| DEP
Green Acres Preserves 113 Acres in Monmouth County:
Allaire State Park Expanded
(04/05) TRENTON - Preserving
one of the last remaining undeveloped land parcels in a
Monmouth County industrial zone, Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today
announced the purchase of 113 acres of land adjacent to
Allaire State Park in Wall Township.
"This environmentally valuable open
space, once in great danger of being lost to industrial
use, is yet another preservation victory advancing Governor
McGreevey's initiative toward Building a Better New Jersey,"
said Commissioner Campbell. "The preservation of this
property in Monmouth County protects a significant wetland
area and enhances public recreational opportunities at one
of our treasured state parks."
The parcel, adjacent to the Wall Airport,
is located in an industrial zone at Interstate 195 and the
Garden State Parkway. The property is situated in the Manasquan
Watershed and the Atlantic Coastal Watershed region, and
contains significant coniferous wetlands.
The DEP's Division of Parks and Forestry
will manage the property as part of its 3,086-acre Allaire
State Park. It is the first addition to Allaire State Park
in more than 10 years. The preserved land also adjoins an
additional 42 acres preserved by Wall Township.
Allaire State Park features a historic
19th-century ironmaking town, Allaire Village. The Manasquan
River, which winds through the park, attracts canoeists
and fishermen. The river's floodplain provides habitat for
more than 200 species of wildflowers, trees and plants as
well as habitat for birds and other wildlife. Hikers, mountain
bikers and horseback riders enjoy the park's many trails.
The DEP's Green Acres Program purchases
land to protect environmentally sensitive open space, water
resources and other significant natural and historical open
space. Land acquired by Green Acres becomes part of the
statewide system of parks and forest, wildlife management
areas and natural areas.
Through the Local Assistance Program, Green
Acres provides funding to county and municipal governments
and nonprofit organizations to acquire open space and parks
in their communities.
Green Acres is also committed to providing
parks and outdoor recreation facilities, urban wildlife
preserves, and quality open spaces in cities, suburbs, and
other developed communities throughout the state.
Since Governor McGreevey took office, the
Green Acres Program has acquired 51,026 acres of open space
- state 32,798 acres, local 9,903 acres, and nonprofit 8,325
acres. To date, the Green Acres Program has protected more
than 532,264 acres of open space and provided funding to
develop hundreds of parks statewide. The statewide system
of preserved open space and farmland totals more than 1.24
million acres.
For more information about the Green Acres
program visit the website at www.nj.gov/dep/greenacres.
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