Four conservation organizations kick off private fund-raising campaign for Black Run property preservation.

A campaign to raise private funds to help preserve 835 acres to add to the 1,300-acre Black Run Preserve in Evesham was announced Monday by four conservation organizations.

Jaclyn Rhoads, executive director of Pinelands Alliance, told 70and73.com on Monday afternoon that "all of the acquisition costs have been secured." The goal for private giving is $100,000, with the hope for more, to go toward the stewardship of the land, she said.

Burlington County has committed up to $5 million in open space funds and the state Pinelands Commission has set aside $3 million toward the $15 million purchase price for the heavily forested property. The New Jersey Green Acres Program also has committed funding.

Kettle Run Investments LP, owned by the Samost family, last year announced plans for 270 single-family homes on 778 acres south of the Black Run Preserve, but the New Jersey Conservation Foundation negotiated with the owners to buy and preserve the land from development.

The foundation announced the sale price was about $2.4 million less than the land's full value. The move to conserve the property has been widely applauded and even the property owners said they preferred preservation to development. 

"We are thrilled that our property will soon be added to the Black Run Preserve through our agreement with NJ Conservation," owner Linda Samost said in a statement earlier this year. "We are eager to move forward with the project so that the community can experience and appreciate the natural beauty of this land for years to come," she said.

Evesham Township would take ownership of the property and maintain it with the Black Run Preserve.

"Private support is still needed," the four organizations said in a joint announcement on Monday. "Funds raised through this campaign will go toward covering the final costs of the purchase of the property, and building a strong foundation for the long-term stewardship and maintenance of the expanded Black Run Preserve," according to the announcement.

Donations can be made through the NJ Conservation website at njconservation.org/blackrun. The four fund-raising sponsors are: NJ Conservation, Pinelands Alliance, Friends of the Black Run Preserve, and Rancocas Conservancy.

"We're so excited to be on the threshold of permanently preserving this ecologically important property, and we hope supporters will join us in this final push to ensure these 835 acres remain intact for future generations," Robyn Jeney, NJ Conservation South Jersey regional manager, said in a statement. Jeney has led the negotiations with the Samost family.

Jane Dean, president of the Friends of the Black Run Preserve, said: "It's been an honor to see how passionate our volunteers and members of the community have been during this important land acquisition....Now, we hope the passion continues with those who can contribute to the fundraiser to help get us across the finish line."

Previous 70and73.com coverage of this issue:

• NJ Conservation Foundation reaches agreement to buy 835 Evesham acres to add to Black Run Preserve.
• Behind the negotiations to save from development the Evesham woodland south of Black Run Preserve.
• Drone view of land near Black Run Preserve
• How collaboration is saving 835 wooded, pristine acres near Black Run Preserve from future development.
• Residents plead at hearing: Keep future development out of the land around Evesham's Black Run Preserve.
• Should acres of forest be cut for 270 homes next to the Black Run Preserve in South Jersey?
• Deforestation: Voorhees developer wants to build on wooded land next to Evesham's Black Run Preserve.