The Lady Slipper Preserve consists of 11 acres of forested open space bordering Waackaack Creek, a tributary of Raritan Bay, and Allocco Park, a small but heavily used municipal park. The Lady Slipper Preserve provides a much needed expanded recreation area in densely populated North Holmdel. Notable botanical features include Lady slippers, Willow oak, Sassafras, Mountain laurel, and Sweet gum. Friends of Holmdel Open Space (FOHOS) worked to preserve this property with the help of NY/NJ Baykeeper, and with funding from the Port Authority of NY/NJ, Green Acres, and Monmouth County.
FOHOS is working to make this preserve more accessible to residents. With over 100 hours of volunteer labor and donated big equipment with skilled operators, FOHOS has been able to remove heaps of dumped trash, put in a permeable small parking lot, erect a fence to prevent further dumping, and plant shrubs and flowers. FOHOS has also erected boundary markers and established a wood chip trail connecting the preserve to the adjacent park.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- avoided deforestation
Water Protection, Filtration, and Control: Water quality- protection of headwaters
Biological Diversity: Habitat- federal threatened/endangered species habitat protection, extend habitat corridors
Recreation and Aesthetics: Public access- hiking trails
Total Project Cost: $7833, plus the cost of in-kind donations
CRI has awarded two grants to FOHOS for this project through its Franklin Parker Small Grants program: $2,500 in 2008, and $1,000 in 2009.
If you would like further information about this project, contact Conservation Resources.
