On Saturday morning, an intimate group gathered for the grand opening of a new land preserve named in honor of our longtime friend and champion Nancy Conger, who passed away in 2019.
The crisp, sunny autumn day was perfect for the approximately 25 friends, family, and supporters to tour the property, where we recently completed an ambitious stream restoration project. Our partners at Conserve Wildlife have done a great job describing this project and why this is important.
Afterwards the preserve was officially opened with the unveiling of a new sign and a few heartfelt words remembering Nancy. In-person attendance was limited for health and safety reasons, but the community was invited to be with us virtually via livestream.
Nancy Conger poured her energy and resources into The Land Conservancy for 25 years, starting with donations and volunteering and eventually becoming chair of the board of trustees. She helped with the acquisition of this property in West Milford, and she also helped raise the money to restore it.
He was followed by current board chair Andy Dietz and then TLCNJ’s president David Epstein, who said, “Nancy Conger’s leadership and unflinching support for The Land Conservancy over the past 25 years made her our hero. We are proud to name this remarkable preserve in her memory.”
After unveiling the new preserve sign alongside Epstein and Gottheimer, Nancy’s husband Bill Conger said a few words. “This is the fourth time I’ve been able to hike around West Brook Preserve, and the difference from my first visit—when it looked like a development project—to the natural watershed you see today is a stunning transformation. It’s a true recognition of Nancy’s passion for land conservation and the relationships she forged that brought this to light. This is tangible proof that she really made a difference.”
