Warren County is inviting residents, community organizations, and local stakeholders to help create a shared vision for the future of the County’s parks, trails, preserved lands, and recreational opportunities, with the first public engagement session planned for Tuesday, June 23 in Blairstown.

The update to the County’s Open Space, Recreation, and Parks Plan will serve as a roadmap for future investments in open space preservation, park improvements, trail connections, recreation programming, and natural resource protection. Building on the County’s 2018 plan, the update will identify new priorities and opportunities that reflect the evolving needs of Warren County’s communities.

“A successful plan begins with public input,” said Warren County Commissioner James R. Kern III. “We want to hear directly from the people who live, work, and enjoy Warren County so that future investments reflect the values and priorities of our communities,” he added.

To guide the process, Warren County has partnered with Brandstetter Carroll, Inc., a planning and landscape architecture firm with extensive experience throughout New Jersey.

A cornerstone of the planning effort will be an extensive public engagement process designed to gather ideas and feedback from residents, municipal leaders, recreation organizations, environmental groups, agricultural stakeholders, and community partners. Input collected through surveys, public events, and stakeholder meetings will help shape recommendations for preservation, recreation, parks, trails, and future funding priorities.

Residents are encouraged to complete a brief online survey and participate in upcoming community engagement events. Access the survey at https://bit.ly/wcosrp and learn more about the project at https://wcparksplan-bci.hub.arcgis.com/

Upcoming public engagement opportunities include:

Open House

June 23 | 5–7 p.m.

Blairstown Township Municipal Building, 106 Route 94, Blairstown.

Hackettstown Street Fair

July 19 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Warren County Farmers’ Fair & Balloon Festival

July 25 | 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

“These parks, trails, farms, forests, and waterways are among Warren County’s greatest assets,” said Planning Director Ryan Conklin. “This planning process is an opportunity for residents to help define how we preserve, improve, and connect these resources for future generations.”

The completed plan will provide a long-term framework for protecting open space, enhancing recreation opportunities, strengthening community connections, and guiding investments that improve quality of life throughout Warren County.

For more information, contact the Warren County Planning Department at (908) 475-6532 or planningdept@co.warren.nj.us.