Encompassing 17.1 acres of densely wooded terrain, steep slopes and wetlands, Gateway Park was acquired by the Borough in 1999 from Household Finance Corporation and dedicated forever to passive public use. Its position at the corner of Pottersville Road and Route 206 preserves a vital Greenway vista at a principal entry point to the Borough. In addition, Gateway Park protects the Peapack Brook below it and buffers the community from traffic noise and pollution along Route 206.
Prior to its acquistion under Open Space auspices, this property constituted the largest remaining non-agricultural tract in the Borough that could accomodate homes on small lots. Designated by municipal zoning as ‘R6′ (a medium-density residential zone), the Borough and cooperating seller narrowly averted construction of some 100 new residential units.
This successful market-rate transaction was made possible by a grant from Somerset County’s Municipal Greenways Partnership Program and demonstrates how public/private cooperation leveraging local tax receipts and grants can serve as a model for sprawl abatement.
