19 NJ State Parks and Forests Must Adopt Winter Administrative Hours

from November 8, 2008 until March 31, 2009!

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Outgoing NJDEP Commissioner Announces Winter Administrative Hours

On Friday, November 7, 2008, Lisa Jackson, the outgoing NJDEP Commissioner who has recently been named Governor Corzine's new Chief of Staff and has also been tapped for President-elect Obama's transition team, announced weekend administrative closures for 19 of the Garden State's parks and forests.

Parks and forests with the new hours are Allaire, Barnegat Light, Bass River State Forest, Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, Bull's Island Recreation Area, Cape May Point, Cheesequake, Fort Mott, Hopatcong, Jenny Jump State Forest, Kittatinny Valley, Monmouth Battlefield, Parvin, Round Valley Recreation Area, Stephens, Stokes State Forest, Swartswood, Wawayanda and Worthington State Forest.

The affected parks and forests will remain on the winter schedule until March 31, 2009.

• complete list of winter hours on DEC website
• Daily Record article announcing closures

DEP Invites Environmental Stakeholders to Discuss Future of NJ Parks

During the last few weeks, the DEP has held meetings with friends groups, park superintendants, counties, and towns to discuss the future of New Jersey's parks and other public, protected lands. Today, Jen Godoski, Deputy DEP Commissioner, and Amy Cradic, Assistant Commissoner for Natural and Historic Resources, convened a meeting with the state's environmental stakeholders. Brenda Holzinger, NJ Regional Representative attended the meeting for the TC.

THE $9 MILLION
Jen Godoski began by reminding all present that the $9 million stop gap funding legislatively appropriated out of the shore protection fund late last spring to keep the parks open came with the requirement that DEP examine its revenue sources and fee structure carefully to find the necessary operations money. She explained that it costs about $35-40 million per year to run the parks, but they only generate about $6 million. Although there is no expectation that the state's parks need to make money, it is essential that the NJDEP find a way to bridge the current gap between revenue and expenses.

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES CLOSING ON WEEKENDS
In order to begin saving money immediately, many NJ park and forest administrative offices must be closed 2 days per week, and those days will be weekends! Amy Cradic explained that a large percentage of the operating budget is eaten up by utility bills, and the administrative offices get little public traffic during the winter season, so it made sense to turn the heat off in those offices on the weekends when other state offices are closed. She emphasized that access to these parks and forests will not be limited in any way, and interpretive staff will still follow a Wednesday through Sunday schedule, so the impact of the closings on the public should be minimal.

5-TIER FUNDING APPROACH
The DEP is focusing their funding efforts in 5 specific areas:

• marketing assets: rent underutilized buildings for events, outsource concession opportunities, lots of tourism possibilities, corporate naming and other advertising potential

• lease revenues: lease renewals will be at fair market value, back rents collected (small, one time inflow of money because old leases were way below market value), lease database to be posted to DEP web when complete, long-term strategy because must wait until leases are up for renewal before any changes can be made

• partnerships: looking to towns, counties and other government agencies like the National Park Service to share their maintenance, interpretive and even police resources when practical (i.e. NPS will plow Old Mine Road in Worthington State Forest), also looking to nonprofits with special expertise
• business efficiences: camping reservations fully online by 2010, closing administrative offices at parks on weekends (40 buildings that do not need heat for 2 days each week), regionalize park police, use capital funding (2006 ballot issue) to complete energy audit of facilities and build all new facilities "green"
• fee structure: DEP is researching how fees are handled in other states and considering many options, Commissioners are sensitive to the need to balance fee with access and need to enforce potential new permits, some fee increases will go into effect in 2009 with more to follow later, big idea is to create a state park friends foundation that could fundraise for operating revenue

More to come as the details unfold.

May 2008

The NJ Legislature passed a $33 billion dollar budget on Monday, June 23rd and it includes $9 million to keep NJ State Parks and Forests operating! This money comes from the Shore Protection Fund, which has not been utilized during the last few years. The Keep It Green Coalition applauds this budget boost but continues to fight for additional parks and forests funding as well as a stable, long-term source of funding for the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund.

Chronicles of the Fight, Background Information and News links

Late spring update : Despite seemingly optimistic news this week about NJ parks and forests, nothing is yet in writing or enforceable.

• This means that the status of the parks and forests is the same as when Commissioner Jackson released her statement about the closings and cutbacks on April 1st, with perhaps the exception of laying parks workers off starting on July 1st (see below).
• Please continue the fight to keep NJ parks and forests open and accessible to the public for all activities
• Help us neutralize any rumors that the Sunset at High Point press conference is cancelled. It will be held rain or shine @ 5pm.

NJ DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson Says No 45 Day Notices Issued Yet

I would like to share some news with respect to the Department's budget planning process. As you know, we did roll out a preliminary Reduction In Force (RIF) Plan primarily affecting our State Parks on April 1, 2008. Since that time our Governor has publicly supported keeping services in our State Parks open. This, of course, is very good news. At the same time, the Governor has asked us to review the full range of funding options potentially available to financially support parks operations on a going forward basis.

Given the Governor's direction, the Department did not proceed to issue 45 day notice letters yesterday, which was the time frame to administer layoffs effective July 1, 2008. In the days and weeks ahead we will seek to identify a fiscal plan to maintain parks services to the extent possible. In the interim, I want you to know that no immediate plans exist to submit a RIF Plan.

