New Jersey preserves former farm beside historic Monmouth battlefield after development plans

In 2024, Monmouth County officials approved a massive 192,560-square-foot industrial development on 22 acres of farmland directly adjacent to Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan, New Jersey. The site, once a strawberry farm, sat along Route 33 just steps from one of the most significant Revolutionary War battlefields in the nation. But in August 2026, the story took a dramatic turn: the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced it had acquired the property for $15 million, preserving it as a permanent addition to the park and blocking the planned warehouses. Here's what really happened, based on official NJDEP announcements and local reporting about the acquisition and its significance:A battlefield at the edge of developmentMonmouth Battlefield State Park preserves the site of the June 28, 1778 Battle of Monmouth, a pivotal engagement in the American Revolution where George Washington’s Continental Army fought British forces to a standstill. Today, the park encompasses more than 2,700 acres of open fields, wooded trails and historic landscapes in central New Jersey.The 22-acre parcel in question lies along Route 33, directly adjacent to the park ...