Friends of the Drew Forest try to deliver poster to President Link, ‘puzzled’ by note on the door

By BRETT FRIEDENSOHN Managing Editor Oct 21, 2024 Updated Oct 22, 2024

MADISON – Members of the Friends of the Drew Forest were left “puzzled” by a note on the door when they delivered a poster with several signatures supporting forest preservation to the office of Drew President Hilary Link Friday, Oct. 18.

The note, addressed to the Friends, said that Drew University is also committed to preserving the Drew Forest and Zuck Arboretum. The Friends left the poster at the foot of Link’s office door which was locked.

“The ball is currently in Madison’s court to approve the redevelopment of Drew’s non-forest surplus land,” the note said. “As soon as that happens, Drew is eager to move forward with preserving the forest.”

Friends Co-Chair Judy Kroll of Madison said there’s a Planning Board process that has to go forward before anything can be developed on the non-forested surplus land.

“We believe that the university also wants to save the forest, but the process they’re describing and that note on the door is not possible,” Kroll said.

The borough has offered $65.1 million to the university for the 51-acre forest, which Council President Eric Range has previously said is the “final offer.” The purchase would also allow for development of townhouses on two parts of campus.

The university has previously said in a statement that it is “eager” to accept the offer “without delay” once it becomes binding and all the funds are accounted for and guaranteed.

Kroll said the Friends wanted to communicate that the public funds that have been committed are time-bound, such as the $9 million state funds secured by state Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris. This money expires Tuesday, Dec. 31 and will go to another municipality if it’s not used by then, Kroll said.

“It’s really just the sequence in which things happen that is different than what’s stated on that note to us,” Kroll said.

Sen. Bucco said he and Sen. John McKeon, D-Morris, have worked on securing the $9 million which is from State and Local Federal Recovery Funds. This money, which has to do with federal allocation pertaining to COVID-19, must be committed by Dec. 31, 2024, and Bucco said he believes it must be spent by Dec. 31, 2025.

“I think this is critically important to Madison and to Drew University,” Bucco said.

“This is something that I think we have to get done, not only to preserve the environment out there but also to make sure that the university is compensated for the property that they’re going to preserve. So I think all parties are working really hard to find the right terms that will make this work, that will benefit the residents and the students alike. So I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to get there and get this property preserved for future generations to enjoy.”

On the poster, the Friends collected many signatures on Bottle Hill Day Saturday, Oct. 5.

The poster is addressed to Link and Board of Trustees Chair William Landis and says “Please save the Drew Forest now.”

“I think that Friends of the Drew Forest is just puzzled because Drew wants to save the forest; we want to save the forest; the town wants to save the forest, and there’s still no agreement after three years,” said Friends of the Drew Forest member Claire Whitcomb of Madison.

When asked for comment about the Friends’ statements, Drew spokesman Stuart Dezenhall said the university had no additional comment to share.