The Doerler family is well-known in our area for their love of the land. As noted landscapers, their mission and passion is to enhance and sustain the beauty of central New Jersey’s residential and commercial landscapes. Their nurseries have provided the plantings that have graced many properties throughout our region.

Bill Doerler, founder of Doerler Landscapes, discovered that some of the company’s agricultural land, which had supported a portion of his nursery stock and some office space, was no longer required for the businesses. While divesting the company of this unneeded asset made good sense, Bill wanted to do so in a manner that would allow the land he had cultivated so carefully for so many years to continue offering benefits to the public – if not by providing superior nursery plantings, then in some other way.

D&R Greenway’s professional staff listened to and worked with Bill and other family members to develop a preservation plan that would achieve Bill’s goals. A bargain sale of 18 acres of land was negotiated. This land, consisting of woodlands and wetlands, is adjacent to other preserved lands in the area, including Terhune Orchards, Shipetaukin Woods and Pyne Woods. A small parking area already present on the property will provide public access to a planned trail network linking all these properties. One of three existing structures, including an enclosed barn, could eventually be converted into a nature center.

Through the bargain sale, Bill was able to realize income and tax benefits, while ensuring that his land would remain productive and useful to the public.

Bill Doerler commented “It was important to me that my land continue to enhance the public’s relationship with the natural world. Now, instead of providing plants and trees to people to beautify their gardens, people can come and visit the land, to enjoy the beauty of trees and plants in their natural state.”