JACKSON, N.J. – Jackson Township is moving forward with plans to transform the former Rova Farms property into a public community park after the Township Council approved a resolution accepting a proposal from an engineering firm for the work at the historic lakeside property.
The Rova Park project, located at 120 Cassville Road, will include a variety of recreational and cultural features across the historic site. Morgan Engineering has been tasked with preparing architectural designs and handling the permitting process with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and other state agencies.
Council President Jennifer Kuhn and Vice President Mordechai Burnstein credited the Rova Farms Committee and Chairman Steve Chisolm with years of work on the planning for the new park.
Councilman Giuseppe Palmeri said he was pleased to see most of the original concept plan fully incorporated into the current project scope.
The Township expects the permitting phase to start immediately to begin construction. Once completed, Rova Park will offer residents access to recreational amenities with a tribute to the area’s cultural heritage.
Councilman Burnstein says he’s looking forward to working Rova Farms committee chairman Steve Chisolm as the project moves forward.
Rova Park will blend history and community use in one of Jackson’s most anticipated redevelopment projects.
Kuhn and Burnstein thanked the professionals in the township for providing an avenue to move forward after the project was bogged down in administrative red tape.
The council also thanked the hard-working volunteers who helped Chairman Chisolm with providing research, planning, and amenities.
Those members include Chairman Steve Chisolm, Matthew McCall, Ethan Noble, Alla Long, Theodora Noordzy, Victor Sevcenko, Marlene Novick, Paul Novello, Vincent Rubio, John E. Poppi III, and Keith Bressi.
The park will feature ten key elements:
Walking Paths – Paths will wind throughout the park and along the waterfront, where possible. The paths will wind through the park’s amenities and along the waterfront, in accordance with state guidelines regarding lakes and wetlands.
Picnic Pavilion, Boardwalk, and Community Garden – A pavilion for group gatherings, a boardwalk for scenic views, and a garden space for community use are included.
Native Vegetation – Restoration efforts will include planting native species across disturbed areas of the site.
Parking Area – A dedicated parking area will be created for visitors, with access to walking paths and other park amenities.
Playground – The park will feature a children’s playground with safety surfacing and an ADA-accessible pathway.
Memorial and Flagpole – A memorial space with a flagpole will honor the site’s cultural and historic significance.
Boat/Kayak Launch – A launch site for small boats and kayaks will be installed, subject to environmental permit conditions under Rule #18 and Wetland Permits #17/17A.
Fixed Dock – A single dock will be constructed to allow access to the water for residents to take in the beautiful lakefront view and for fishing.
Community Center/Museum – A new building will showcase cultural and historic artifacts related to the Rova Farms legacy and serve as a public gathering space.
Pavilion Stage – A permanent stage structure on a concrete slab will support concerts, performances, and other community events. The pavilion will also feature a seating area.
Once completed, Rova Park will offer residents access to both recreational amenities and a tribute to the area’s cultural heritage.
Rova Park will blend history and community use in one of Jackson’s most anticipated redevelopment projects.
Once a lakeside cultural stronghold for Russian émigrés, the historic ROVA Farms site in Jackson Township is undergoing a full transformation into a public park after decades of decline. The new ROVA Park will pay tribute to its storied past while offering modern recreational amenities for the community.
Established in the 1930s, ROVA Farms—named after the Russian Consolidated Mutual Aid Society of America’s acronym—was built on 1,400 acres purchased for $50,000 in the Cassville section of Jackson. It became a sanctuary for White émigrés who fled post-revolutionary Russia and flourished as a resort through the mid-20th century.
At its peak from the 1940s to 1960s, ROVA Farms drew thousands of visitors annually for Orthodox religious festivals, concerts, and community events. The property featured a restaurant, dance hall, summer camps, and a church, cementing its role as a cultural hub for Russian Orthodox Catholics in the U.S. and abroad.
However, a combination of demographic shifts, financial strain, and a major 1965 accident that resulted in a costly lawsuit led to decades of decline. By the early 2000s, the property was largely abandoned. In 2019, Jackson Township purchased 34 acres of the original site for $600,000 using open space preservation funds to block commercial development.
Despite efforts to preserve historic structures, the main buildings, including the original restaurant and cultural center, were found to be structurally unsalvageable and were demolished by 2023.