The New Jersey - Keep It Green (KIG) Campaign represents over 125 statewide, local and regional organizations ranging from sportsmen’s groups and environmental organizations to affordable housing and urban park advocates working to secure a long-term stable source of funding for the acquisition of open space, farmland and historic sites as well as the capital improvement, operation, maintenance, and stewardship of state and local natural areas, parks and historic sites in New Jersey. Learn more ›

Special Notice:

Chair of Keep it Green Campaign Urges Support for the Garden State Preservation Trust Without Which Funds Will Otherwise Run Out This Year.

Link Here to Radio Message from Keep It Green Chairman.

Groups Applaud State Legislators for Granting Voters the Choice on Open Space

6/25/09 -- Today the State Legislature voted with strong bipartisan support in the Senate (26 Yes, 7 No) and Assembly (66 Yes, 9 No, 3 Abstain) to let the New Jersey voters decide in November whether to continue the state’s investments in open space.  The 129-organization coalition, the New Jersey – Keep It Green Campaign, applauded this overwhelming support.

The timing was crucial, with the Garden State Preservation Trust essentially empty and no longer able to undertake new preservation vital to New Jersey’s water supply, health and prosperity. The Trust has been pivotal in supporting statewide and local efforts to provide for open space, parks, farmland preservation and historic preservation.

Twelve Senators and 37 Assembly members sponsored or co-sponsored the legislation (S1858/A3901).  “Our elected officials have put their faith in voters to make the call on the future of New Jersey’s open space,” said Thomas Gilmore, Chairman of the NJ-Keep It Green coalition that favors the $400 million bond issue.  “Every time New Jersey voters have been given that choice in a statewide ballot, they have voted in favor of open space investments because of the immediate and future value we experience for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.”  Voters have approved all 12 of the 12 statewide open space ballot issues since 1961.

The NJ-Keep It Green coalition highlighted the leadership of prime sponsors Senator Bob Smith and Assemblyman John F. McKeon, and the leadership of Senators Stephen M. Sweeney, Robert M. Gordon, James Beach, and Thomas H. Kean, Jr., and Assembly members Celeste M. Riley, Jon M. Bramnick, Louis D. Greenwald, Joan M. Quigley, L. Harvey Smith, and Joseph R. Malone.

"We applaud the legislature for letting the voters choose to continue investing in preservation efforts," said Anthony Cucchi, NJ Director of the Trust for Public Land.  "These investments will provide $10 worth of benefits for every $1 invested,” he added.  Benefits are in the form of ecosystem services (such as water purification, waste treatment and flood mitigation), natural goods (such as fish and farm products), and outdoor recreation and tourism activities, for instance. In addition, jobs will be created from historic preservation, park construction, and other activities.   The cost would be $10 annually per household, based on a 20-year bond at 5% interest.

To read the rest of today's press release, please click here.

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 Group of State Legislators and Bond Act Supporters Call for Voter Choice on Open Space

6/22/09 -- Senator Bob Smith, Senator Stephen M. Sweeney, Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr., and Assemblyman John F. McKeon joined representatives of the 126-organization NJ-Keep It Green coalition in urging legislators to support letting voters decide on the future of the state’s open space investments this November.  The legislative leaders and coalition members gathered following approval of legislation (S1815/A3901) to place a bond measure on the November ballot by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Budget Committee on Monday.  The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Budget Committee approved the bills today with strong bi-partisan support. 

The legislative leaders highlighted the broad support for legislation that would continue the state’s tradition of listening to the voters’ decision on open space funding. They also emphasized the economic importance of investing in New Jersey’s open space. There are 37 Assembly sponsors or co-sponsors of A3901 and 12 Senate sponsors and co-sponsors of S1858. The legislation would let voters decide in November on authorizing $400 million in bonding to continue open space investments at level funding for the next two years.

“In a week that lawmakers map out New Jersey's financial road for the next year, it is crucial to give voters the choice to protect and continue our investment in open space which delivers a high economic yield to our state including saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in water purification costs every year and providing a much-needed stimulus to our agriculture and tourism industries," said Assemblyman John F. McKeon, D-Essex, Chairman of the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee.  “It is imperative to prevent a break in funding so we do not permanently lose valuable tracts of land including pristine watersheds and valuable farmland. It is important to let voters decide on funding open space. A-3901 does that," he added.

The full Assembly is scheduled to have the opportunity to vote on the legislation on Thursday. The Senate’s board list has yet to be announced.

