Burlington County officials have authorized the purchase of a 100-acre property in Springfield, adding to the county's farmland preservation efforts. The project involves creating a new trail connection between Arney’s Mount Park and the Burlington County Fairgrounds. The county’s board of commissioners recently voted to allow the Department of Resource Conservation to finalize a contract for the Choi family property off Juliustown Road. The land sits next to Arney’s Mount, the county’s highest point, and the adjacent county park. Part of the acquired land will extend the Arney’s Mount Trail northward through Springfield to the fairgrounds on Route 206. Burlington County has secured a $3.2 million grant for the Arney’s Mount Fairgrounds Connector trail’s design and construction. The remaining acreage will carry deed restrictions to ensure it stays in agricultural use before being auctioned to a farming buyer.

The Choi property has produced grain and row crops in recent years and previously hosted vegetable and greenhouse operations. Officials announced plans last fall to preserve nearly 270 acres of the Van Wagoner Farm, located east of Arney’s Mount Park. That agreement calls for preserving 239 acres through the County Farmland Preservation Program, with another 30 acres to be purchased as open space and incorporated into Arney’s Mount Park. Once the Van Wagoner and Choi properties are finalized, Springfield will have more than 6,200 acres of preserved farmland through New Jersey and Burlington County programs – the highest total among Burlington County municipalities.

This acquisition underscores Burlington County’s commitment to balancing agricultural preservation with expanding its regional trail network, enhancing both economic stability and recreational access for residents.