FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2025

Contact: Caryn Shinske (609) 984-1795
Vincent Grassi (609) 984-1795
Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795

MURPHY ADMINISTRATION MARKS EARTH WEEK BY ANNOUNCING $131 MILLION INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY RECREATION PROJECTS, OPEN SPACE ACQUISITIONS ACROSS NEW JERSEY

Funding Package Is One Of Largest In Green Acres Program History

(25/P23) TRENTON – Reaffirming the Murphy Administration’s commitment to inclusivity and outdoor recreation opportunities for all, Governor Phil Murphy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette today marked the state’s celebration of Earth Week by announcing more than $131 million in Green Acres investments for parks, recreation, and open space preservation projects across New Jersey.

Earth Week 2025

The Green Acres package provides funding for recreation and open space projects in every county and was approved on April 14 by the independent Garden State Preservation Trust. Upon approval of an appropriations bill by the Legislature, the funding package will bring to $695 million the total Green Acres investments the Murphy Administration has made for park development and open space projects. This year’s funding level is the largest Green Acres package of the Murphy Administration and the fourth-largest in Green Acres Program history. The full project lists are posted on the Green Acres website at nj.gov/dep/greenacres.

“Green Acres projects are among the most important we undertake because they ensure that every New Jersey community has access to quality parks, recreation facilities and opportunities,” said Governor Murphy. “From inclusive playgrounds to development of trails and preservation of natural ecosystems, we are focused on improving the quality of life for neighborhoods and families long burdened by a variety of environmental and public health stressors.”

“My DEP colleagues and I thank Governor Murphy for his longstanding commitment to protecting open space and expanding parks for the benefit of all New Jersey residents, no matter where they live,” said Commissioner LaTourette during an announcement ceremony at Joyce Kilmer Park in New Brunswick, Middlesex County. “Together we have worked hard to ensure all residents have access to green open space and parks that are so important to our well-being and quality of life. The $695 million investments that the Administration has made over the years will be paying dividends to communities across New Jersey for generations to come.”

playground“A big thanks to NJDEP for moving forward with the renovations of Joyce Kilmer Park. Amazing projects like this, in urban areas, increase opportunities for Garden State residents to enhance their quality of life through physical health and social wellness opportunities amongst natural surroundings,” said Sen. Bob Smith. “As the proud sponsor of the legislation creating a stable source of funding for Green Acres projects, by tapping the Corporate Business Tax monies which generate approximately $150 million yearly, it is great to see these funds being utilized to enhance outdoor activities in the beautiful City of New Brunswick.”

“Access to nature and play should never be limited,” said Human Services Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Aging Services Kaylee McGuire. “As we celebrate Earth Week, it’s inspiring to see communities across the state embracing inclusivity in their parks and playgrounds. This dedication signals that everyone is welcome. Through Green Acres and Jake’s Law, we’re preserving open space and ensuring that all residents have a place to connect, play, and thrive. New Brunswick’s commitment to a completely inclusive playground is a powerful step toward that vision.”

“Created over 60 years ago, the Green Acres Program has been one of the leading preservation programs in the nation,” said Garden State Preservation Trust Executive Director Jeffrey Everett. “Its success has led to New Jersey having the highest percentage of state-owned and publicly accessible land in the conterminous United States, a fact made more remarkable given its status as the nation’s most densely populated state.”

The 140 funded projects echo the Earth Week 2025 theme of Our Power, Our Planet.

Joyce Kilmer Park will receive multiple recreational upgrades as one of the approved park development projects.

“We are grateful to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Commissioner LaTourette for their continued commitment to enhancing recreational access and expanding green spaces in our New Brunswick neighborhoods,” said Mayor Jim Cahill. “This $1.9 million Urban Parks grant from Green Acres for improvements to Joyce Kilmer Park represents a major investment in the health, vitality, and quality of life in our community. This project will breathe new life into a cherished public space, creating more opportunities for recreation, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and bringing people together. It’s a reflection of our collective vision for building greener, stronger, and more connected neighborhoods for all who call New Brunswick home.”

“Joyce Kilmer Park sits at the center of one our most vibrant communities in New Brunswick, the Esperanza Neighborhood,” said New Brunswick Today President Jaymie Santiago. “Parks are cultural hubs that strengthen every community. By investing in its renewal, from the crosswalks to the athletic fields, we are investing in the physical, mental, and social fabric that connects us all,  enhancing the quality of life for every city resident.”

Green Acres Overview

The projects recommended for funding will establish, expand, or revitalize new and existing parks; acquire land; improve waterfront access; develop athletic fields and playgrounds; improve public access; create open space; and enhance land stewardship.

