The Fleischer Farm property in Toms River. (Credit: Google Maps)
Ocean County has finalized its purchase of the nearly 10-acre Fleischer Farm parcel off New Hampshire Avenue, securing the preservation of one of the township’s most pristine pieces of farmland and preventing additional development in its place.
The county freeholders purchased the property for $1,0025,850 using farmland preservation funding that will potentially see its active farming operation continue. The property – which measures 9.77 acres – is located at 1868 New Hampshire Avenue, across the street from the Greenbriar Woodlands development and just a half-mile from the Silverton Farms property that was also recently bought and preserved by the township.
“It is very close to the Lakewood border and very prime property,” said Freeholder Director Virginia E. Haines.
The property will now be deed-restricted so it can never be private developed and must remain a farm. County Administrator Carl W. Block said officials are already making plans to bring the farm back into active production. The food grown there will likely be donated to Fulfill, the organization formerly known as the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
“This is a win, win, win for Toms River,” said Councilman Maurice “Mo” Hill. “The land is preserved using county money, the farmland preservation prevents any development of the property … and there are discussions with the county about farming the back part of the property, with some of the produce raised there will go to Fulfill. It’s a pristine piece of property and I’m glad we were able to preserve it.”
