Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak today announced the Garden State Preservation Trust’s approval of Green Acres funding awards totaling $90.6 million for local government and nonprofit projects to acquire open space, develop and improve parks, and enhance recreation and conservation resources in communities across the state.
Each year, DEP’s Green Acres Program recommends to the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) a list of projects to receive grant and loan funding. On May 28, the GSPT approved the funding list, which has been forwarded to the Legislature for development of an appropriations bill.
The list includes projects in every county, including acquisition of a parcel to create an urban pocket park in Hackensack and creation of a new trailhead park in Metuchen. The full list of projects approved for funding is at nj.gov/dep/greenacres.
“New Jersey’s Green Acres Program is a national leader in open space preservation and has a long history of establishing and improving parks for the public’s enjoyment,” said Acting Commissioner Potosnak. “These green spaces beautify communities, connect neighbors, promote active lifestyles, and boost economic activity. They also improve air and water quality and enhance natural ecosystems. Together with our public and private partners, we are pleased to advance these exciting projects for the benefit of communities across the state.”
Funding Recommendations by the Numbers
In total, 102 projects were recommended and approved for funding this year, broken down as follows:
- $23.2 million for 28 local (municipal and county) land acquisition projects
- $51.5 million for 53 local developments of parks and recreational facilities
- $800,000 for four local stewardship projects
- $9.6 million for eight nonprofit land acquisition projects
- $5.2 million for eight nonprofit recreational development projects
- $300,000 for one nonprofit stewardship project.
Park Development Projects
Local and nonprofit park development projects include:
- Addition of a new access point and footpath connection, playground and spray park, riverfront overlooks and pavilion, and the relocation of a baseball field at Riverside County Park South in Lyndhurst Township and North Arlington Borough, Bergen County.
- Creation of the Boonton Reservoir Trail in Morris County that will loop the expansive reservoir and provide first-time scenic public access.
- Construction of a completely inclusive playground at the Ewing Senior & Community Center in Mercer County.
- Creation of a new Metuchen Trailhead Park to increase access to the existing Middlesex Greenway in Metuchen, Middlesex County.
- Improvements to Lena Skelly Park in Pennsauken, Camden County, including a new inclusive playground, improved basketball and volleyball courts, and picnic amenities.
Open Space Acquisitions
Projects to help local governments and nonprofits acquire property as open space and recreational resources include:
- Hackensack in Bergen County seeks acquisition of a 0.2-acre property at 155 Main Street, that will be transformed into a pocket park.
- The nonprofit Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum will acquire a parcel in Montgomery, Somerset County, to preserve a historic resource and open space in the Sourland Mountain Region.
- Riverside Township in Burlington County proposes preserving a 4.2-acre property at the intersection of Whittaker and Fairview streets for passive recreation, such as walking and birdwatching, and for environmental education programming at the property.
Stewardship Projects
Stewardship projects that go beyond routine maintenance to enhance and protect parkland and natural areas include:
- Somers Point in Atlantic County will improve the DeFeo Lane Trail by creating a nature trail and viewing platforms overlooking Patcong Creek.
- Friends of Passaic County Parks will restore the Highlands Farm property at 335 Union Avenue, in Bloomingdale, Passaic County, by installing a pollinator garden and a new trail, and removing invasive species.
Green Acres Overview
Since its creation in 1961, Green Acres has supported public and private partners to protect over 725,000 acres of open space and provide hundreds of outdoor recreational facilities in communities throughout the state. The total acreage of protected open space, parkland, and farmland across New Jersey exceeds 1.6 million acres.
Green Acres funding comes from the Corporate Business Tax, loan and interest repayments, interest earnings, and previously approved projects that did not come to fruition. The new Green Acres Funding Dashboard was created to improve transparency while providing information about Green Acres funding allocations and availability across its three programs.
To learn more about the Green Acres Program, visit dep.nj.gov/greenacres.