Warren's draft open space and recreation plan, explained

What the draft covers

The draft is a ten-year Open Space and Recreation Plan for 2026–2035, prepared by the Township’s Open Space Advisory Committee. The Township posted the plan summary and the survey results with its November 2, 2026 announcement of a public input meeting.

The summary shows 887.61 acres (OCR) of preserved open space in 18 areas. It breaks down properties into 9 trail properties (410.6 acres), 3 park and field properties (28.8 acres), and 7 other open spaces (471.0 acres) (OCR). The acreage subtotals add up to 910.4, and the category counts add up to 19. The summary does not explain if categories overlap or how the figures relate. It does not include Somerset County-owned properties or the 14.3-acre Round Top Swim Club (OCR), which the document describes as “currently under contract.”

The plan names six goals: preservation and acquisition; environmental protection; trail connectivity; active recreation; stewardship and sustainability; and public engagement. It states that a ten-year plan is “important or required” for certain New Jersey Green Acres grants.

The acreage and survey-summary figures cited here from the plan presentation are transcribed from OCR and have not been checked against page images.

The money behind it is the Township’s Open Space, Recreation, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, which the summary describes as a levy of “$.02 per $100 valuation.” By the trust fund’s terms, the money pays to acquire conservation, recreation and farmland land, preserve or acquire historic properties, and develop and maintain conservation or recreation land.

The Open Space Advisory Committee was created by Ordinance 25-18, adopted November 13, 2025, 5–0. The ordinance added Section 2-35 to Chapter 2 and set the committee’s duties: developing strategies to use the trust fund, recommending and prioritizing properties for preservation or acquisition, researching grants, and reviewing maintenance with the DPW superintendent.

Survey results and limits

The survey report and the plan summary do not use the same response count. The report’s OCR shows 464 responses to its first question, with 498 total selections. The plan summary’s OCR reports “470” responses. It states that two-thirds of respondents continued past the core questions and reports more than 800 written comments. Neither document explains the difference between 464 and 470. Figures below are transcribed from survey-report OCR; page images were not independently checked.

Selected results are shown below, each with its own denominator:

• Acquiring land was the top answer when respondents were asked what matters most: 47.24% (214 of 453) chose acquiring additional land for preservation. Expanded recreation programs and events drew 15.01% (68), improvements to existing trails 9.71% (44).
• Trails. Asked about trail improvements, 57.04% (166 of 291) chose expanding and interconnecting trail systems, 43.99% (128) restrooms at high-use trailheads, and 42.27% (123) paved multi-use trails.
• Complaints. Asked what limits their use of parks, 46.06% (152 of 330) named lack of restroom access, 30.91% (102) unclear or missing trail markings, and 26.97% (89) not enough shade.
• Athletic fields. 5.16% (24 of 465) rated new or expanded athletic fields a top priority and 14.19% (66) important, while 29.25% (136) chose low priority and 18.92% (88) not important at all; 24.30% (113) chose moderately important.
• Round Top Swim Club. 17.24% (80 of 464) rated it a top priority, 31.03% (144) important, 15.95% (74) low priority and 13.15% (61) not important at all.
• Getting there. 90.10% (264 of 293) said they drive to Township parks; 5.12% (15) walk and 1.02% (3) bicycle.

The summary describes the sample of respondents as skewed. Senior households were 40% of respondents, but only 35.3% of Warren households include a senior. Households with children were over-represented, while single-person and childless households were under-represented. The summary states that one-sided findings are unaffected, but athletic field demand should be considered with this information in mind.

Proposed priorities and funding

The plan lists priority opportunities it says are “subject to annual budget review and Township Committee approval.” Among them: Dealaman drainage and pond work; “bog bridges,” benches and picnic tables; site management plans; entrance redesigns at Codington and Stransky; evaluating a mountain-bike trail; new trails at Garafola, Morecraft and Round Top; invasive plant removal; land acquisition; a new athletic field including cricket (2028–2030); Duderstadt Complex upgrades (2028–2030); an ADA-accessible trail loop (2028–2030); playground expansion (2027–2028); and a decision on Round Top Swim Club use (2027–2028).

The near-term list for 2026–2027 includes trails at Codington and Glenhurst; “safe and usable (complete),” Dealaman improvements; an invasive-species baseline; a trail-classification policy; public outreach; a Glenhurst entrance redesign; and security cameras at Greenwood Meadows, Municipal Pavilion, Pop Warner and other sites. A check-in with the public is scheduled for five years, in 2031, and the plan will be renewed in 2035.

The summary lists funding sources. The primary source is the Open Space Trust Fund. Other sources include New Jersey Green Acres grants, which cover 25–50% for acquisition, 25% for development, and 50% for stewardship, with Dealaman given as a stewardship example. Additional sources are the Somerset County Open Space Trust, the New Jersey Historic Trust, Sustainable Jersey, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, corporate and community sponsorships, and fundraising by athletic organizations.

The summary does not state a price for the plan. It says “Estimates still being developed” and that plan actions “require budget decisions: possibly increase for open space.” It also states that specific acquisition parcels are identified by criteria rather than by owner name. “consistent with Green Acres guidance.”

How the plan may be adopted

The summary sets out a six-step path: review by the Township Planner; review by Township administration and the Township Committee; public input; a final plan document reflecting steps one through three; Planning Board approval “as part of the Warren Master Plan”; and submission to Green Acres.

The Township’s Master Plan page lists a “2026 Reexamination Report of the Master Plan” and the adopted Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. It does not list an Open Space and Recreation Plan element.

The plan’s place in the Master Plan came up at the Planning Board on November 24, 2025. Resident Bill Gilbert of Flintlock Drive asked where the Open Space Plan appeared in the Master Plan and said he did not see any text; Planner John Chadwick answered that it was the “Conservation, Recreation, Open Space Map.” Clerk Maryellen Vautin said she did not know how comments could be submitted on the website, and Board attorney Matt Flynn said comments could be submitted at the hearing. No vote on an open space plan was taken.

The Committee’s own calendars put later steps in late 2026. Its September 10, 2026 minutes record a schedule of a survey September 14–October 1, draft review in October, public input November 9, Planning Board submission November 25 and anticipated year-end Board approval. Its October 19 draft agenda listed a Draft 4a for review by Township Planner Katie Sarmad, about November 16 revisions and an approximately November 25 submission. Those are planning statements; the record reviewed does not show the submission or approval occurring.

Public input scheduled

The Township’s November 2, 2026 news item announces a public input meeting for Monday, November 9, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in the Susie Boyce Courtroom at the Municipal Building, next to the Library. The Open Space Advisory Committee will present the draft, including short- and long-term plans, survey results, and proposed trail, park and field improvements and preservation priorities. The two presentations are described as already online, no RSVP is required, and residents who cannot attend may send comments to bill.openspace@gmail.com.

No member of the public spoke about the draft plan at the Township Committee meetings reviewed; the April 16, 2026 minutes record an update that work on the plan continued. The Committee meets monthly and posts its agendas and minutes on the Township’s AgendaCenter. After the November 9 meeting, the plan’s own path puts the document before the Planning Board as part of the Master Plan.