To read the rest of today's press release, including comments by the legislators and several NJ-Keep It Green leaders, please click here.

Below: Tom Gilmore, Chairman of the NJ Keep It Green Campaign, with Legislative Leaders and Keep It Green Coalition Leaders (see story, above)

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Study Shows Economic Value of Open Space Bond Measure Would Far Exceed Costs

6/17/09 -- The NJ-Keep It Green coalition of 126 organizations released the results of an analysis which shows that every dollar invested through a proposed $600 million open space bond measure would yield ten times that amount in economic value.

They also said lawmakers must act now to put the bonding question to voters, as has been the tradition in New Jersey since its first statewide open space ballot measure in 1961.

The bond measure, which would provide for $200 million to invest in each of three years and cost less than $16 annually per household, would result in over $500 million in annual economic value. The cost of borrowing $600 million would be $48 million annually once all the bonds are issued (assuming 20-year bonds at 5% interest). In total, the estimated annual economic value would exceed the annual costs by more than 10 to 1 over the 20-year life of the bond.

Economic benefits are in the form of ecosystem services (such as water purification, waste treatment and flood mitigation), natural goods (such as fish and farm products), and outdoor recreation activities across the entire state. The ten-fold rate of return-equivalent includes repayment of all interest and principal of the bond issue.

“This analysis demonstrates some of the extraordinary economic benefits of investing in our natural areas, parks, and farmland,” said Tom Gilbert of the Trust for Public Land, which performed the analysis. “Yet even the figures we’re highlighting today don’t include the jobs that would also be created by the bond measure through historic restoration projects and constructing new recreation or playground facilities, for instance.”

Nor does the ten-fold return figure include the lifelong economic benefits to New Jersey beyond a 20-year horizon.

To read the rest of the press release, please click here.

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NJ-Keep It Green Coalition Keeps Growing

6/15/09 -- Twelve more New Jersey organizations have joined the diverse NJ-Keep It Green coalition in the past two weeks, raising our total membership to 124 organizations, with hundreds of thousands of individual members.

All NJ-Keep It Green coalition members understand the urgency of continuing New Jersey's efforts to preserve natural areas, parks, farmland and historic areas.  It's good for our economy, the health of our families, the environment, and the overall prosperity of New Jersey's citizens.

Please see a full list of our member organizations under our "partners" tab, above.  Please also check out the latest developments, under our "news" tab, above.

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Preservation Efforts at Risk, as Last Funds Appropriated

6/4/09 -- Numerous critical preservation efforts now underway throughout the state are at risk without a November ballot measure to replenish the Garden State Preservation Trust, said members of the NJ Keep It Green coalition today.

“Today the Legislature is set to make the last open space appropriations from funds approved by voters in 2007,” said Kelly Mooij, Coordinator of the 115+ member Keep It Green Coalition.  “And yet the Assembly Appropriations Committee and Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee have not yet taken up bills that would enable the State to continue its open space investments.”

Bills A3901 and S1858, which would put a $600 million bond measure before voters on the November ballot to continue preservation efforts for three years, must be approved before the Legislature’s June 30th recess, but still need to clear the Appropriations committees in order to receive a full vote in each house.  The bills were approved by the Assembly and Senate Environment Committees in May with bipartisan support.

After today’s appropriations, the Garden State Preservation Trust will no longer be able to match funds invested by municipalities, counties and non-profits to acquire open spaces for natural areas, parks and recreation, or to preserve farmland and historic areas.

Specific Needs at Risk

"There are enormous and pressing needs for continued state investments to provide safe, accessible, high-quality parks in New Jersey's cities," said Anthony Cucchi, New Jersey State Director with The Trust for Public Land.  "In the City of Newark, for example, we are working with the Booker Administration to develop parkland along the Passaic River waterfront, which will serve as a catalyst for economic growth in the adjacent communities.  To succeed, this ambitious project will require continued investment from the State as a lead partner and significant funding from the Green Acres Program."  In fact, Newark has fewer acres of parkland per resident than any of the 55 biggest cities in the nation.

In the New Jersey Highlands, approximately 19,000 more acres of the most critical land in the Special Environmental Zones must be protected in order to minimally protect the state’s drinking water.  An additional 162,557 acres have been identified as “Priority” acquisitions, necessary to maintain the ecological integrity of the Highlands region and its water supply.   “Today, as New Jersey Highlands municipalities work through conformance and identify lands vitally important for the protection of our State’s clean and plentiful drinking water supplies, preservation dollars through the GSPT must continue to be available to assist acquisition efforts at the local, county and regional level,” explained Julia Somers, Executive Director of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition. “Our quality of life, economic well-being and the future of our drinking water supplies depends on it!”

