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Black Run Preserve

The Black Run Preserve is a 1,300 acre parcel of permanently preserved land in Evesham Township, located between the Marlton Lakes and Kings Grant neighborhoods. It is an ecological wonder of Pine Barrens forest, wetlands, streams and old cranberry bogs, and hosts a variety of threatened and endanged plant and animal species.

[+ ZOOM] Father and son cleaning up Black Run Preserve ©PPA

The Black Run Preserve Team was started in 2007 and is a coaltion including local students, educators, environmental commission members, Evesham Township, Pinelands Preservation Alliance, REI and others who are focused on preserving the Black Run Preserve and incorporating it into local school curriculums and promoting passive recreation opportunities in the Preserve. Evesham Township is in the process of planning and executing improvements that will foster easier access to the Preserve and enrich users' experiences.

[+ ZOOM] Trails and access points at the Black Run Preserve ©PPA

The Black Run Team coordinates many programs and activities within the Preserve, including guided hikes and stewardship projects like clean-ups and trail improvements.

PPA has conducted three Summer Teacher Institutes for local teachers and students.

The Preserve is traversed by numerous existing hiking trails and sand roads. Recreation opportunities include hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching, nature photography, geo-caching, and environmental education.

Developed land directly leads to the degradation of water and habitat quality. The Black Run watershed will only remain pristine if the headwaters area is protected from excessive development. State scientists have determined that the Black Run watershed can tolerate some additional housing development, but not too much, without suffering significant harm.

So if the headwaters area is developed as current zoning permits, Evesham will lose several hundred acres of surviving forest, and the development will pollute the streams flowing through the Black Run Preserve and irreparably degrade the Preserve as habitat for Pinelands plants and wildlife.

Click here for trail map of the Preserve.

Click here for a fact sheet about the Preserve.

Take Action:

Sign the petition (PDF or online) to urge Evesham Township Mayor and Council to protect the Black Run Preserve and Watershed.

Events:

Black Run Stewardship Projects

Cleanups, trail maintenance, habitat restoration are some of the projects at the Preserve. 2012 projects TBA.

Kings Grant Informational Meeting

Wednesday, January 18, 7:00 pm

Kings Grant residents are invited to the Kings Grant Community Room (50 Landings Drive) to learn more about the open space jewel right in their back yards.

Meetings:

Evesham Environmental Commission

Public meetings are held on the second Monday of every month at 7:00 pm in Conference Room B in the Evesham Municial Building at 984 Tuckerton Road.

Evesham Green Team

Public meetings are held on a periodic basis. Learn more about the Green Team's efforts to preserve the Black Run Preserve, and how you can help Evesham become a more sustainable community. Contact John Volpa at johnvolpa@comcast.net for upcoming meeting dates and locations.

Evesham Municipal Council

Public meetings are held every first and third Tuesdays in the Municipal Court/Meeting Room in the Evesham Municipal Building at 984 Tuckerton Road. Evesham residents are encouraged to attend and let their council members know they support the cluster ordinance that is under review. This ordiance will help protect the Preserve by limiting the amount and density of development in the headwaters of the Black Run.

Contacts:

Evesham Green Team: John Volpa, johnvolpa@verizon.net

Pinelands Preservation Alliance: Mike Hunninghake, mikeh@pinelandsalliance.org

Sign up for the Black Run email alert list: email mikeh@pinelandsalliance.org, subject line "Subscribe to Black Run Email List"

Follow the Black Run Preserve on Facebook