PARSIPPANY — Wildlife Preserves Inc. began construction on its long-anticipated Troy Meadows Environmental Education Center with a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday, June 26, and the nonprofit land preservation organization is asking nature lovers for input on the programs and amenities they would most like to see.
“Our top priority will always be the welfare of our resident flora and fauna at Troy Meadows, but it is important for Wildlife Preserves to create a space that is welcoming to our neighbors and Preserve visitors. A great experience with the outdoors can really shift a person’s view of the world around them, and help them become better stewards of this natural treasure so close to home,” said Trustee Anita Shotwell.
The small ceremonial groundbreaking was attended by representatives of Parsippany-Troy Hills and local organizations that have supported Wildlife Preserves in the community. Township Council President Judy Hernandez, a frequent participant in cleanups and educational programs, called the future resource “a dream for us.” Leaders of the township’s Environmental Advisory Committee and Wildlife Preserves trustees also attended.
Wildlife Preserves, Inc. is a private, nonprofit land preservation organization based in New Jersey focused on the Troy Meadows Preserve, a 2,600-acre sanctuary in Parsippany and East Hanover in Morris County. The organization also owns and manages sanctuary properties at Goose Pond and the Delaware Bay Shore Preserve, as well as Great Piece Meadows along the Passaic River. Its properties are open to the public for passive recreational use and are maintained at no cost to taxpayers.
The new Environmental Education Center will feature 28 parking spaces, public restrooms, a large classroom, exhibit space and a wood-burning fireplace, along with staff offices and a garage for land-maintenance vehicles. The building will serve as Wildlife Preserves’ office and headquarters, as well as a trailhead for visitors accessing four miles of hiking trails at Troy Meadows.
The organization chose the site because it sits on the footprint of a previously demolished home and barns with vehicle access from a Morris County road. The new building will replicate the exterior of the historic farmhouse that once stood there, with parking hidden behind the building to blend with the character of the neighborhood. The use is permitted under the 2020 Parsippany Master Plan to improve public access to Troy Meadows.
Wildlife Preserves plans to disturb just under an acre of its Troy Meadows land holdings for the project. All 48 live trees removed for construction will be replaced with species that provide greater habitat diversity, and the site will include a 4,500-square-foot pollinator and rain garden visible from the center’s interior and porch. The organization is working with LEED-certified architects on the building.
After the center opens in 2027, Wildlife Preserves plans to expand its seasonal events and educational programming, building on offerings such as Bat Walks and Firefly Nights with new winter and inclement-weather programs, along with hybrid offerings like wildlife photography exhibits and Owl Prowls that combine indoor education with outdoor field experiences.
Trustee and Senior Land Manager Len Fariello, who has worked with Wildlife Preserves for more than 50 years, became a naturalist through decades on the land working directly with the organization’s late founder, Robert L. Perkins Jr. Fariello, who was hired as a ranger in 1973, later learned deed restrictions, conservation easements and contract negotiation working on Perkins’ behalf — experience that, along with his time as councilman and mayor of Hanover Township, has made him an effective advocate for the land and its wildlife. His son, Preserve Manager Luca Fariello, has built on that knowledge to create visitor experiences, including a second-grade class trip from a Parsippany elementary school last week.
The Environmental Education Center building itself is fully funded, but Wildlife Preserves is launching initiatives this summer to fund equipment and program expansion for students, seniors and families. Next month, the 501(c)(3) will launch a sponsorship program for engraved bricks — the symbolic and literal “first step” for visitors entering the property — expected to cost $125 for individuals and $250 for businesses or clubs, with 1,300 available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parsippany families and businesses will also be able to sponsor outdoor seating, seminars and landscape plantings on site, including nearly 1,000 perennials, 57 shrubs and trees such as river birch, red cedar, dogwood and a specimen-quality witch hazel. Proceeds from the tax-exempt donations will support future programs and operations at the center, which is set to open to the public next year.
Members of the public with suggestions for future programs at the Environmental Education Center can reach out to Wildlife Preserves through the contact form at WildlifePreserves.org. To receive updates on the center’s progress and Wildlife Preserves events, residents can sign up for the Friends of Troy Meadows email list at WildlifePreserves.org or follow Wildlife Preserves on Instagram and Facebook.
