NJ parks seek your help!

RELEASE: June 22, 2007 – Volume XXXVII, No. 25

Take a survey and help shape the future of our parks.

During the summer, the N.J. State Division of Parks and Forestry is asking park visitors for opinions on park improvements – things like campsites, trails, swimming areas, historic restoration, boating and fishing access, and more. The state is also asking New Jerseyans to go online at www.njparksandforests.org, under the “Are You a Happy Camper?” link. If you have visited a park in the last year, get in your feedback now.

You can weigh in about parks and historic sites you have visited, what drew you there, and what improvements or changes you would recommend. You can select from a list of park improvements and prioritize them.

What are some of the issues facing our parks? Do you want passive recreation, for example, which allows parkland to remain in its natural state, or active recreation like soccer fields? And not all park improvements are created equal. Some improvements could be good for the environment – supporting and strengthening things like clean air and wildlife habitat, while others might exacerbate problems like stormwater runoff.

The survey comes on the heels of a ballot question voters approved last fall dedicating a portion of the Corporate Business Tax to park improvements. The measure provides $15 million each year until 2015 and $32 million annually thereafter for maintenance and capital improvements at state parks, historic sites and wildlife areas.

The funding was badly needed. Years of belt-tightening in the state’s general budget produced a major backlog of $250 million in maintenance and improvement work in our parks. Add to that the wave of new open space acquisitions waiting for things like nature centers, trails and other kinds of educational and recreational facilities…

Research shows this is money well spent: a 2004 study by the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Division of Science, Research and Technology found New Jersey's parks and forests generate an annual $1.2 billion in tax revenue each year. And the over 15 million people who visit our parks each year create a ripple effect in local economies when they buy food, lodging, gas and souvenirs. Neglecting parks hurts the growth of this revenue stream.

So take the survey! It’s quick and easy… and how often does the government ask for your opinion before spending your money? New Jersey’s parks, natural areas and historic sites are some of the best in the nation and an important part of the character and economy and quality of life in this state we live in. Lend your voice to the call to make them even better!

I hope you’ll contact me at info@njconservation.org, or visit NJCF’s website at www.njconservation.org, for more information about conserving New Jersey’s precious land and natural resources.

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