Preservation needs spread across New Jersey.  “To meet the growing needs for preservation around the state, we must be able to bring funding to the table when needed. There are many farms in the Delaware Bay watershed – the heart of New Jersey’s agricultural industry – that we are working to preserve, but we need State funds to make it happen.  Preservation of these farms helps ensure a local food supply, protects natural resources and stimulates the local economy,” said Alison Mitchell, Director of Policy for the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.  More than 450,000 acres of additional farmland should be preserved to maintain a viable agriculture sector in New Jersey, according to the SADC. 

In the New Jersey Pinelands, at least 30,000 acres have yet to be preserved according to the Master Plan.  In the Barnegat Bay Watershed, at least 76,000 more acres must be preserved to protect the area, its residents, and visitors.  Meanwhile, over 1,300 registered historic sites in New Jersey have not received funding for rehabilitation, despite their high value to our neighborhoods, educational opportunities, and economy.  The creation of new trails is also falling behind the state’s needs, according to the 2008 Trails Plan Update.

Open Space and the State’s Budget

The Keep It Green coalition also addressed the state’s open space needs in light of the state’s fiscal concerns.  They noted that the time to borrow and invest wisely is now, when borrowing costs are low, land prices have declined, and land is becoming scarcer in New Jersey.  These are the kinds of terms that wise investors embrace, they noted.

[See full article here].

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An Investment In Our Future.

Op Ed published in The Record 5/15/09 by Tom Gilmore, President of the New Jersey Audubon Society and Chairman of the Keep It Green Campaign

Every New Jersey resident who has sipped clean drinking water, observed wildlife, or walked or played in a park has enjoyed some of the benefits of our state's open space.

Open space investments have also enabled us to savor more local produce from preserved farmland, go fishing amidst nature's beauty and admire the community-building character of a historic building...  [See full article here.]

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Poll shows voters support $600 million bond to continue state preservation efforts

On May 13, the Keep It Green coalition held a press conference at the State House and released the results of a recent statewide public opinion survey showing that a solid majority of voters would support a $600 million bond measure if placed on the ballot this November to continue funding for state open space, farmland and historic preservation efforts. The poll of 600 likely voters, commissioned by the Trust for Public for Land and The Nature Conservancy, was conducted April 3-5 by Fairbanks, Maslin, Maullin & Associates.

When read sample ballot language for a $600 million bond measure, 59% of voters backed the measure with 33% percent against. When provided with additional information about what the funds would be used for and told the annual cost to the average household ($16 annually), support increased to two-thirds of voters. In addition, 80% of those polled said they would want their legislator to vote in favor of putting the measure on the ballot to let voters decide. The strong support for the measure is particularly noteworthy given the high level of concern about the economy evident in the survey data.

"These results demonstrate that a strong majority of voters would likely support a $600 million bond measure if placed on the ballot this November,” said Tom Gilbert of The Trust for Public Land. “They clearly view the cost as reasonable and a worthwhile investment, even in difficult economic times.”

The funds would replenish the Garden State Preservation Trust, which has allocated virtually all the funds approved for it by voters under a November, 2007 $200 million bond measure, which was to last for one year. The GSPT works with its partners such as the Green Acres Program to match private, municipal and county investments in high-priority open-space projects. “These projects help put clean drinking water in our glasses and clean air in our lungs, provide playgrounds and parks for all residents to enjoy, preserve New Jersey’s farms and local sources of food, and put people to work restoring historic buildings that improve the character of our neighborhoods,” said Kelly Mooij, Coordinator of the Keep It Green Campaign.

Please click here for the full press release and the poll summary that the Keep It Green coalition released at today's press conference.

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Assembly Environment Committee Would Let Voters Choose Future for Open Space

On May 11, the Assembly Environment Committee affirmed its support for continuing the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT), the state’s fund for open space, farmland and historic preservation, which is essentially out of money. 

During today’s meeting, Assemblyman John McKeon, Chairman of the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee, reiterated the value of the Trust’s investments in our neighborhoods, parks, farmland, natural areas, and historic structures.

