The Woodcrest Country Club has been a topic of conversation throughout the community in the last several weeks, as news of movement in the club’s bankruptcy proceedings has hit the headlines.
In that time, I and the members of township council have heard many questions and rumors about the property — and, unfortunately, a great deal of misinformation, as well. A few days ago, in a news conference held outside the municipal building, we set the record straight, and reiterated publicly our priorities and vision for the property’s future.
Woodcrest Country Club is an important piece of property in this township. Situated on about 150 acres, it is one of the largest remaining parcels of open space in Cherry Hill. What happens to this site is important to all of us, and it’s something I have thought about at great length over the last several weeks.
On Wednesday, Council President Fleisher and I sent a letter to residents in Woodcrest and adjacent neighborhoods announcing that we intend to participate in the upcoming auction to purchase the Country Club and preserve this majestic land as open space.
I felt it was important to include pieces of the letter in this week’s column, so that residents across Cherry Hill hear what Council and I have to say. The full text can be found online at www.CherryHill-NJ.com.
“Dear Neighbors:
As you may know, the Woodcrest Country Club filed for bankruptcy protection on May 9, 2012. As part of the bankruptcy, a court-appointed trustee has been authorized to oversee a sale of the property. We expect the sale to be completed within the next two months.
First and foremost, we believe that the property should not be developed; it should remain as a golf course, or be preserved as open space that can be enjoyed by our entire community now and for generations to come.
The Woodcrest Country Club is one of the most beautiful pieces of land in the Township. It is located within the Camden County greenway system, a blueprint to connect recreational areas across the county through a system of bike paths and multi-use trails, and is just a stone’s throw from the historic Stafford Farm, which was preserved a decade ago through a partnership between the County, Voorhees Township, and the state’s Green Acres program.
While the property owner is under no obligation to just “hand over” the property for public use, the Township and the County can, within the limits of the law, participate in the upcoming auction.
That is what we propose to do.
Accordingly, we, as Mayor and Council, are calling on the Camden County Board of Freeholders to utilize the County’s Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund — and any other available sources of funding — to assist the Township in the eventual purchase of Woodcrest Country Club. This is a complicated process, but it is one that we believe is worthy of the time, money and effort involved.
The clock is ticking, however, and the process needs to begin immediately. We have already reached out to the Freeholders, and requested their support and assistance in trying to purchase and preserve this property. Our hope is that, over the next few weeks, they will be able to help us move forward.
Should the Township and County eventually be outbid by a third party, we want to make it very clear that we do not and will not support any change in zoning from the property’s current institutional designation. We hope that discussion will never be necessary — as we are now focused on preserving this property for the benefit and enjoyment of our residents today, and for generations to come.
We want to stress that this is not just about a golf course. The Mayor and Council are committed to protecting our neighborhoods, and to preserving one of the largest parcels of open space in our community. We stand united in this cause, and we are watching very closely as the situation progresses.”
What happens to the Woodcrest Country Club property is something that Council and I, as both elected officials and residents of Cherry Hill, are watching very closely. We all have a stake in this, and if there is something we as a township can do to make sure this land is preserved and protected in perpetuity, we will explore every option.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, you can contact me directly at (856) 488–7878, or [email protected]. My door is always open; I look forward to hearing from you.
Mayor Chuck Cahn
