The 113-acre Highlands Ridge Park (formerly Bell Labs’ Telcordia Tract) was purchased in July 2004. Directly adjacent to the Evans Family Forest Preserve, the two parcels combined provide a total of 223 acres of contiguous parkland. Locally known as the “Telephone Pole Farm,” the park was formerly a long-term test facility for AT&T. Click here to read the history of the Telephone Pole Farm.
The Township is in the process of developing a long range plan for the use of this park. Telcordia provides a connection between the Evans Preserve and the remainder of the permanently preserved open space in the Township. Currently, the system of hiking trails in the Evans Preserve is being expanded to provide access to Telcordia for hikers. The property was purchased for $6 million which was paid for with a combination of Township funds, a grant from the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund and a State of New Jersey Green Acres grant.