The Committee released bill A3901, which would create a November, 2009 ballot question enabling voters to maintain the Garden State Preservation Trust. 

Click here to view full press release.

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Senate Environment Committee Would Let Voters Choose Future for Open Space

A positive step for New Jersey's open space investments --- On May 7 the Senate Environment Committee voted to give New Jersey’s citizens a choice on whether to renew the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT), our state’s nearly-empty fund for open space, parks, farmland and historic preservation. The bill, S1858, would give New Jersey’s voters the opportunity to support a $600 million bond question to fund preservation of our state’s natural and cultural treasures as the voters have at every opportunity in the past four decades.

“Renewing GSPT will enable it to keep investing to revitalize our urban neighborhoods, put people to work rehabilitating historic treasures, protect our working farms and safeguard our natural resources and drinking water,” said Kelly Mooij, Director of Government Relations for New Jersey Audubon Society. “This is a much needed investment in our natural assets and a sound investment in difficult economic times.” 

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GSPT Forum a Huge Success

Nearly 200 political and preservation leaders enthusiastically joined the Garden State Preservation Trust Educational Forum in Trenton on May 4.   Leaders from across the spectrum highlighted the tremendous accomplishments, benefits and needs of the GSPT, the State's essential trust to help fund open space, parks, farmland preservation and historic preservation.

The GSPT has essentially no money left to allocate after voters approved a $200 million bond issue on the November, 2007 ballot.  Voters again deserve a choice this coming November whether to continue the GSPT, according to many of the Forum's attendees.  Presenters and audience members alike highlighted  ways that the Garden State Preservation Trust helps improve the lives, health, neighborhoods, prosperity and future of New Jersey residents.

Below, the audience gives a standing ovation during the event. Please see the Events page of this website for more photos, a schedule of speakers, and the list of sponsoring organizations that grew to nearly 40.  The full press release is here.

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Keep It Green Campaign Participates in Joint Hearings Regarding GSPT

Members of New Jersey’s Keep It Green Campaign participated in the April 16 joint hearing of the Senate Environment and Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committees on the issue of funding for open space and replenishing the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT).

Fourteen leaders among Keep It Green’s member organizations testified in favor of continuing the state’s crucial investments in open space, urban parks, farmland and historic preservation. 

The remaining GSPT funds granted by voters in the November, 2007 election were recommended for appropriation last month.  Without renewed funding approval in November, 2009, the Trust will lose its ability to invest in New Jersey’s natural and historic areas that could otherwise be lost forever.

Among those testifying today was Kelly Mooij, Coordinator of the Keep It Green Campaign, who said, “Without immediately renewing GSPT, preservation in New Jersey will rapidly grind to a halt.   It is vital that we fund preservation in order to protect our state’s drinking water and wildlife, reduce erosion and flooding, preserve local food production, create much-needed parks and recreation areas in urban and suburban settings, and preserve the historic character of our neighborhoods.”

Many of today’s speakers highlighted the economic imperatives for restoring the Garden State Preservation Trust. For instance, one Keep It Green member sited a study indicating that $1 million invested in historic preservation creates 38 jobs – many of them high-paying jobs, more than is created by spending the same amount on new construction or highways. Others explained how open space, especially farmland and historic preservation, contributes significantly to New Jersey tourism, a $38 billion industry here.  Supporters of farmland preservation sited evidence that for every $1 our farmers pay in taxes, they draw only about $0.35 in services.  

Several speakers also pointed out that at a time when land values are lower, state dollars go further, and support local real estate markets when there are willing sellers.

New Jersey’s voters have sustained their commitment to open space over the years, approving all 12 statewide ballot issues in this area, and countless municipality and county measures.  The Keep It Green coalition believes that our legislators and the Governor should again give voters the opportunity to support the Garden State Preservation Trust in November, 2009.

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State out of Funds for Open Space, Farmland and Historic Preservation

Wednesday, March 11 at the State House, the Garden State Preservation Trust – the independent body which approves allocations of state funds for preserving open spaces, historic places and farmland – allocated nearly all of the $200 million in funds approved by the voters through a Nov. 2007 bond measure to provide stop-gap funding for these efforts. All but $5 million of the remaining funds were allocated for historic preservation, park development and land conservation projects throughout the state. During presentations to the Trust, state agency officials noted that many more land conservation, park and historic preservation projects requested funds than were available.  The state is now essentially out of funding to complete these and any other new projects.