Many of the proposed park development projects serve Adversely Stressed Overburdened Communities in Urban Aid municipalities, emphasizing the Murphy Administration’s commitment to environmental justice. These communities are so designated because they have a combined stressor total higher than the 50th percentile for total environmental and public health stressors.

Green Acres funding for these projects comes from the Corporate Business Tax, Green Acres loan and interest repayments, interest earnings, and previously approved projects that did not come to fruition.

“The Green Acres Program looks forward to working with our local government and nonprofit partners to complete these critically important acquisition and park development projects,” said Green Acres Program Director Martha Sullivan Sapp. “We are funding projects in every county in New Jersey, ensuring residents and visitors have high quality, close-to-home parks and open spaces to enjoy.”

By the Numbers

Green Acres funding allows local governments and nonprofits to leverage millions of additional preservation dollars through matching federal, state, county and local funds, as well as from private sources.

The more than $131 million investment includes $127 million for municipal, county and nonprofit projects, including land preservation, stewardship initiatives and Completely Inclusive Playgrounds across the state:

  • $22.4 million for 24 municipal and county land acquisition projects
  • $47.7 million for 44 local developments of parks and recreation facilities
  • $28.2 million for 40 local Completely Inclusive Playgrounds as part of Jake’s Law
  • $4.2 million for seven local stewardship projects
  • $8.3 million for eight acquisition projects by nonprofit organizations
  • $2.1 million for two nonprofit recreational development projects
  • $1.5 million for four nonprofit stewardship projects
  • $12.7 million for 11 Urban Parks projects.

playground waterDEP Adds Planning Grant Funding

Commissioner LaTourette also announced that the Garden State Preservation Trust-approved package includes $4 million for a new Planning Grant funding category. The Green Acres Program will make available $3 million for local governments and $1 million for nonprofit organizations to help defray planning costs related to future recreation, open space, and stewardship projects. Initiatives eligible for Planning Grant funds include:

  • Preparing an open space and recreation plan
  • Preparing a municipal public access plan reflecting a community’s commitment to enhance public access to tidal waters
  • Completing or updating a municipal or county Recreation and Open Space Inventory, which lists land held by the local government for recreation and conservation purposes
  • Completing a local or regional trail feasibility study or a trail or greenway plan connecting neighborhoods and communities
  • Planning initiatives focusing on urban open space, trails, habitat connectivity, regional preservation partnerships, conservation mapping, and more.

Specific Planning Grant guidelines and funding parameters are in development, and a call for applications will be announced later this year. This new matching grant program, combined with the $127 million for local, county, Urban Parks and nonprofit projects, brings the total Green Acres investment to more than $131 million.

Completely Inclusive Playgrounds

This year marks the third and final round of the Green Acres Jake’s Law Pilot Program introduced in 2023, which provides 75% non-competitive matching grant funding to municipal and county governments to construct Completely Inclusive Playgrounds, in compliance with standards established by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. County projects are capped at $1 million each; municipal, at $750,000. Green Acres will continue to fund Completely Inclusive Playgrounds as part of its regular competitive park development category.

Among the 40 local Completely Inclusive Playground projects in 14 counties recommended for funding are:

  • $1 million each to Bergen County to replace an existing playground with a new Completely Inclusive Playground at Pascack Brook County Park in Westwood, and to Union County, for playground replacement at Unami Park in Garwood
  • $938,000 to Mercer County to create a Completely Inclusive Playground at Rosedale Park in Hopewell Township
  • $883,000 to Camden County, to create a Completely Inclusive Playground at New Camden Park in Camden City
  • $850,000 to Passaic County to replace an existing playground with a Completely Inclusive Playground at Weasel Brook Park in Clifton.

In addition to these projects, 21 others are recommended for $750,000 grants each to create or replace Completely Inclusive Playgrounds, and 14 other communities will receive grants ranging from $403,000 to $745,000.

Local/County Projects

Major local projects approved for matching grants of $1.5 million or more include:

Bergen County:

  • A $2.5 million matching grant for Riverside County Park South in Lyndhurst and North Arlington to create an all-access point at Park Street and a footpath connection at the Bergen Avenue and River Road intersection. Fitness stations, a playground and spray park, and a relocated baseball field are also planned.
  • Garfield will receive $2 million to continue multiple passive and active recreation improvements at Columbus Park. This latest phase includes an amphitheater, restroom building, playgrounds and paths for biking, walking, and jogging.

Essex County:

  • A $1.9 million grant for Irvington Park in Irvington would replace ballfield dugouts and equipment, install soccer field lighting, and make multiple landscaping improvements.
  • East Orange will receive $2 million to make multiple enhancements at Oval Park –constructing a rubberized track field, resurfacing basketball courts, adding a pavilion shade structure and walking paths, and landscaping upgrades.
  • A matching grant and loan totaling $1.8 million will help fund rehabilitation of tennis and basketball courts, restrooms, benches and landscaping enhancements at Mountainside Park in Montclair.

