By Kevin Coughlin, Morrisotwn Green

Like the song says, you can’t always get what you want.

But did Madison get what it needs from the Morris County Commissioners on Monday?

Sticking with a recommendation from their Open Space Trust Fund Committee, the Commissioners unanimously agreed to give Madison $5 million — half of what the borough requested–for the preservation of the 53-acre Drew Forest.

The Commissioners also received committee recommendations to grant almost $135,000 to construct a quarter-mile trail linking Budd and Miller streets in Morristown to the playground at Budd Street Park.

Another $169,203 is proposed for a trail and boardwalk at Madison’s Memorial Park. The Commission may approve those projects on Dec. 6, 2023.

Madison is hoping to cobble together federal, state and county grants to buy the forest from cash-strapped Drew University, which has signaled intentions to sell to developers.

“The purpose of having the Open Space Trust Fund Committee review these applications has been to take these decisions out of the political process, which is why the recommendations are always presented to this board after election day,” Commission Director John Krickus said, announcing the grant decision.

“Over the past 30 years, our board has never interfered with that process, and we see no need to stray from that sound practice today,” he said, describing the $5 million award as “the first and only significant commitment by anyone to preserve this property.”

Prior to the vote, members of the nonprofit Friends of the Drew Forest reiterated their pitch for the full $10 million, to save what they have described as an environmentally important property that also provides valuable passive recreation to students and area residents.

People from at least 14 Morris County communities, including Morristown, Morris Township and Morris Plains, have spoken in favor of the conservation effort, as have state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (both R-25th Dist.).

“To our knowledge, not a single resident came forward to say, ‘this is a bad idea,'” said Judy Kroll, co-chair of The Friends, which has garnered more than 14,000 signatures for the cause.

The crusade will continue, asserted Kroll, calling her group “tenacious as hell. We’re the Energizer bunnies of the Drew Forest. We know conservation takes a long time. We knew it going in. Our supporters know it.”

Drew biology professor emerita Sara Webb and 2017 Drew graduate Justina Anise also spoke.

Claire Whitcomb, chair of the Madison Environmental Commission, said her organization is gearing up for its third annual appearance in the borough’s Thanksgiving Parade. And then, it’s back to the task of saving the Drew Forest.

“We’re hoping that Drew and Madison arrive at a purchase agreement and that the Drew Forest will be come what everyone in Morris County hopes it will be—a beautiful area to walk and a biodiverse sanctuary where children and adults can experience the wonders of forest and wetland ecosystems,” Whitcomb said after the hybrid county meeting.

The grant is funded from a preservation trust fund resoundingly approved by Morris County voters in 1992.  Over the years, a special tax has raised $295 million to preserve 17,800 acres.

Meanwhile, a Drew lawsuit against Madison continues to unfold. A judge has appointed a special master to help sort out whether the borough must include the forest in its “fair share” affordable housing calculations.