Madison Council passes ordinance to buy Drew Forest
By BRETT FRIEDENSOHN Managing Editor, Madison Eagle, July 14, 2026
MADISON - The Borough Council passed an ordinance Monday, July 13, to buy the Drew Forest for preservation as open space.
The total purchase price is $23.8 million, but after five grants, the borough will be responsible for paying about $6.2 million, excluding borrowing costs.
The fight to save the forest has been going on for about five years when talks had started about Drew University potentially selling the forest to developers.
Many people in the community reacted in strong opposition to this and residents have been imploring the council and other government officials to prevent it.
A portion of the principal would be paid off annually, and administration officials say they believe the entire land purchase can be paid off over 10 years using money from the Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, according to Borough Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jim Burnet.
Grants include about $6.88 million from Morris County Open Space, about $1.69 million from U.S. Fish and Wildlife, $1 million from the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, and about $4.12 from Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Finally, the borough will receive a grant of about $4.69 million from the state Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Acres program, to be paid over 10 years.
Part of the borough’s purchase agreement with Drew University is a commitment from the Friends of the Drew Forest to donate $5 million to the university. Some $2.5 million has been pledged by an anonymous donor, and the Friends are fundraising for the other $2.5 million.
Anyone who wants to donate can visit friendsofthedrewforest.org.
“Beneficial impact for generations to come”
State Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, said during the meeting that he wanted to congratulate the council on the adoption of the ordinance which is another step in the long process to get the property preserved.
"I have to admit that when we started this process, I had many concerns, and as the price continued to escalate, whether or not we could put the team together but to make it work," Bucco said.
However, Bucco said, with the help of the Friends of the Drew Forest, support from the community and cooperation at all levels of government, this was able to be accomplished.
"And I think that’s something special for Madison, and I think that’s something special for this region," Bucco said.
"And it will have an impact, a beneficial impact on generations to come. And we should all be proud of the hard work that went into this and the result that will be achieved when we sign that contract and the final deed is transferred into property to be preserved."