Land preservation’s fate in hands of state’s voters

Corzine signs Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres and Historic Preservation Act for 2007

By John Tredrea
   Hailed by open space advocates from the Hopewell Valley area and elsewhere throughout the state was Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s Tuesday afternoon signing of the Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres and Historic Preservation Act for 2007.
   This legislation places a question on the Nov. 6 ballot that asks New Jersey voters to authorize the state to issue $200 million in general obligation bonds to fund the state’s successful Garden State Preservation Trust programs for one year. If approved by the voters, the money will be used to preserve open space, farmland and historic sites, and also fund the state program that purchases flood-prone properties.
   The governor signed the act at the headquarters of the Delaware & Raritan Greenway Land Trust, in Princeton Township near Hopewell Township’s eastern border.
   Moments before signing, the Gov. Corzine declared that efforts to preserve land as open space, farmland and historic sites must continue. Blue Acres funding will be earmarked for lands in danger of flooding. "It is absolutely our duty to make sure that our heritage in this regard be passed from one generation to the next," the governor said before signing the bill before state, county and municipal officials and area residents. Legislators on hand included state Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, R-23th, of Flemington and state Sen. Shirley Turner, D-15th.
   "Since 1989, D&R Greenway Land Trust has led the preservation of 178 properties 9,750 acres — nearly all of them acquired with funds provided by the Garden State Preservation Trust. We are grateful to Gov. Corzine for signing this act and encourage voters to continue to support public funding of land preservation," said Linda J. Mead, executive director of D&R Greenway Land Trust. The Garden State Preservation Trust is "an extraordinary program," the governor said.
   Jack Koeppel, a lifelong Valley resident and longtime member of the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, works for the D&R now as an art curator. Mr. Koeppel owned and operated Queenstown Gallery in Pennington for decades. "To me, it’s very significant that this legislation is being reintroduced," Mr. Koeppel said at the signing. "It’s more clear now where the governor stands on this issue, which is an important one for the area including Princeton and the Hopewell Valley."
   Among many other open space projects, the D&R Greenway was the lead agency in the recent successful effort to preserve, as open space, the 330-plus acre St. Michael’s tract, in Hopewell Township near Hopewell Borough.
   "This Bond Act is a down payment on the future of New Jersey," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "This will keep the green in Green Acres and is our number one election priority."
   "We applaud Gov. Corzine and the state Legislature for putting this important issue before New Jersey voters," said Tom Gilbert of The Wilderness Society. "New Jersey’s wild places and open spaces are disappearing fast and this is an investment in our children’s future that we can’t afford not to make."
   "Voters want to fund clean water, urban parks, open space and preserved farms and now they get the chance. From the Highlands to the Pinelands and the Jersey Shore and from Newark’s Weequahic Park to Trenton’s Old Barracks, all of New Jersey will benefit as we continue down the road to stable, long-term, and increased funding of these programs," said David Pringle of the NJ Environmental Federation.
   "This ballot question comes not a moment too soon — with the voter’s approval, it will enable New Jersey’s preservation programs to continue for another year," said Alison Mitchell, director of policy at the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.