Philanthropist’s sons donate 800 acres to D&R Greenway

New Jerseyans will soon be able to get some fresh air and recreation at the 800-acre Hopewell farm owned by the late Betty Wold Johnson, thanks to sons Robert Wood Johnson and Christopher Wold Johnson, who gifted the land to the D&R Greenway Land Trust.

The D&R Greenway, which has 22,000 acres of preserved land in New Jersey, reported Feb. 16 that the donation is one of the most substantial land gifts in New Jersey’s history.

Betty Wold Johnson, who was married to the grandson of the founder of Johnson & Johnson, spent 40 years assembling individual properties to create her farm with a goal of protecting and permanently preserving its views and ecology, according to D&R Greenway.

“We are inspired by the family’s confidence in D&R Greenway as we announce this historic land gift from Betty’s family,” said Peter Dawson, chair of D&R Greenway’s board of trustees. “In choosing our organization as the keeper of this legacy, the family is honoring Betty Wold Johnson’s commitment to preserving land.”

In a joint statement, Robert Wood Johnson and Christopher Wold Johnson, who are owners of the New York Jets, said that their mother “loved Hillside Farm as much as she loved the Hopewell area and she would be thrilled that the land will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.”

The property sits on a hill with sweeping views across the Hopewell Valley and is home to birds and other wildlife. Most of the land is in Hopewell Township and 10 minutes from Princeton. It’s within the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area because of its Revolutionary War-era historic significance, and is contiguous with two other D&R Greenway preserves, the Sourlands Ecosystem Preserve and Cedar Ridge preserve.

Linking the protected land together secures migratory corridors and habitat. Across town and visible from the 800-acre-gifted property is the organization’s St. Michaels Farm Preserve that Betty Wold Johnson also helped protect.

“When Betty Wold Johnson believed in you, she gave her all to ensure the mission of the organization succeeded,” said Linda Mead, president and CEO of D&R Greenway Land Trust in a prepared statement. “Together, we sat at her kitchen table studying maps of lands to preserve, and shared her view about the importance of land as a forever legacy. It is our greatest honor to be entrusted by the Johnson family to carry out this vision in Betty Wold Johnson’s name, in a community she loved.”

The property includes forests, meadows and agricultural land with a tributary stream to the Stony Brook, a state-designated high priority waterway. The property is currently closed to the public, but part of it will be opened to the public once D&R Greenway properly assesses the land for wildlife corridors, important bird habitats and opportunities for public trails.

“We are thrilled to know that our residents will benefit from these preserved acres and future trails where they can connect with the land,” said Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning. “Our township’s commitment to land preservation and our partnership with D&R Greenway remains strong as we look forward to enjoying the benefits for years to come.”