“This lack of funding,” said John Hatch, President of Preservation New Jersey “means that many of the historic places that give our community’s character are at risk of being lost forever. We need to create more opportunities for community revitalization and renewal as well as provide jobs for our citizens by saving these historic treasures."

The Trust is now all but empty, after the committee approved valuable projects ranging from the restoration of New Jersey’s Revolutionary War sites and historically significant buildings at the heart of our urban communities, to the acquisition of natural areas needed to purify our water supply and preserve our natural resources. “These projects will put people to work and invest directly in New Jersey’s economic development and natural assets,” said Kelly Mooij, Coordinator of the New Jersey- Keep It Green Campaign. “But this investment needs to continue, especially in difficult economic times like these.”

“More than ever, in today’s tough economic times, the people of New Jersey need clean and plentiful drinking water, access to parks and recreation areas, local food from preserved and working farms and the continued preservation and restoration of our valued cultural sites,” said Julia M. Somers, Executive Director of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition. 

With the $200 million approved by the November, 2007 referendum being allocated all across the state, New Jersey urgently needs a new referendum in November, 2009 to restore the Garden State Preservation Trust.  In his State of the State Address, Governor Corzine called for a measure on the November ballot [See article below titled, “Governor Corzine Calls on Legislature…”], but has yet to announce his specific plans.

Tom Wells, Director of Government Relations for The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey stated "We have already negotiated land preservation deals based on the funding approved today by the GSPT.  Unless the Governor and legislature agree soon on a plan to renew GSPT funding, our efforts to preserve New Jersey's natural lands will slow to a trickle, precisely at the time when real estate prices are in our favor."

”A replenished Garden State Preservation Trust would invest significantly in urban parks, farmland and historic preservation projects that will keep our children active, our food more locally-grown, and our rich heritage alive,” said Anthony Cucchi, NJ State Director with the Trust for Public Land.  “It will also enable us to continue investing in natural areas that maintain our clean water, clean air, and the healthy environment for our families.” 

Studies have shown that new investments in park and historic restoration projects will create jobs and stimulate the economy.  For instance, The Rutgers Center for Urban Policy found that every $1 million invested in rehabilitating an older building creates 29.4 jobs - 13 in the construction industry and 19 in other parts of the economy. The economic impact of preservation construction even surpasses that of new construction.  Further, a 2008 study commissioned by the National Parks & Conservation Association found that every dollar invested in national parks generates at least $4 in economic value to the public.
 

“We're now without state funding until the Governor and Legislature act to renew preservation dollars.  That means some real missed opportunities to save land at a bargain and to help boost the real estate market at a critical time," said Alison Mitchell of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

New Jersey voters have approved every statewide measure on the ballot to fund preservation efforts in good times and bad.  They should be given the opportunity to do so again this November.

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Chair of Keep it Green Campaign Urges Support for the Garden State Preservation Trust Without Which Funds Will Otherwise Run Out This Year

Link: Radio Message from Keep It Green Chairman

In a radio message airing now, Chair of the Keep it Green Campain and New Jersey Audubon Society President Tom Gilmore (pictured) urges support for the Garden State Preservation Trust. Without additional support, the GSPT is scheduled to run out this year, which would dramatically slow down New Jersey's preservation of natural and historic areas.

In his message, Gilmore highlights why now is an ideal time to restore funding to the Trust. For instance, lower land prices will enable the trust to purchase more parcels, which will help support property values.  And for every $1 million invested in new parks and historic restoration, 29 jobs will be created.  The benefits to New Jersey's citizens will endure for generations.

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Governor Corzine Calls on Legislature to Place an Open Space Bond Referendum on the November Ballot in State of the State Address

Although Governor Corzine prefers a “long-term funding solution” for open space preservation, which he recognized as “an area of vital importance and concern” to New Jerseyans, he urged the Legislature to place an interim bonding question on the November 2009 ballot in his State of the State address.

The Keep it Green Campaign applauds the Governor’s prioritization of this issue and his commitment to fund open space preservation. We believe that the Governor is listening to the people of the State who, in these difficult economic times, continue to support open space preservation as seen in the recent local and county ballot initiatives. The Campaign is heartened by the reaffirmation of his promise to fund open space and to have legislative action by June 30th to place a measure on the November 2009 ballot. While we are grateful that the Governor recognizes the importance of this issue, we believe it is vital that the solution be multi-year. We look forward to working with the Governor and the legislature and supporting them on efforts to fund open space preservation including farmland preservation, urban parks and historic preservation.

