October 22, 2021
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP – The Mercer County Park Commission has released its proposed final master plan for the redevelopment of Moores Station Quarry located in Hopewell Township, adjacent to Baldpate Mountain. The plan can be found on the Park Commission’s website here
Research on options for repurposing this industrial quarry into a park was led by a team of consultants and Park Commission staff, and included outreach to a variety of potential user groups and stakeholders. A preliminary draft of the master plan was posted for public review on July 12, 2021, and feedback from the public in response to the draft plan was considered in the development of the final plan. The public comment period provided areas of improvement for the industrial quarry site, including topics in recreation, environmental restoration, education and accessibility. “Turning this unique site into public open space is a major undertaking, and the Park Commission has worked diligently to formulate a proposal that would serve as a long-term vision for park improvements,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “I thank our community members for providing valuable input that has helped guide this process.”
The proposed master plan will be considered for adoption during the October Park Commission meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 27. The online public meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. A meeting notice and link to the webinar can be found here.
“Over the past year, the redevelopment plan for this 166-acre site has reflected the Park Commission’s commitment to the public process,” said Park Commission Executive Director Aaron T. Watson. “Close to 150 responses to the draft plan were reviewed, and that feedback helped shape the final master plan. Public insight gave our team new opportunities to explore that we are excited to implement as we move forward.”
Quarrying operations by Trap Rock Industries will cease at the site in the spring of 2023, when a 25-year agreement with the quarry operator will expire. At that point, the Park Commission will take possession of the site and begin a multi-year process of transforming the open-pit quarry into a park.
The Park Commission has retained a multi-disciplinary team to help develop the master plan, led by Simone Collins Landscape Architecture of Norristown, Pa. The team includes landscape architects, geologists, engineers, ecologists, wildlife biologists, sustainability experts and real estate market analysts.
