The seller was the Miscoski family, which bought the property in 1952 and opened the golf course six years later. William Miscoski, son of the club's founder, is the deputy mayor and a township committeeman of Upper Freehold.
"With this acquisition, we have succeeded in preserving land that is part of a larger preservation area," said DEP commissioner Lisa P. Jackson, in a prepared statement. "The public can continue to enjoy a popular recreational past time knowing that this large tract of land will not be further developed."
The state is paying $10.5 million in cash to buy the property, and the township is paying the remaining $3.5 million. Half of the township's share, however, is in the form of a grant from the state.
Under the terms of the deal, the Miscoski family will continue to operate the golf course for at least the next five years. Its lease agreement with the state also calls for the Miscoski family to continue to pay local property taxes on the golfing acreage, which amounts to approximately $65,000 per year, according to tax records. The state will own the 143-acre golf course itself, which also includes a restaurant, clubhouse and driving range. The township has taken title to the adjacent 43-acre farmland tract. The latter is expected to eventually be used for recreational purposes. "This open space acquisition not only provides recreational opportunities for residents, but will serve as the cornerstone of future planning efforts in the town," says Mayor Steve Fleischacker.
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