Morristown Green‍ ‍July 31, 2026

The Friends of the Drew Forest has launched a public campaign to raise the final $5 million needed for Madison Borough to purchase and permanently preserve the more than 47-acre Drew Forest.

The campaign, It’s Time to Save a Forest, comes with a significant incentive: An anonymous donor has pledged to match contributions dollar for dollar, up to $2.5 million. The nonprofit hopes to reach its fundraising goal within the next few weeks.

A major milestone came in January, when Madison Borough and Drew University signed a purchase agreement for the property. Under the agreement, Friends of the Drew Forest is responsible for raising $5 million — including the matching funds — toward the acquisition. The remainder of the purchase will be funded through municipal, nonprofit, county, state and federal sources.

The organization, led by co-chairs Judy Kroll of Madison and Lydia Chambers of Harding, has spent more than three months quietly soliciting donations before launching the public phase of the campaign.

“Seeing the generosity and dedication of this community has been truly humbling, and I’m pleased to report that we are now very close to the finish line,” Kroll said.

“With continued support from our friends and followers, we will reach our fundraising goal,” Chambers said. “Once Madison purchases the forest, we will no longer be in danger of losing that beautiful, mature, and biodiverse forest and all of its benefits.”

Supporters say preserving the forest will protect wildlife habitat and biodiversity while providing cleaner air, stormwater protection, aquifer recharge, carbon sequestration and relief from the urban heat island effect. The property also serves as a living laboratory for Drew University students and offers public access to a mature woodland.

MADISON - Another necessary step was taken on Wednesday, July 29, to save the Drew Forest as the Planning Board approved a lot subdivision to make way for the borough’s ownership of the forest.

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.

This subdivision application was unusual because it had no proposal for development. Also, the Borough of Madison itself was an applicant before its own Planning Board.

“Not only is some land put aside for public use, recreational use, open space, but the university use is also preserved in the university zone,” said Stephen Joseph, an attorney representing the borough in the role of the applicant.

Madison resident Judy Kroll, co-chair of the Friends of the Drew Forest, said the Friends want to share their appreciation with everyone who has worked on this application.

“This is obviously something that we have been advocating for for five years. And it’s an important official step, and it’s really heartening to see us at this stage,” Kroll said.

“So we would just like to officially say that we’re thankful and appreciative to everything the council has done and to the Planning Board and all the professionals who have worked very hard to get to this point.”

Madison Eagle, July 14, 2026.

MADISON - The Borough Council passed an ordinance Monday, July 13, to [borrow funds for] the purchase of the Drew Forest for preservation as open space [which is a step towards closing].

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.

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."

Pictured: Acting Borough Council President John Forte, Councilman Eric Range and Senator Anthony Bucco

MADISON – Mayor Robert Conley and Drew University President Hillary Link signed an agreement for the borough to purchase the Drew Forest on Sunday, Jan. 11, Conley announced during the Borough Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 12.

The council had previously passed a resolution to enter a settlement with Drew to purchase the forest for preservation for $23.8 million at a special meeting on Monday, Dec. 22.

The borough also plans to buy the Madison House, a historic home at 2 Vinal Place on the campus, and some surrounding land and parking area, for $400,000.

The settlement would also involve the creation of two new parcels to be subdivided for inclusionary housing and other development. One area, Parcel B, is behind the United Methodist Church in Madison, and the other, Parcel C, is between Madison Avenue and the frontage of Ranger Stadium.

The council passed a resolution at the Jan. 12 meeting directing the Planning Board to conduct a preliminary investigation as to whether this area qualifies as an area in need of redevelopment.

In another resolution, the council directed the Planning Board to amend the Third Round affordable housing plan to include this area.

Next steps include environmental testing, a settlement with the Fair Share Housing Center, the redevelopment process for the areas set aside for housing, and closing on the deal by Dec. 31, 2026, Conley said.

While there are grants from federal, state, county and local government, the deal is contingent on a $5 million capital campaign by the Friends of the Drew Forest, Conley said.

Judy Kroll, co-chair of the Friends, said the group already has an anonymous donor who has agreed to match donations up to $2.5 million, so the Friends will need to fundraise for the other $2.5 million.