The Garden State Preservation Trust, which last received stop-gap funding in 2007 when voters approved $200 million in bonds, is out of money.  The Keep It Green Campaign is urging organizations, community organizations, businesses, municipalities, local and county officials, and volunteers to learn more about the critical need for a stable, long-term funding source for open space preservation in New Jersey and how that goal can be met.  Please consider inviting Keep It Green representatives to speak at your meeting or event. Your endorsement of our mission strengthens our voice in Trenton. Contact Liz Silvernail, Public Outreach Coordinator, for more information by emailing her at liz.silvernail@njaudubon.org.

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New Jersey Voters Approve Funds for Open Space, Despite Poor Economy

 On November 4, voters nationwide approved $7.3 billion in new public money to protect land for parks and open space-the highest amount ever according to The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national land conservation organization. The increase can be attributed in large part to the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy constitutional amendment accounting for $5.5 billion. Overall, 62 out of 87 measures (or 71 percent) were passed by voters.

In New Jersey, voters approved 14 of 22 county and municipal measures generating $191 million in conservation funding. New Jersey had more open space ballot measures than any other state.

In Hunterdon County, voters approved the largest measure and the only county measure on the ballot, with 76 percent voting in favor  of continuing the current levy of three cents per $100 of assessed property value to fund the Hunterdon County Open Space Trust Fund indefinitely rather than letting it expire next year. The move is expected to generate $7.6 million annually for open space, farmland, and historic preservation efforts, as well as stewardship of county and municipal parklands.

In Ocean County, Ocean Township voters approved increasing the open space tax from 1.2 to three cents per $100 of assessed value, and voters in Barnegat Light Borough approved a new one-cent open space tax. Both measures will provide funds to help acquire lands important to protecting water quality in the Barnegat Bay watershed. In Mercer County, Hopewell Township voters approved a one-cent increase to the open space tax that will generate an additional $459,000 annually for preservation efforts.

A complete list of results from local and state balloting on conservation and parks is available online today from LandVote 2008-www.landvote.org.

"These results demonstrate sustained support among New Jersey residents for new investments in parks and open space, even in a very tough economic climate," said Tom Gilbert, mid-Atlantic conservation finance director with The Trust for Public Land. "Looking ahead to 2009, we look forward to working with Governor Corzine, the New Jersey legislature, and our conservation partners on the critical need to renew and strengthen the Garden State Preservation Trust next year."

Last November, New Jersey voters approved $200 million in bonding to replenish state open space, farmland, and historic preservation programs for one more year. Those funds will soon run out resulting in the first gap in state funding to preserve open space in decades.

"We call on Governor Corzine and state legislative leaders to follow the great example given by the voters in this election and make good on their pledge to replenish the Garden State Preservation Trust," said Thomas Gilmore, Chair of the New Jersey Keep it Green Campaign, a coalition of over 100 organizations working to promote open space preservation in New Jersey. "Renewing and strengthening this state-wide Fund is integral to preservation efforts and allows the State to continue to actively partner with local governments to preserve our parks, forests, farms, and historic places."

Since 1988, voters have approved newly 1,700 conservation measures, generating more than $54 billion in new public funds for conservation.

Previous News

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Dr. Michael Lang, Project Director, Camden Shipyard & Maritime Museum Helene pierson, Executive Director, Heart of Camden Joseph Balzano, President, Camden Shipyard & Maritime Museum ( Executive Director, South Jersey Port Corporation, Camden) Asy Speaker Joe Roberts

Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts headlined a press conference at the site of the future Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum on Thursday to showcase the plans for adaptation and rehabilitation of the ca. 1880 former Church of Our Savior as a museum and education center.

Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts speaks at the Camden Shipyard & Maritime Museum about historic preservation funding, joined by museum president Joe Balzano and Keep it Green representative Eric Stiles

Assembly Speaker Roberts spoke eloquently about the importance of the Camden Shipyard & Maritime Museum to the community, and the vital role that the NJ Historic Trust, and the other programs funded by GSPT, have in protecting the quality of life and environment. Speaker Roberts noted that the voters of NJ have on numerous occasions supported funding these important programs and predicted “when you talk about making sure our history is preserved and that buildings would be preserved as well, there would be … support for” future funding as well. The source of money to continue the Historic Trust, Green Acres and Farmland Preservation programs will have to be found, he concluded, which will be difficult in these tough economic times.

