park's trees and meadows, he said.

The name comes from the former Tall Pines Golf Course, which began operation in the 1960s. Former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski later operated the course as Ron Jaworski's Eagles Nest, and then it became Maple Ridge Golf Course. The course closed in 2006.

After the course closed, a developer explored the idea of building houses there.

In November, the state, with help from local and private donors, bought the land for $3.2 million. The New Jersey Green Acres Program provided $983,500 through its state acquisition program.

Through the Green Acres local acquisition program, 50 percent matching grants added to donations from Gloucester County and the nonprofit organization South Jersey Land and Water Trust brought them to a total of $1.65 million and $350,000, respectively.

Mantua Township provided $250,000, which includes a 25 percent match grant from Green Acres local program.

The Frank H. Stewart Trust provided $250,000. A group of community members dedicated to preserving the land, formerly called Friends of Maple Ridge, donated $125,000.

Richard Dilks, 68, of the nonprofit organization now called the Friends of Tall Pines State Preserve, brought a group with him Monday to celebrate the dedication. Group members held signs that read "Save Maple Ridge" with the word saved written over the text.

Dilks, of Wenonah, said the group had been working to preserve the land for almost a decade. It raised public awareness through a website and lawn signs, and worked with government and the surrounding communities to save the land from development.

"I stand here in immense gratification," Dilks said at Monday's ceremony. "If you care that much, you're going to do whatever it takes. You don't give up, you don't give in, and that was the motto for Friends."

The area will provide a place for people to run, bicycle, bird-watch, or take nature hikes, Martin said. The pathways are handicapped-accessible.

"We knew there were a lot of people who wanted to see this happen," Martin said. "While the parks are used by people all over the state, the parks tend to be more community-based. They're used by the local community as a family park."

Mantua Mayor Pete Scirrotto and Deptford Mayor Paul Medany said their townships and surrounding towns would benefit from this project for generations.

"Tall Pines State Preserve - that sounds pretty good," Scirrotto said.

856-779-3912 eserpico@philly.com