New Jersey Approves $90.6M in Green Acres Grants for 102 Park and Open Space Projects

The Garden State Preservation Trust gave the green light to $90.6 million in Green Acres funding. This money will support 102 projects run by local governments and nonprofits. These projects will purchase open space, construct parks, and upgrade recreation and conservation resources throughout New Jersey. The Department of Environmental Protection announced the approval on June 5.

Local governments will receive $51.5 million. That money goes to 53 park and recreational facility developments. Another $23.2 million will support 28 land acquisition projects. Nonprofits get $9.6 million for eight land acquisition projects. They’ll also receive $5.2 million for eight recreational development projects.

“These green spaces beautify communities, connect neighbors, promote active lifestyles, and boost economic activity,” said Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak, according to DEP.NJ.gov. “They also improve air and water quality and enhance natural ecosystems.”

The trust approved the funding list on May 28. It has been sent to the Legislature for development of an appropriations bill.

Park development projects include several exciting additions. A new access point and footpath connection, playground and spray park, riverfront overlooks, and pavilion will be built at Riverside County Park South in Lyndhurst Township and North Arlington Borough. The Boonton Reservoir Trail in Morris County will loop the reservoir. Visitors will get scenic public access for the first time.

Metuchen will create a new trailhead park to increase access to the existing Middlesex Greenway. Ewing will construct an inclusive playground at the Senior & Community Center in Mercer County.

Land acquisition projects include a 0.2-acre property at 155 Main St. in Hackensack. It will become a pocket park. The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum will purchase a parcel in Montgomery to preserve a historic resource and open space in the Sourland Mountain Region.

Riverside Township proposes preserving a 4.2-acre property at the intersection of Whittaker and Fairview streets. This site will serve passive recreation and environmental education programming. Stewardship projects totaling $1.1 million will improve and protect existing parkland.

Since 1961, the program has worked with public and private partners to protect over 725,000 acres of open space. It has provided hundreds of outdoor recreational facilities statewide. The total acreage of protected open space, parkland, and farmland throughout the state now exceeds 1.6 million acres.

Funding comes from the Corporate Business Tax. It also comes from loan and interest repayments, interest earnings, and projects approved in the past that didn’t happen. The full list of approved projects is available at nj.gov/dep/greenacres.

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