Mercer County Open Space Preservation

The Open Space Preservation Trust Fund is used for the preservation of parks, farmland, and other open space, recreational development, historic preservation, and land stewardship. Mercer County has three Open Space Preservation Programs that are funded through the Mercer County Open Space Preservation Trust Fund Tax. They are: (1) Countywide Regional Open Space, (2) Mercer County Open Space Assistance Program (MCOSAP), and (3) Farmland Preservation.

(1) Countywide Regional Open Space

Land that provides regionally significant open space opportunities for a large majority of the County’s residents is preserved, maintained and operated by the County. The land must be consistent with the goals and criteria of the Open Space and Recreation Plan. There are priority areas proposed for acquisition in the Plan, including long-range open space areas such as stream corridors, greenbelts, and expansions of existing facilities. If you are interested in selling your property to the County as Open Space, please contact the Mercer County Planning Department at 609-989-6545.

(2) Mercer County Open Space Assistance Program (MCOSAP)

Through municipal and nonprofit initiatives, the County will assist in preserving locally significant lands. Funding preferences for municipal and nonprofit initiated projects will be based on their consistency with the goals and criteria of the Open Space Preservation Element of the Mercer County Master Plan and local master plans. Projects should demonstrate efforts to leverage other governmental and private funds while providing locally significant open space for the residents of Mercer County. More information on this program can be found under “Open Space Assistance Program.”

(3) Farmland Preservation

Farmland is necessary for the production of food and fiber. It also benefits the community-at-large by providing open space, ground water recharge areas, and wildlife habitat. Farmland, compared to other open space, provides a tax base that other preserved lands do not and uses significantly fewer services than developed land. Mercer County uses the Open Space Preservation Trust Fund to purchase agricultural easements on targeted farms in Mercer County. This means the land remains under private ownership but is restricted to agricultural uses. County staff work closely with the State Agriculture Development Committee to follow the Farmland Preservation Element of the County Master Plan. More information on this program can be found under “Farmland Preservation.”

For more information click on the links below:

2024 Open Space Presentation 

Evolution of the Mercer County Land Preservation Program

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