Archived News

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Banner Day for Open Space

This Saturday, thousands of New Jersey residents will head to the beaches and shore-area parks for one last summer weekend.  The Keep It Green Campaign will be there too.  The campaign has hired a plane to fly from Cape May to Sandy Hook towing a banner that asks New Jersey residents to call the governor and urge him to provide funding for open space preservation now.

“Governor Corzine has promised to renew open space funding on several occasions, but he has yet to deliver,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.  “Today we are calling on the governor to keep his promise and keep New Jersey green.”

“At the shore today, the Blue Skies are the Green Skies!” added Eric Stiles, Vice President of Conservation and Stewardship for the New Jersey Audubon Society.  “This banner will remind citizens that there is important work that remains to be completed and they need to hold their elected officials accountable.”

Although the people of New Jersey have shown time and time again through polls and, more importantly, the passage of dozens of ballot measures that they believe open space should be funded, the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT), the funding mechanism for the state’s open space, farmland, and historic preservation programs, is out of money.  The last of the money for the farmland program was appropriated in July, and all of the remaining money for the open space program, also known as Green Acres, is expected to be officially appropriated before the end of the year.

With the help of Green Acres matching grant funds and private contributors, the Nature Conservancy has created 37 nature preserves in New Jersey encompassing over 21,000 acres, which are available for public enjoyment,” remarked Tom Wells, Director of Government Relations for the group.  “However, with the end of Green Acres funds on the horizon, we and many other conservation organizations, counties, and municipalities will have to curtail preservation activities, and areas important to the preservation of wildlife and water supplies will be lost to development.”

“This state can not afford to take a giant step backward in our preservation efforts,” concurred Judith Stanley Coleman, President of Monmouth Conservation Foundation.  “Our citizens must call on their elected officials to renew funds for open space and farmland preservation before it is too late.”

Despite the work of the Keep It Green Campaign and thousands of emails, letters, and calls to legislators and the governor over the past two years, the state has still failed to provide funding to this vital program.

“In this tight economy, preserving New Jersey’s open spaces is the smartest investment we can make,” explained Jennifer Coffey, Director of Watershed Management for Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association.  “Open spaces protect our drinking water, provide free and healthy places for families to explore, and shelter nature’s wild places.  New Jersey is the most densely populated state in our great nation, and the time to save our last remaining open spaces is now.”

“We cannot afford not to renew open space funding,” agreed Dave Pringle, Campaign Director for the New Jersey Environmental Federation.  “Soon it will be too late to preserve what little open space we still have as we march toward build out and real estate values rebound sky high.  This is why we have this plane in the sky.  The governor needs to fulfill his repeatedly broken promise to do so.”

"Governor Corzine has let the Garden State Trust Fund run dry and we need him to immediately act to replenish its funding.  Every month that goes by with no funding for open space will mean more permanent loss of green space that is so critical to New Jersey’s quality of life. With only 15 years left before New Jersey reaches full build out, we cannot wait. GSPT funds must be renewed this fall,” added Dena Mottola Jaborska, Executive Director of Environment New Jersey.

“New Jersey’s commitment to the protection of the Highlands – and the water supply the region provides – is not complete without a fully-funded Garden State Preservation Trust.  The Highlands are at risk if we can’t preserve these lands forever on behalf of the public,” explained Julia Somers, Executive Director of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition.

"The New Jersey Historic Trust's grants programs will soon end without renewed and stable funding," added John Hatch, President of Preservation New Jersey.  "Historic places that give our communities character are at risk, and the opportunities for community revitalization and renewal that would be lost will only encourage more loss of open space and farmland, more sprawl and unsustainable development."

“New Jersey was once known as the leader in open space preservation with many thousands of acres preserved and a storied history of close to half a century, noted Stiles.  “Where once New Jersey was a leader, it will soon become a laggard as the state draws ever closer to the first break in annual open space acquisition funding in over two decades.  This historic lack of funding will devastate open space preservation and thousands of acres of land could be forever lost to development.”

Despite these challenges, the Keep it Green Campaign continues to work actively to promote important legislation which would allow voters to support open space initiatives and would preserve our beautiful open space and precious habitat and natural resources.

“As New Jerseyans enjoy the state’s many outstanding beaches and parks with their families over Labor Day weekend, we hope they’ll take a minute to let the governor know that we can’t afford to let funds run out for preservation efforts that are critical to protecting clean water and providing parks for people to enjoy,” concluded Tom Gilbert of the Trust for Public Land.

