On Nov. 7, New Jerseyans resoundingly voted “Yes” for Ballot Question 2, providing a stable source of funding to protect and maintain New Jersey’s state parks and natural areas.

The measure approves the reallocation of funds for the improvement, construction, renovation and repair of state and local parks and protected wildlife areas. These special places will now receive an additional $15 million a year through 2015, and $32 million a year thereafter, drawn from a pre-existing, environmentally-dedicated fund.

The Election Day victory reverses years of under-funding that has resulted in a $250 million backlog for repairs and maintenance.

“New Jerseyans clearly understand that our parks and natural areas are too valuable to let fall to waste,” said Ethan Lavine, environmental associate for Environment New Jersey. “This is a major victory for open space protection and preservation.”

To ensure voter approval of Ballot Question 2, Environment New Jersey worked with more than 70 organizations known collectively as the Outdoor Recreation Alliance. The coalition included environmentalists, urban advocacy organizations and sportsmen's groups.

In the weeks and months before Election Day, Environment New Jersey launched an aggressive drive to educate thousands of voters directly. By knocking on doors, building online support, and by ensuring that newspapers, television and radio stations frequently covered the issue and editorialized in support of the measure, Environment New Jersey helped ensure New Jerseyans got all the facts.

Approval of the parks ballot question will protect and improve parks such as Liberty State Park, Wharton State Forest, Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park and local parks in towns and cities. Every year, New Jersey’s 42 state parks, 11 state forests and hundreds of county and local parks welcome millions of visitors.

This summer, Environment New Jersey worked to ensure the state Legislature passed a resolution to put Question 2 on the ballot. State legislators who championed the bill by crafting the legislation and working to ensure its passage include Asm. John McKeon, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Sen. Bernard Kenny, Sen. Robert Littell, Sen. Leonard Lance, Senate President Richard Codey and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Jackson.