(The Cherry Hill Environmental Advisory Committee (CHEAC) has presented Mayor Bernie Platt with a list of nine key sites for designation as open space. While CHEAC acknowledges that the Township currently has no funds available to purchase these properties, the Committee prepared and presented the list should funds later become available or if the Township would be able to obtain some of the spaces through donation.

CHEAC had conducted workshops at its monthly meetings to identify these parcels, and has also made site visits. The parcels have been ranked by such factors as criteria as size, and proximity to existing open space and wetlands.

In addition to leaving open space remain in its natural state, CHEAC has undertaken projects to develop nature and hiking trails at a few existing open space parcels. Cherry Hill has more than 130 tracts of wholly undeveloped open space land, such as wooded areas and open fields, covering more than 700 acres. The Township also had about 90 partially developed open space tracts covering more than 500 acres, which house such resources as nature trails, playgrounds, ball fields, and historical sites.