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In 2024, Monmouth County officials approved a massive 192,560-square-foot industrial development on 22 acres of farmland directly adjacent to Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan, New Jersey. The site, once a strawberry farm, sat along Route 33 just steps from one of the most significant Revolutionary War battlefields in the nation. But in August 2026, the story took a dramatic turn: the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced it had acquired the property for $15 million, preserving it as a permanent addition to the park and blocking the planned warehouses. Here’s what really happened, based on official NJDEP announcements and local reporting about the acquisition and its significance: The case became a focal point in broader debates about how New Jersey balances economic development with historic and open-space preservation, especially in the lead-up to the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
Advocates pushed state officials to intervene, urging the use of Green Acres funding and other tools to protect the site before construction began.
For preservationists, the $15 million purchase is a clear statement that the setting of a historic site matters as much as the site itself. By removing the threat of nearly 200,000 square feet of industrial development, the state has: Protected views and sightlines that help visitors understand the 1778 battle; reduced the risk of increased truck traffic and noise along Route 33 next to the park; and preserved open fields and wooded areas that can be used for future trails, educational programs and archaeological research. The acquisition also aligns with new state initiatives to fund battlefield preservation, including a recently signed bill creating a 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War license plate whose proceeds will support similar projects.
Acting DEP Commissioner Ed Potosnak described the acquisition as a celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary and a commitment to protecting Revolutionary War history for future generations. The property, formerly a strawberry farm, features open fields and wooded trails that will be managed by New Jersey State Parks for future public recreation, interpretation, education and research. The Monmouth Battlefield acquisition is likely to be cited as a model for protecting other vulnerable historic sites in New Jersey and beyond. It shows how state funding programs, federal matching grants and sustained public advocacy can combine to reverse development approvals and secure irreplaceable landscapes.