(Cherry Hill, N.J.) – Cherry Hill Township Council will vote Monday, March 27, on a shared-service agreement with Camden County to assume responsibility for maintenance of the Masonic Lodge property on Haddonfield-Berlin Road, following the County’s successful purchase of the land, Mayor Chuck Cahn announced today.
This is the next step forward in the Township’s and County’s efforts to preserve the property as open space. The 4.1-acre site sits just a few miles down the road from the 165-acre Woodcrest Country Club property, which the Township successfully preserved as open space in 2015.
The property sits directly next to Cherry Hill American Little League baseball fields, and abuts several homes in the Township’s Brookfield neighborhood. Its proximity and access to both the neighborhood and existing recreational facilities make it prime for a walking trail or park.
Mayor Cahn acknowledged overwhelming support from the community for the purchase and preservation of the land.
“On behalf of myself and Township Council, I'd like to thank the citizens of Cherry Hill, and specifically the residents of the Brookfield neighborhood, for their continued support of this initiative,” he said. “This land is now property of the citizens of Cherry Hill Township and Camden County, and we will ensure that it remains as beautiful green space forever. This is truly the best possible outcome for the community, and it shows the progress that can be made when citizens and government work together.”
The land was purchased using Camden County Open Space funds, with the support of the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Township’s Department of Public Works will begin to clean up and beautify the site in the coming weeks.
“Cherry Hill is home to some of the best parks and historic sites in the region, and all of us on Town Council are happy to see this property added to that list,” said Cherry Hill Township Council President David Fleisher. “We look forward to seeing this property transformed into a beautiful public space that will be enjoyed by not just the surrounding neighborhood, but the entire community.”