Hudson County:

  • Weehawken will receive $2 million for the second phase of a three-phase project at South Park to construct a multi-use rink pavilion with an interchangeable surface, a walkway, and other recreational amenities.

Mercer County:

  • A $2 million grant to Trenton will continue the rehabilitation and development of several adjacent properties within Assunpink Greenway Park, including basketball, softball, soccer, a skatepark, and a trail system with benches and lighting.

Middlesex County:

  • Perth Amboy will use $2 million to improve the Veterans Memorial Youth League Complex to make athletic field improvements including sheltered dugouts, scoreboards, drainage improvements, and landscaping.

Passaic County:

  • A grant and loan totaling $2 million will fund multiple improvements at Peckman Preserve in Little Falls, including pathways, an outdoor classroom, art installations, a boardwalk, and a covered trailhead structure.

Union County:

  • The county will use $1.5 million to improve Wheeler Spray Park in Linden with updated fencing, shade structures, and a repurposed locker room area with concessions, picnic tables, and seating.

Green Acres also is providing matching grants for 32 land acquisition projects. The majority of these projects are in the Planning Incentive category, sponsored by local governments that have enacted an open space tax and prepared an Open Space and Recreation Plan. Green Acres approves funding to these local governments to acquire parcels prioritized for preservation in their plan. Several other acquisition awards are for specific parcels, sponsored by local governments that do not yet have an open space tax or plan.

Stewardship Projects

Green Acres will provide matching stewardship grants to seven local governments and four nonprofit organizations, ranging from $76,000 to $2.5 million. Some of the projects include:

  • PEACE NJ will receive $399,000 to improve the Douglas A. Blake Memorial Field Complex in Hackettstown (Warren County) for invasive species management, streambank stabilization work, and removal of a concrete diving platform in the floodway of the Musconetcong River.
  • A $268,000 grant to the Friends of West Windsor Open Space will help improve portions of an existing trail property owned by West Windsor Township (Mercer County), to be named the Moses Tunda Tatami Trail.
  • Middlesex Borough (Middlesex County) will receive a $76,000 grant to restore Lake Creighton, also known as the Duck Pond, and provide an accessible nature trail and interpretive signage in Victor Crowell Park.

Urban Parks Funding

Providing recreational facilities in some of the state’s adversely stressed and overburdened cities remains a high priority for the Murphy Administration and Green Acres, which approved $12.7 million for 11 projects in eight counties using a special set-aside from the FY25 state budget. Urban Parks grants were available for projects in Adversely Stressed Overburdened Communities in Urban Aid municipalities. Approved grants range from $500,000 to $2.1 million.

Each of the 11 Urban Parks projects is for park development, although land acquisition and historic preservation projects are also eligible for funding. Projects addressing environmental justice and climate resilience concerns are prioritized.

Among the approved projects:

Bergen County: A $2 million grant to Bergenfield will fund a third phase of work at Twin Borough Park, including the installation of three pickleball courts, a park pavilion, two volleyball courts, and fencing.

Camden County: Pennsauken Township is receiving $530,000 to update the Jordantown Enhancement Athletic Complex with a new multi-use path, LED lighting on the existing football field and restoring baseball fields.

Cumberland County: A $633,000 grant will help refurbish the amphitheater, enhance accessibility, and improve parking and walkways at the Sunset Lake Amphitheater in Bridgeton.

Hudson County: Bayonne proposes using a $2 million grant for improvements to Veterans Park, including shoreline stabilization work, dock/pier reconstruction, and renovation of recreational improvements, including outdoor exercise equipment, benches, a shade structure, and a waterfront walkway.

Middlesex County: With a $1.9 million grant, New Brunswick will install a walking/running loop with fitness stations, reconditioned basketball courts, a baseball field, a new multipurpose soccer field, and new inclusive playground equipment at Joyce Kilmer Park.

A Legacy Of Preservation

New Jersey has long been a leader in preserving open space and creating parks. The Green Acres Program, the oldest continuous program of its kind in the nation, was created in 1961 as the result of an innovative bond referendum. To date, the Green Acres Program has protected more than 726,000 acres of open space and provided hundreds of recreational facilities around the state. The total acreage of protected open space, parkland, and farmland across New Jersey exceeds 1.5 million acres.

Green Acres projects create jobs and stimulate economic development by making communities more attractive places to live and work, consequently boosting civic pride. They also improve air and water quality, providing New Jerseyans a better quality of life.

To learn more about the Green Acres Program, visit www.NJGreenAcres.org

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