Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where does New Jersey rank in spending on State Parks?

2. What are some of the visible effects of low budgets?

3. What did Governor Whitman propose in her inaugural address?

4. What does the Governor's Council on New Jersey Outdoors recommend?

5. What does the Department of Environmental Protection say they need?

6. What does Pride in Our Parks recommend?

7. Isn't Green Acres funding enough?

8. Why is a stable source of funding desireable?

9. My favorite organization is not a member. How do I get them to join?

10. Are there other sources of information?

1. Where does New Jersey rank in spending on State Parks?

New Jersey ranks 38th in staffing and 42nd in operating budget. (National Association of State Park Directors, 1996 survey)

2. What are some of the visible effects of low budgets?

• The monument at High Point State Park is closed because the stairs have deteriorated.
• The Paulinskill Valley Trail has two bridges the need rebuilding.
• The water wheel at Ringwood State Park is deteriorating
• Very few rangers to educate, enforce laws or aid the public.
• Shepard Lake Recreation Area swimming area is closed because they cannot pay competitive wages for life guards.
• Long Pond Iron Works historic area is open only one day a month and that only because of the volunteers.
• Ringwood manor is suffering from years of deferred maintenance.
• The Kuser Mansion at High Point had to be torn down because repairs had been deferred too long.
• Many parks no longer offer nature programs or guided hikes.

3. What did Governor Whitman propose in her inaugural address?

Governor Whitman proposed preserving over a million new acres of open space over the next 10 years.

4. What does the Governor's Council on New Jersey Outdoors recommend?

The Governor's Council has released its final report, recommending a $200 million per year stable source of funding over the next 10 years. This would be a supplement to the State's annual budget for parks and open space protection within the Department of Environmental Protection. This proposal to the Governor is a landmark opportunity to infuse $2 billion for open space in New Jersey. The proposed breakdown of the $200 million per year is as follows:

• $50 million - farmland preservation
• $40 million - state land acquisition
• $50 million - aiding local governments and non-profits to buy land
• $15 million - capital improvements
• $15 million - historic preservation
• $ 8 million - for 54 urban communities to acquire, develop and maintain parkland
• $ 8 million - in-lieu of tax payments to municipal governments for state-owned land
• $14 million - state park operations, interpretive programs, wildlife diversity funding

5. What does the Department of Environmental Protection say they need?

• Division of Parks and Forestry
  • $35 million for operating staff - or $10 million above the current State Park Service budget of $25 million
  • $26.67 million for capital improvement - or $20 million above the $6.7 million remaining from the Green Acres Bond Act
• Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife - does not currently receive State appropriations for operations and maintenance, relying entirely on the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. Current revenue is $3.5 million. Beyond the current revenue, to operate adn enforce the extensive Wildlife Management Area system the division requrires:
  • $4 million for operating staff and maintenance
  • $5 million for capital improvements

6. What does Pride in Our Parks recommend?

While we fully support a stable source of funding, it must be noted that:

• The Governor's Council proposal indicates a $15 million supplement to the budget for capital improvements. However Parks and Forestry and Fish, Game and Wildlife, combined, require a $25 million supplement for capital improvements.
• The Governor's Council proposal indicates a $14 million supplement for operations, interpretive programs and wildlife diversity. This amount is an adequate supplement for operations and maintenance for the combined Parks & Forestry and Fish, Game and Wildlife, but it is not sufficient funding to cover the other areas as well.
• Because this $200 million is a supplemental source of funding, it is crutial that any legislation for these funds includes language to protect the existing budget levels for the Park Service budget. If not ensured through legislation, the annual budget lines are highly susceptible to erosion, and we could wind up with less funds for operations than are currently available!
• Where the proposed $200 million plan does not meet park needs, there must be an infusion of the budget or other alternatives to adequately upgrade the stewardship of our parks and wildlife areas.

7. Isn't Green Acres funding enough?

Green Acres has provided funds for buying more open space and some capital improvements, but nothing to manage it.

8. Why is a stable source of funding desireable?

Fish, Game and Wildlife licenses are an example of a stable source of funding, however licenses do not supply enough, neither do park entrance fees. Both need to be supplemented with other stable sources of funding as well as explict budget items. However whatever legislation eventually gets written that incorporates stable funding also has to protect the line item budgets from continued cuts.

9. My favorite organization is not a member. How do I get them to join?

We know there are a number of important organizations that are not members yet. Ask them why they aren't partners. Tell them to contact JoAnn Dolan at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, (212) 865-9699.

10. Are there other sources of information?

Yes. Try looking at: Sierra Activist.

(Home page of Pride in our Parks)

Last updated: 02/20/01