Who we are

In 1998, Holmdel residents, concerned about rapid growth and development in our town, formed a citizens’ organization to promote informed and thoughtful land use, protect our natural resources and preserve our quality of life—considering all the consequences for the future.

Our Mission

Protect our environment and quality of life.

  • Save mature woodlands, farmlands, and vegetated stream corridors.

  • Prevent the erosion of the suburban-rural character of our town that occurs with every swipe of the bulldozer and every cut of the saw.

  • Support open space planning and acquisition for all areas of Holmdel and incorporate CILU land use goals into Holmdel’s Master Plan.

  • Limit overdevelopment in southern Holmdel (spurred by sewer expansion) and its environmental stress on the Swimming River Reservoir Watershed.

  • Support conservation-based development.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

What We’ve Achieved

  • 1998 Spearheaded preservation of 416-acre “Chase Tract” on Holmdel Road

  • 1999 Successfully campaigned to limit the number of “Big Box” stores on Rte. 35

  • 2000 Protected Swimming River watershed by preventing sewers and subsequent overdevelopment in southern Holmdel

  • 2001 Successfully lobbied to preserve DePalma Tract for open space and agricultural use

  • 2005 Worked with Holmdel Township to preserve 93-acre F&F Nursery on Crawfords Corner Road Protected watershed by helping to save Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital tract from development

  • 2010 Supported preservation of 11-acre Neil Waackaack Nature Preserve in northern Holmdel

  • 2012 Prevented sale of a section of Cross Farm Park’s open spaces

  • 2015 Worked with other grassroots groups to thwart the building of a mega-sports complex on Main Street

  • 2016 Opposed construction of synthetic turf fields at Cross Farm Park to protect the watershed. Collaborated with Palmer Avenue residents to prevent construction in a flood-prone area

  • 2017 Supported RAGE’s work to block the installation of high-power transmission lines along NJ Transit right of way through five towns, including Holmdel. Defeated first NJNG application for the significant gas regular station on Holmdel Road

  • 2018 Obtained the second denial of the NJNG gas regulator project

  • 2019 Opposed NESE gas line project to bring fracked natural gas from PA through NJ (including Monmouth County) and the Raritan Bay to LI

  • 2021 Effectively campaigned for an increase in open space tax through collaboration with MCF

  • 2021 Supported building of a future bike path from HHS to Cross Farm Park

  • 2021 Collaborated with Antinanco Earth Arts School to plant native paw-paw trees at Bayonet Farm

  • 2024 Led a successful worldwide campaign to preserve the site of the Historical Landmark Horn Antenna, which will soon become the Dr. Robert Wilson Park