Project Description
To compensate for injuries to natural resources and outdoor recreation caused by the Exxon Bayway oil spill, the NY/NJ Harbor Oil Spill Restoration Committee transferred $1,000,000 to the Township of Edison, NJ to acquire the 25.51 acre Smith Farm property. The parcel was incorporated into Woodland Avenue Park, expanding a contiguous tract of over 300 acres of preserved forested land that includes the park, the Edith Stevens Memorial Wildlife Preserve, and Petti Farm. This land acquisition preserved a variety of habitats including over 12 acres of forested and emergent wetlands in the headwaters of Robinsons Branch, a large tributary of the Rahway River in the Arthur Kill watershed. While oil from the spill did not reach the property on Woodland Avenue, the purchase and protection of the land directly benefits downstream resources that were impacted by the oil spill. The property was designated as public open space and now provides opportunities for passive outdoor recreation, such as hiking and birdwatching.
DOI Project Representatives
Fish and Wildlife Service