Volunteers at the closed Paws Farm in Mount Laurel last September were doing far more than basic maintenance at the site as a partner was sought. The volunteers were improving, painting and renovating the 43-year-old Township-owned attraction. A new roof was installed on the Smoke House, which dates back to 1700.
Updated at 1:20 p.m. Monday
When Paws Farm in Mount Laurel abruptly shut down in February 2020, a wave of grief swept across communities in the region.
Thousands of children, through school visits or with their families, had visited the farm animals and wildlife at the Township-owned property since the nature center was founded by Dr. Charles and Kate Tweedy and devoted volunteers in 1979.
Many new volunteers — some of whom were not born when the center was founded — have been directed by the Tweedys as they restored and maintained the Hainesport Mount Laurel Road property in the last year.
The search for a partner to operate the center continues and the Mount Laurel Township Council may soon vote on a resolution to extend the lease for maintenance and oversight to the Paws organization until at least June 1.
That resolution had been on Monday night's agenda, but township attorney George M. Morris, of the Parker McCay law firm in Mount Laurel, told 70and73.com in an email on Monday afternoon that the item has been pulled from the agenda. He did not say why and has not responded to an email asking the reason.
"Volunteers wish to have the Township or some other agency or business fund employees while it continues to raise private sector funds for animal care, programing and property improvements," the resolution notes.
But the money cannot come from the Township because it does not have the financial resources to provide employees, the resolution states.
The Township reached out to Burlington County for help, but found none, according to the resolution. "The county has also indicated that it is fiscally constrained and could not fund this project," it states.
However, the future was not as dark as it was early in 2020 when Garden State Discovery Museum of Cherry Hill, which had operated Paws for several years after the Tweedys retired, abandoned the house, barn and pens. New homes had to be found for about 180 animals, birds and reptiles.
The resolution promises the campaign to reopen Paws will continue.
Volunteers for Paws Farm Inc. will hold the maintenance lease until June 1 "as a last-ditch effort to find a partner for Volunteers to operate PAWS," according to the resolution.
What happens if a partner is not found?
"The Township will continue to pursue other alternatives for the operation of Paws that does not require taxpayer-funded employees to maintain and care for animals and operate the facility," the resolution states.
The 1736 Darnell Homestead, restored by the Paws Farm Nature Center. Last year, the Paws volunteers were at it again in the house, repainting walls and floors and restoring a freshness that it had not seen in years.
