OPEN SPACE
PRESERVATION ADVANCES
Garden State Preservation
Trust Approves Green Acres Recommendation Package
Green Acres Recommends
$75 Million for State Acquisitions and Park Improvements
(05/39) TRENTON -- The Garden State Preservation Trust
today approved the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Green Acres Program's latest round of funding recommendations
for open space acquisitions and park development projects. The
funding package, which now moves to the Legislature for approval,
recommends the dedication of $75 million to land acquisition projects
and recreational and conservation improvements through the state
land acquisition program.
"This funding package champions New Jersey's quality of
life by protecting open space that safeguards drinking water sources,
serves as habitat to threatened and endangered species and provides
recreational opportunities to urban residents " said Commissioner
Bradley M. Campbell. "Green Acres is integral to stopping
sprawl and protecting natural resources."
The $75 million allocation recommendation for Green Acres projects
includes:
- $18 million for the acquisition of open space in the Highlands
region. Preservation of the Highlands greenbelt is critical
to ensuring the integrity of New Jersey's water supplies and
maintaining biodiversity.
- $10 million to conduct work in state parks, historic sites
and wildlife management areas throughout the state. These projects
will enable the Divisions of Parks and Forestry, and Fish and
Wildlife to perform much needed work to protect these special
public places and enhance visitors' experiences.
- $8 million for acquisitions in the Pinelands region. Permanent
protection of open space in the Pinelands will ensure excellent
water quality, ecosystem integrity and sustainable agricultural
production.
- $9 million for Ridge and Valley region open space purchases
that will link publicly owned lands such as the Delaware Water
Gap National Recreational Area, Stokes State Forest, High Point
State Park, Jenny Jump State Forest and Bear Swamp Wildlife
Management Area.
- $3 million to protect sites that have played a role in the
history of the state and nation. DEP has preserved and continues
to expand historic sites like New Bridge Landing, Washington
Crossing State Park and the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
- $1 million to develop urban parks throughout the state. Enhancing
urban open space improves quality of life, promotes urban redevelopment
and renewal and helps control urban and suburban sprawl.
The DEP Green Acres Program recommends the allocation of funds
for land acquisition in rural, urban and suburban communities
throughout New Jersey. Funding for park development is recommended
for the creation of new parks and to upgrade existing recreation
and conservation resources.
The Garden State Preservation Trust reviews funding proposal
packages submitted by DEP's Green Acres program, the State Agriculture
Development Committee and the New Jersey Historic Trust. It then
recommends them to the Legislature for passage. The Governor retains
final approval over all packages.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Green
Acres Program was created in 1961 to meet New Jersey's growing
recreation and conservation needs. Together with public and private
partners, Green Acres has protected more than 565,469 acres of
open space and provided hundreds of outdoor recreational facilities
in communities around the State. The total acres of protected
open space and farmland across the State totals almost 1.3 million
acres.
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