Letter to the Editor

Pennies for Preservation

The August 4th Editorial, “An Open Space Solution,” presents a compelling call to action for preservation of open space. The public has supported preservation tirelessly for nearly four decades. Yet by the end of this calendar year, all funds from the recent bond will be allocated and the purchase of most lands halted.

The Governor and Legislature need to support a long-term funding solution for preservation to enable purchase of open space and planning for the acquisition of the most ecologically important properties. Many properties for which funds are now being allocated began in negotiations three to five years ago; a break in funding at this stage will damage the planning process enormously.

New Jersey citizens are feeling more pressure every day from cost of living increases, yet they still support investing money to preserve open space as seen in a recent poll. If open space preservation is a top priority for the public, it should be a top priority for policy makers as well. For pennies a day, New Jersey residents can contribute to preserve open space forever, and protect drinking water, important habitat, historic places and farms and prevent the State from becoming completely built out in the next few decades.

Printed August 11th, 2008 in the Star Ledger.

An open space solution

Farmland protection funding is drying up

Trust recommends $91 million for projects as lawmakers look for financing options Thursday, July 31, 2008 BY TOM HESTER AND JOE TYRRELL Star-Ledger Staff

The Garden State Preservation Trust, which finances the preservation of New Jersey's open space and historic sites, yesterday detailed its recommendations for doling out $91 million in farmland preservation money for projects all over the state.

The allocations leave $120 million in the fund -- $109 million for open space preservation and parkland development and $11 million for historic site preservation. When that money is given out by the end of this year, the trust will be out of money.

David Pringle, New Jersey Environmental Federation director, said the trust "is already broke."

"The Green Acres projects that will be allocated by December have already been identified," Pringle said. "They could have approved them yesterday but are holding back so it will not look as bleak as it is."

Sean Darcy, a spokesman for Gov. Jon Corzine, said the governor has stressed the need to protect open space throughout New Jersey. Corzine said on June 30 he expects to wait until fall before launching an effort to find more funding for the trust and indicated he wants to look at open space funding as part of the larger issue of funding public works and transportation projects and reducing state debt.

Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), chairman of the upper house's Environment Committee, said a poll taken by environmental activists in May and June showed more than 60 percent of potential voters support funding open space, either through an $800 million bond issue, a 40 cents per 1,000 gallons of water user fee to raise $150 million annually, or by dedicating sales tax revenue.

Smith said it would take a special session of the Legislature to get either proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot.

"The sad part is that if we wait until 2009 for a ballot question the program will have come to a halt," Smith said. "That would be a shame because now is the time to be buying open space. The state could really get land at a bargain right now."

The trust's members recommended that 15 counties, including Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren, each receive $2 million to purchase farmland. It also recommended that nine nonprofit open space preservation organizations share $6.4 million to preserve farmland.

The funding recommendations must be approved by the Legislature and Corzine, but once the trust makes its choices, they are never altered. Since its inception in 1998, the trust has financed the preservation of more than 1.3 million acres of farmland and open space.

Hunterdon County has $13 million worth of farms applying for preservation, so the state's $2 million grant is far below the demand, said county planner Bill Millette.

"Obviously, we'll make do," but the county has been warning farmers that state funds could slow to a trickle, Millette said. Over the past two years the county has put on a preservation push and saved more than 23,600 acres.

In Bedminster, a group of non-profit and government agencies are piecing together contributions to buy 80-plus acres on Spook Hollow Road, said Cindy Ehrenclou, Upper Raritan Watershed Alliance director.

"I don't know that all the funds have been collected," but the state's $825,000 matching grant brings the effort closer to completion, she said.

Middlesex County's Department of Planning, which oversees farmland preservation, plans to use the $2 million grant for public outreach in several towns it has identified for preservation, said Mirah Becker, supervising planner.

"We're reaching out to the farmers to let them know we have the $2 million so we can purchase development rights on their property," she said.

In Hope Township in Warren County, Mayor Timothy McDonough said the money will preserve "beautiful open space working farms" in the Route 519 corridor. "We weren't sure where this program was going to come out, with the cuts in the budget and everything," the mayor said.

  Keep it Green Success

                     April 23rd, 2008- Camp out at the Capitol (Photo by Becca Glenn)

9 Million Dollars Transferred from the Shore Protection Fund to keep Parks Open, Maintained and with Services for another Year!

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