The bulldozer is Enemy No.1 to Cherry Hill Mayor David Fleisher, so much so that he enlisted the township’s help last year in crafting a blueprint to fight development’s encroachment tooth and nail.
The 63-page manifesto, known as the Township of Cherry Hill 2025 Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP), is committed to saving parks, trails, open space, and wellness.
On Monday, it received unanimous approval from the Township Planning Board.
The OSRP, which builds upon the one from 2011, lists eight goals that aim to:
- Preserve open space for preservation, conservation, and/or recreation.
- Safeguard sensitive land areas through the acquisition of environmentally sensitive areas, such as steep slopes, woodlands, aquifer recharge areas, and areas containing unique environmental features.
- Enhance greenways.
- Improve the existing open space system and provide adequate passive and active recreation opportunities for all ages.
- Improve maintenance and maximize the use of existing active recreation parcels.
- Promote the importance of maintaining passive open space parcels.
- Promote health and wellness through active recreation.
- Balance environmental conservation with economic development.
“Open space is essential to the vitality, health and culture of our community,” reads the statement under the Plan’s `Public Purpose’ on Page 13.
“Open space serves as a way to preserve our connection with the natural world, provide tranquility, ensure the health and diversity of flora and fauna, and to help lessen pollution by absorbing contaminants from our air and water. Parks and open space provide social, economic, environmental, and health benefits essential to the quality of life and well-being of our community.”
Mayor Fleisher, who just completed his first year in office, praised the new plan.
“This plan aligns with our priorities to protect our open space and ensure our residents have access to parks, trails and other outdoors spaces that support healthy lifestyles,” Fleisher said in a statement after the Feb. 3 Board vote. “The plan is based on solid planning principles and will help guide our future conservation and preservation activities over the next decade.”
In the introduction to the 2025 OSRP, it’s noted how it was prepared in accordance with the guidelines and requirements of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program.
The 2025 Plan gives an overview of what all Cherry Hill residents have left to enjoy and preserve. It also sets goals, objectives, and actions to guide the Township‘s policies and decision-making regarding open space and recreation.
In order to be eligible for New Jersey DEP Green Acres funding, a municipality must have a Green Acres-approved OSRP that is adopted as part of the master plan by the local unit’s Planning Board.
That approval was obtained on Feb. 3.
Fleisher noted the huge role Cherry Hill residents played in putting the 2025 plan together.
Last year, the Township engaged the community and stakeholders to update the 2011 Open Space and Recreation Plan. It issued several surveys and held a series of public meetings to solicit community input on the priorities and goals of the 2025 plan.
“I’m thankful to our residents for their participation and input in the development of this plan and look forward to working together to reach our preservation, conservation and recreation goals,” Fleisher said.
Coincidentally, just last week, Fleisher kicked off the “Healthier Together – Cherry Hill Mayor’s Wellness Campaign” to a crowd of more than 100 participants who walked Cherry Hill Mall.
It was the inaugural kickoff to what Fleisher envisions will become monthly Wellness Walks at various locations throughout the Township, which undoubtedly will include parks and trails highlighted in the 2025 OSRP.
