Open Space News

TRENTON – Today, over 300 New Jerseyans camped out at the State House to keep New Jersey’s state parks open. Due to the cuts in the Governor’s budget, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the impending closures of nine state parks and the partial closure of additional parks throughout the state. While recent press and budget hearings herald an anticipated reevaluation of the closures due in large part to the outcry of citizens championing the importance of parks, no guarantees have been made.

Hikers, picnickers, historic re-enactors, fishermen, boyscout troops, park employees, hunters, business owners, birders, families and other park users gathered to urge State leaders to resolve budget issues in other ways – not by closing their parks. The participants further urged the legislature to find stable funding to ensure that these parks and other public spaces, remain open, maintained and available for the citizens of New Jersey both today and in the future.

The resounding message of the rally was echoed by every individual speaking; the parks are invaluable to every citizen and it is imperative that they remain open and maintained. “I am proud to be standing here with all of you united in our fight to keep our State Parks open – this is a cause we will win,” stated Jeff Tittel, Director of NJ Sierra Club. “From High Point State Park to Fort Mott State Park, we will win!”

The Governor’s proposed budget includes a 12.5% cut to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), including substantial cuts to both the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Division of Parks and Forestry. Environmentalists at the rally expressed concern about DEP’s inability to absorb these cuts and still continue to protect New Jersey's environment and administer the programs that are so important to our public health, economy, and quality of life.

Attendees at the rally urged legislators not to approve a budget that includes these cuts, expressing their concerns about the direct impact these cuts will have on kids’ educational programs and camping, wildlife-watching fishing, hunting and swimming opportunities and the overall quality of life in the state.  These parks are also important places where families can go to spend time together, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors.  Our low- and middle-income families are especially dependent upon these public open spaces because they often do not have access to private facilities that our higher-earning residents enjoy. 

“These park closures will impact all New Jersey residents, but the hardest hit group will be the urban and working class. These groups have limited access to the outdoors and depend upon public parks for recreational opportunities. We are calling on our State leaders to reverse this socially unjust, economically-regressive policy decision,” said Eric Stiles, Vice President for Conservation and Stewardship at New Jersey  Audubon Society.

“The New York – New Jersey Trail Conference’s volunteer members are extremely unhappy about the potential park closures and reduced services, and strongly urge New Jersey’s elected officials to restore the funds necessary to prevent them,” explained Brenda Holzinger, NJ Regional Representative for the NY-NJ Trail Conference. 

The participants also spoke on the impacts of the cuts to dedicated employees working at the parks. “Closing treasured state parks and cutting the jobs of the hard-working state workers who staff them is a grave injustice and remarkably short-sighted. Dedicated public servants and New Jersey families are unfairly paying the price for the state’s fiscal failures and irresponsibility,” said Carla Katz, President of CWA Local 1034.

“We aren’t going to balance this budget by eliminating camping or laying off state workers,” stated Hetty Rosenstein, President CWA1037. “Many of these parks were built during the Depression when our government understood that the way we solve our economic problems was to put people to work, not to lay them off.”

Resolving New Jersey's budget crisis by cutting funding for the DEP does not make economic sense.  The DEP is 90% self-sustaining, with only 10% of its budget coming from general state funds.  In fact, New Jersey will lose important revenues from park fees, permit fees and fines if these cuts are made. In addition, our parks, historic sites and natural areas are integral to the state's economy and ensure a high quality of life in our state. Wildlife-watching, hunting and fishing alone bring in $3.9 billion each year. 

"Budgets should be cut only when all the financial impacts they entail have been tallied. I would argue that if all the economic benefits to our state that come from our historic parks and sites were counted they would exceed their costs. To put it baldly – all the beans have never been counted,” said Cate Livack, Executive Director of Crossroads of the American Revolutions. 

Anthony Mauro, Sr. Chairman of the NJ Outdoor Alliance further noted saying "If Trenton is serious about cutting $2.5 billion there is plenty of fraud, waste and largesse to be found. The Governor should not threaten to take the pennies that it costs to run our parks before taking the dollars to be found in bureaucratic inefficiency.”

Concerned groups at the rally, representing 100’s of thousands of members and users statewide, also strongly urged state leaders to renew and strengthen the Garden State Preservation Trust this year, noting that the cuts in funding highlight the need to ensure dedicated funding sources to purchase, operate and maintain public spaces for all the citizens to use and enjoy. The Trust, New Jersey's funding mechanisms for open space, farmland and historic preservation and park creation, will run out of money in less than a year and no plan is in place for continued funding.

"If there’s a silver lining to this park closing dustup, it’s the urgent reminder of the need for a permanent, stable source of funding to keep preserving land and pay for its long-term stewardship. The Garden State’s natural wonders should not be vulnerable to the yearly political tides in Trenton," said Alison Mitchell, Policy Director for New Jersey Conservation Foundation. "Despite our state's current fiscal woes, we should continue to invest in land preservation. Study after study has proven that preserved lands pay multiple dividends toward our state's bottom line."

In addition, attendees expressed concern that some cuts could threaten federal grants, effectively sending money back to Washington. “The impacts of the budget cuts to the Division of Fish and Wildlife are significant,” said Frederick S. Ege, Jr., New Jersey Trout Unlimited.  Liz Silvernail, New Jersey Keep it Green concurred stating, “Legislators need to understand that state funding is required to leverage federal matching grants that are critically important to the health of the fish and wildlife as well as to our economy. New Jersey only receives these grants if the State puts up the necessary match. Not qualifying for this funding could add to the deficit”. 

Clearly funding for parks and preservation is a priority for the people of New Jersey. Voters have repeatedly approved funding for parks and open spaces, even during difficult fiscal times.  Less than six months ago, the voters approved a $200 million bond question to fund the state's open space, farmland, and historic preservation programs, even while denying two other funding requests. Keep It Green coalition members urged State leaders to honor the priorities of New Jersey voters by voting no on any budget that includes the proposed cuts and passing legislation this spring to renew the Garden State Preservation Trust.

“Concrete camp-outs are no one’s idea of fun,” said Doug O'Malley, Field Director of Environment New Jersey. “But Governor Corzine is telling New Jersey residents to go jump in a lake – as long as it’s not in a state park. The Legislature should listen to the public and keep our state parks open.” 

“No New Jersey Governor, even Whitman, closed parks, even during the Depression. In fact, parks proposed to be closed in this budget were built during the Depression. Are we really worse off today than we were in the 1930’s?” said Dave Pringle, Campaign Director for New Jersey Environmental Federation. “The Governor and Legislature need to make better choices, invest in New Jersey, take another look at this budget, make gas guzzlers and other polluters pay their fair share, take ethics reform to another level, and stop subsidizing sprawl,” he continued.

The New Jersey – Keep It Green Campaign is a coalition of 100 organizations from throughout the state working to restore funding for the Department of Environmental Protection’s Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Forestry in this year’s budget and to strengthen and renew the Garden State Preservation Trust. For more information, please visit www.NJKeepItGreen.org.

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