A picture may be worth a thousand words, but how many pictures would it take to capture the beauty of preserving 650,000 acres of open space and parks in New Jersey over the past 50 years?
That is the challenge the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is putting into the shutter-happy hands of residents and visitors, asking them to capture their favorite Green Acres Program properties in a digital photography contest in conjunction with the 50th anniversary celebration of the first Green Acres bond referendum. The theme of the anniversary is “Green Acres: It’s all yours,” according to a press release from the DEP.
The photo contest has launched in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the first Green Acres Bond Act by Gov. Robert B. Meyner. Since that first bond referendum was signed on June 3, 1961, voters have approved every bond act put before them, resulting in the protection of 650,000 acres of open space and the development of hundreds of outdoor recreational facilities, according to the DEP.
DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said in the press release, “I am extremely proud of everything the Green Acres Program has accomplished and the support voters have shown for open space over the years. I encourage everyone, young and old, to pick up their digital cameras and photograph their favorite Green Acres sites and the people who are using them. I am sure this experience will open a lot of eyes by creating new appreciation for these special places.”
Virtually every community in New Jersey has been touched by the Green Acres Program, according to the DEP.
“Properties protected with the help of Green Acres bond money are all around us, from playgrounds, athletic fields, boat launches and fishing piers to hiking trails, wildlife habitats and nature centers,” Richard Boornazian, administrator of the Green Acres program, said in the press release. “The greatest challenge of this contest is not in finding excellent photo opportunities, for they are everywhere, but in deciding where to start.”
The contest is open to anyone 6 years of age or older. The goal is to photograph a New Jersey park or open space property that is preserved with Green Acres funds. Many of these properties are marked with distinctive green and white “Green Acres” signs emblazoned with a Mercer oak tree.
In addition to hundreds of municipal and county projects such as parks and playgrounds, most state parks, state forests and wildlife management areas have been funded with Green Acres money. Green Acres money has also been used to help nonprofit groups with park and open space projects, according to the DEP.
Participants in the contest are encouraged to enter photos in any or all three categories of the contest.
The first category is for photos of people recreating or playing in parks preserved or developed with Green Acres funding. The second category is for photos of natural landscapes that capture the scenic beauty of Green Acres funded properties. The third category is for close-up photos of plants, trees, animals, leaves, rocks, water and other natural aspects of Green Acresfunded properties.
Each person may enter one photo per category. Entries must be submitted electronically by visiting www.state.nj.us/dep/ga50/50photo.htm
Entries will be judged according to three age categories: 6-12, 13-17 and 18 and older.
The deadline for submissions is Oct. 16. Prizes and certificates will be awarded to the winners at a public ceremony. Winning photos will be displayed at parks throughout the state. For further help identifying a Green Acres property, visit the website at www.nj.gov/dep/ga50.