| SENATOR VITALE
AND COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL PRESENT $1 MILLION IN GREEN ACRES
FUNDS TO CARTERET
CARTERET-Senator Joseph F. Vitale (D-Middlesex)
and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner
Bradley M. Campbell today announced $1,000,000 in Green
Acres redevelopment and land acquisition funds to the Borough
of Carteret Mayor Daniel J. Reiman.
Commissioner Campbell presented the Green
Acres funding aid today during a tour of Carteret Waterfront
Park hosted by Senator Vitale.
"I am holding this event so that we
all can see the enormous, positive impact this Green Acres
funding has on Carteret," stated Senator Vitale. "Mayor
Reiman has done a fantastic job by making the waterfront
a priority for recreational and economical purposes. This
area is valuable to our citizens and community alike. For
this we are most grateful to Commissioner Campbell and Green
Acres."
The funds will enable the Borough of Carteret
to improve and expand its waterfront. A portion of the aid
will be used for the acquisition of four acres of land (right
of Middlesex Avenue) adjacent to Waterfront Park for additional
public access and parking. The improvements to the park
will include the development of a fishing pier, boat launch,
gazebo, picnic area and pedestrian walkway.
"Improving and increasing access to
recreational facilities is critical to the quality of life
enjoyed by New Jersey residents," said Commissioner
Campbell. "Ensuring that Carteret and other densely
populated communities get their fair share of Green Acres
funding is an integral component of Governor McGreevey's
Build a Better New Jersey initiative."
"This is a great feat for the Borough
of Carteret," stated Mayor Reiman. "The vision
I have for this project is to give the people of Carteret
a beautiful place to come and enjoy the waterfront. We are
very lucky to have it - and this should be a symbol of Carteret's
renewal and vigor…and this is only the
beginning of our development process, thanks to Green Acres
and Commissioner Campbell."
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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