In 1993, a group of local residents organized The Tewksbury Land Trust (TLT) to actively promote the preservation of the town’s existing historic, agricultural, and rural (open space) character. The land trust has focused on both the land itself and on our relationships with the local residents to facilitate the protection of natural areas and historic features through the creation of conserved properties, conservation easements and passive recreation linkages and greenway corridors.
TLT has historically partnered with numerous other groups to build support for conservation efforts and to establish effective stewardship programs to care for this special place. We are grateful for the active support for our preservation efforts from funding partners including the Township of Tewksbury, the Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey's Green Acres Program.
Additionally, for over 30 years we’ve enjoyed fruitful partnerships with The New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Raritan Headwaters Association, Hunterdon Land Trust, The Lamington Conservancy, The Open Space Institute, Tewksbury Trail Association, New Jersey Audubon Society, each essential to our successes.
Most of all, we are grateful for the continuous broad community support we receive from individuals and families who live here and appreciate the importance of our mission.
About Us
The Tewksbury Land Trust Board
OFFICERS
Kristin Hassett
President
John S. Sommer
Vice President
Christopher J. Teasdale
Secretary
Ilaria Borghese
Treasurer
TRUSTEES
Jason DeSalvo
Kenneth H. Klipstein
Maura Obercian
Roderic L. O'Connor II
Wm. Duncan Rose Sr.
Gia-Raquel Esposito
Sandy Ross
TED KOVEN COUNCIL
Tim Demspsey
Ira Flood
Sara Ike
Milene Miller
Jonathan N. Olsen
Liz Porter
Hilary J. Prouty
Louisa B. Sargent
LAND ACQUISITION MANAGER
Richard Dodds
Affiliated with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation
STEWARDSHIP MANAGER
Emily Dunn
Affiliated with the Hunterdon Land Trust
Theodore G. Koven
Ted Koven, co-founder of the Tewksbury Land Trust, moved to Mountainville with his new bride Stephanie in 1962. Tewksbury Township was a close-knit, rural farming community where most everyone knew each other. In the 1970s and 80s, however, the development of subdivisions skyrocketed, changing the nature of the once bucolic, farming community. By the late 1980s, Hunterdon County was one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation.
From the start, Ted and Steph immersed themselves in the community. Ted served as chair of the Board of Health and the Environmental Commission, Planning Board member, Township Committee member, and mayor. He was also president of the Raritan Headwaters Association (formerly Upper Raritan Watershed Association) and long had a passion for running and "whipping-in" with the Tewksbury Foot Bassets.
Ted started to rally support for a local land trust in 1991, inspired to champion farmland and open-space conservation in Tewksbury by a gift from his parents to the start-up Harding Land Trust of 35 acres. It became clear that large tracts of land would need protection to preserve the beloved rural character of the area. And, alas, the Tewksbury Land Trust was officially incorporated as a New Jersey nonprofit in June 1993.
Once the organization was officially formed, Ted worked with a number of residents to inform and implore them to help us preserve various properties in the community.
The kiosk on the Treanor preserve is dedicated to Ted’s memory, along with an annual award given to a member of the community who embodies Ted’s commitment to land preservation. We continue to honor him with an annual selection for the Tewksbury Land Trust Ted Koven Conservationist of the Year.
