New Jersey Parks Threatened by Budget Cuts
Your Help is Needed to Save New Jersey's Parks and State Historic Sites!
State parks and historic sites across New Jersey will be impacted by Governor Corzine's proposed budget cuts for fiscal year 2009. The cuts mandate reductions in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) budget. An $8.8 million dollar reduction in the $34 million Parks Management General Fund appropriation is anticipated. This will result in complete closure and significantly reduced public access to state parks and historic sites all over the state:
Ringwood State Park (Partial Elimination of Services/ Closures) – Shepherd Lake
Recreation Area (swimming) would be closed. Ringwood Manor would have reduced
hours. Steuben House is currently closed. The State Botanical Gardens and Skylands
Manor would remain open.
D&R Canal State Park – (Partial Elimination of Services/Closures) Camping/office at
Bulls Island Recreation Area would be closed. Interpretive services would be suspended.
Rockingham Historic Site would remain open. The towpath will remain accessible to the
public.
Washington Crossing State Park (Partial Elimination of Services) –There would be a
40 percent reduction in interpretive staff resulting in significantly reduced hours of
operation at the Clarke House at Princeton Battlefield State Park, the Johnson Ferry
House and the museum.
Monmouth Battlefield State Park – (Full Elimination of Services/Closure) Visitor
center and restrooms would be closed.
Stephens State Park – (Full Elimination of Services/Closure) Camping area would be
closed. Stephens State Park is administered under Hopatcong State Park.
High Point State Park – (Full Elimination of Services/Closure) Swimming, camping
areas would be closed. Office and interpretive center would be closed. Access to
monument and some trails would be impacted.
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest – (Full Elimination of Services/Closure) Camping
area/park office/group picnic area would be closed. Indian King Tavern, administered by
Brendan Byrne State Forest, would be closed. Access to some trails would be impacted.
Round Valley Recreation Area – (Full Elimination of Services/Closure) Swimming,
camping, Wallace House/Old Dutch Parsonage and park office would be closed.
Parvin State Park – (Full Elimination of Services/Closure) Swimming, camping, park
office and interpretive center would be closed.
Jenny Jump State Forest – (Full Elimination of Services/Closure) Camping and park
office would be closed. Access to some trails would be impacted.
Worthington State Forest – (Full Elimination of Services/Closure) Camping and park
offices would be closed. Access to some trails would be impacted.
Fort Mott State Park – (Full Elimination of Services/Closures) Hancock House, park
office and other historic sites would be closed. Access to ferry service would be provided.
What You Can Do
1. Contact your legislators immediately and tell them that closing state parks and historic sites is not an acceptable way to resolve New Jersey's budget crisis! They should not approve a budget that includes drastic cuts to New Jersey’s natural and historic sites.
3. Participate in the Camp Out at the Capitol on April 23rd at 12:30 pm, organized by the Keep it Green coalition. For more information visit:
http://www.njkeepitgreen.org/index.htm