In these difficult fiscal times Governor Corzine has asked all Departments of State government to identify innovative ways to change our business practice to streamline operations and administer cost effective programs. We currently have our external Permit Efficiency Review Task Force reviewing ways to improve our operations in line with the Governor's charge. Our attention also must focus on similar innovation throughout our State Parks to enable us to continue to offer critical recreation services to our public while maintaining a balanced budget. Now, more than ever, we need to remain vigilant in addressing our Governor's clear vision of fiscal responsibility in State government. I ask for your continued patience and ongoing cooperation as we address our Fiscal 2009 budget.

I will reach out to you once again as more information becomes available.

Lisa P. Jackson
Commissioner

5/7/2008 11:02 AM

How to Help Fight for NJ Parks and Forests

• Originally, Governor Corzine targeted 9 parks to be shut down, including High Point, Worthington, Jenny Jump and Stephens.

• DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson testified during recent budget hearings that she hopes to keep parks open with only passive recreation, which would include some trail access. However, swimming, camping and possibly other amenities will not be available. (Please see below for links to the Commissioner's testimony and other background information)

• Our hiking trails are threatened, including the Appalachian and Highlands Trails. 

• Click here to send your representatives a letter via email. (This link will take you to the Trail Conference advocacy website.)
• Email the Division of Parks and Forestry and let them know what they think about these proposed cuts. They are looking for specific comments about the parks you visit and the types of activities that mean a lot to you, such as nature or history tours, camping, biking, hiking, children’s programs, school and scout outreach, presentations, etc. Your voice does matter, so here’s your chance to let them hear what New Jersey's public open space means to you!
• For more information on how you can help, click here. (Link will take you to the Keep It Green coalition website.)

• If you have questions please contact Brenda Holzinger, NJ Regional Coordinator, via email or telephone (201-512-9348 x 25).

Special Events Day and Sunset Press Conference at High Point

Saturday, May 10th

Thanks to all who attended the High Point events and press conference on Saturday! The turn-out was great, the weather was beautiful and the showing of elected officials at the press conference was impressive!

Please check back shortly for pictures of the press conference.

Schedule:

10:00  Guided hike (beach bath house)

1:00    Guided hike on the Appalachian  Trail  with a thru-hiker and retired Park Ranger (beach bath house)

1:30    Crow and Great Horned Owl presentation (Interpretative Center, Dick Wilson)

2:30    Story Teller (Interpretative Center, Ken Karnas)

3:00    Snake presentation (Interpretative Center, Lori Space Day)

3:30    Scavenger Hunt   (beach bath house)

4:00    **Show support and unity for our parks. Lets all be at the beach at 4:00!!

            Boy Scout Troop 97 Flag Ceremony & songs

            Recognition of Veterans in honor of High Point Monument

4:30    Fly fishing and fly tying demonstration (beach, Trout Unlimited)

4:30    Bird watching walk (Park Interpreter, Park Office)

Please stay for a press conference sponsored by the Sierra Club. It will follow the afternoon events, and will be held at the base of the monument

If you have any questions, please contact Brenda Holzinger, NJ Regional Coordinator, via email or cell (973-303-3538).

Campout At the Capital on April 23rd a Big Sucess!!

(Cancelled as of 5/1/08)

Hike from High Point to Trenton to Save NJ Parks

May 14-23, 2008

A “Save Our Parks” hike from High Point to Trenton with campouts at parks slated for closure along the way is beingplanned for the last full week of May.

For more info, please visit the CWA Local 1037 website

Basic Overview of Hike:

5/14- Camp at High Point State Park

5/15- 14.7 mile hike, camp at Stokes State Park

5/16- 16.7 mile hike, camp at Mohican Outdoor Center

5/17- 13 mile hike, camp at Jenny Jump State Park

5/18- 26.1 mile BIKE, camp at Spruce Run

5/19- 11.9 mile hike, camp at Round Valley Rec Area

5/20- 19.8 mile hike, camp at Bull’s Island Rec Center

5/21- rest day at Bull’s Island Rec Center

5/22- 13.8 mile hike, camp in Washington’s Crossing State Park (kid friendly activities today!)

5/23- 9.6 mile hike and end in Trenton

Read important analysis and statements about parks budget issues

• DEP's Summary of Park Closure Recommendations (April 1)
• OLS Report
• DEP response
• DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson's Assembly Budget Testimony (April 17)
• Listen to DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson's Senate Budget Testimony (April 23)

Press reports: (lots of pictures and comments)

• Area residents protest closing of state parks (TC gets good press!! Suburban Trends April 2, 2008)

• New parks on horizon; old ones' fate unclear (DailyRecord.com, April 16, 2008)

• Parks Shutdown Plan (NJ Herald, April 4, 2008)
• Shutting down the state parks? Um, what state is this again? (Star-Ledger, April 3, 2008)
• 9 state parks may be shut (NorthJersey.com, April 2, 2008)
• Nine state parks may close under budget ax (NJ.com, April 1, 2008)
• New Jersey state budget ax could shut down 9 state parks and idle 80 workers (International Herald Tribune, April 1, 2008)
• N.J. budget cuts could shut down parks (Burlington County Times, March 30, 2008)