Open Space News

Trenton – Gov. Corzine’s administration announced today that budget cuts will result in the closure of nine popular state park and recreational areas just in time for the busy summer season. These cuts will severely reduce recreational opportunities for our residents, resulting in a decline in overall quality of life in New Jersey as well as harm to our economy. These closures come just after voters approved Ballot Question #3 last November, sending a clear message to our leaders that investing in open space, parks, farmland and historic sites is a priority even during fiscally challenging times.   

The Keep It Green Campaign, a coalition of over 100 organizations from throughout the state, urge state leaders to listen to New Jersey residents and restore funding for the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Parks & Forestry and Fish & Wildlife in the budget. The devastating impact of these cuts and decades of similar cuts also highlight the need for stable funding to ensure that protected lands are well-maintained and accessible and to continue acquiring threatened lands through the renewal of the Garden State Preservation Trust this year.

12 Parks Slated for Closure or Reduced Services

Due to the $8.8 million in cuts to the Division of Parks and Forestry, nine parks will be either closed or have their services fully eliminated, including Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Stephens State Park, High Point State Park, Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, Round Valley Recreation Area, Parvin State Park, Jenny Jump State Forest, Worthington State Forest and Fort Mott State Park. In addition, three parks are slated for partial elimination of services and facilities, including swimming at Ringwood State Park, camping and interpretive services at D&RCanal State Park and severe reduction in hours at Washington Crossing State Park.

"This is the worst April Fool's joke of the year," said Dena Mottola Jaborska, executive director of Environment New Jersey.New Jersey residents will be locked out of enjoying some of New Jersey's state park jewels." "But it's no joke --- if Gov. Corzine doesn't lift these draconian budget cuts, New Jersey residents will be locked out of enjoying some of New Jersey's state park jewels."

“No governor at any time, even during the Great Depression, has ever closed a state park,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.  “There was always an understanding that during troubled times, parks are a place for people to get together to enjoy their families and forget about their troubles.  That the Corzine Administration would close these parks that the people of New Jersey purchased for their own use is unconscionable.”

As a result of these closures, New Jersey residents and families will experience a severe reduction in swimming and camping opportunities, the closure of many interpretive centers and the end of popular educational programs for public school children, Boy Scouts and other groups.  

"These proposed closings make the budget cuts very real for all of us who treasure New Jersey's outdoor resources," said Alison Mitchell, Policy Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation. "We hope the legislature will restore the funding for these important facilities when the final budget is adopted."

Residents Across the State To Be Impacted

These closures will negatively impact all of New Jersey’s residents by reducing recreational opportunities to all families as well as harming the many economic, environmental and quality of life benefits they provide. 

“These park closures will impact all New Jersey residents, but the hardest hit group will be the urban and working class that have limited access to the outdoors and depend on these state areas for recreational opportunities. We are calling on our state leaders to reverse this socially unjust, economically-regressive policy decision,” said Joanna Wolaver, Director of Government Relations at New Jersey Audubon Society.

"Saying that the state will 'close' trails and facilities in a park like Brendan Byrne State Forest doesn't mean people will not keep going into the park.  It just means there will be even fewer park rangers taking care of the forest or helping those who get themselves in trouble.  It means an open season on the public's land for those who abuse the forest through activities like illegal off-roading, collecting rare species, dumping trash and drinking parties," said Carleton Montgomery, Executive Director of Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

“It is outrageous to close a park named after Monmouth County, which has such important historic value to our entire county and state,” stated Judith Stanley Coleman, President of Monmouth Conservation Foundation.

“The Highlands Act not only recognizes the importance of the Highlands as the source of drinking water for nearly all of northern New Jersey, it also recognizes its value as one of the most visited regions of the state. Hundreds of thousands of tourists and residents use its parks and natural areas, and appreciate its history and cultural attractions. Highlands parks are at the heart of why people love and visit the region, and this budget cuts out the Highlands' heart,” said Julia M. Somers, Executive Director of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition. 

“The closure of any parks in NJ is a tough blow to our many volunteer members who work hard to build, maintain and protect hiking trails on many of the state’s public lands.  But the closure of High Point,” stated Brenda Holzinger, New Jersey Coordinator for the NY-NJ Trail Conference, “is an even more significant issue and of much interest to people outside NJ’s borders because the Appalachian Trail, which is part of the US National Scenic Trails System, runs directly through the park.”

Closures to Worsen New Jersey’s Deficit 

Not only will these closures harm New Jersey’s quality of life, but they will also damage our state and local economies and result in a decrease in state revenue. For more information on the many benefits of parks and open space, please visit www.njkeepitgreen.org/benefits.htm.

“Of all the mistaken things to do because you are short of revenue, the worst thing is to close revenue producing parks. Parks produce revenue not only through the collection of park fees, but also by supporting ecotourism, including bringing business to local restaurants, encouraging the purchase of bikes and other outdoor equipment – all of which support our state economy,”  said Jim Amon, Former Executive Director of the D&R Canal Commission.  

By reducing our investment in our parks, we will lose the many significant economic benefits they provide, such as spurring urban revitalization, decreasing health care cost associated with childhood asthma and obesity by promoting health lifestyles and supporting our state’s nearly $4 billion a year wildlife-related recreation industry and significant heritage tourism industry.

“The Administration's proposed budget cuts in the DEP Parks & Forestry division will result in complete closure of or significantly reduced public access to historic sites all over the state.  At a time when heritage tourism has finally been recognized as a vital economic development tool, it is short-sighted to be closing these major historic attractions and further depressing local economies,” said Ron Emrich of Preservation New Jersey.

“By closing the people's parks, the Governor is punishing the victim! Instead of balancing the budget on the backs of citizens and blocking their access to the open space they've already paid for, the Legislature should make gas guzzlers and other polluters pay more of their fair share, expedite more ethics reforms, stop subsidizing sprawl so much, which should be done anyway," said Dave Pringle of New Jersey Environmental Federation. 

Again, the Keep It Green coalition urges our state leaders to listen to New Jersey voters and restore funding for the Divisions of Parks & Forestry and Fish & Wildlife and to create a stable funding source for preservation and operation of our natural and historic treasures through renewal of the Garden State Preservation Trust this year. This investment is not only a priority for New Jersey voters, but helps increase our state revenue during difficult budget times.

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