State money to go toward the Thompson Park III project.
By: Al Wicklund
MONROE Gov. James McGreevey signed six bills last week that will provide $110 million for open space and park improvement projects, including $400,000 for the expansion of Thompson Park, a project called Thompson Park III.
The money will support the efforts of the township and Middlesex County to extend the park along Buckelew Avenue.
The governor signed the bills June 24.
"Thompson Park III is the extension that covers the area including the Hawthorne Acres tract by Farmer Al’s off Route 522," Township Engineer Ernie Feist said Wednesday.
In a press release, the governor said Monroe, in cooperation with Middlesex County, plans to acquire 156.4 acres of forested lands and farmland adjacent to Thompson Park.
"Recently, the township has worked with county officials and Green Acres to preserve close to 1,000 acres of lands in the central portion of Monroe," Gov. McGreevey said.
He said the additional acreage will preserve the integrity of land between two large greenbelts. He said portions of this land are heavily forested with sloped areas along a stream corridor containing many trees greater than 42 inches in diameter.
"An existing sanitary sewer easement will provide excellent hiking and cycling trails linking Route 522 to the boundaries of Thompson Park. The township’s goal is to keep this area as open green space and use it for passive recreation further protecting and promoting recreation in Monroe Township," the governor said.
Micah Rasmussen, a spokesman for the governor, said Middlesex County also will receive $750,000 in planning-incentive grants.
"The benefit of these grants is that, once Green Acres officials approve a plan, local governments can acquire identified sites without having to file separate, site-specific applications. Also, funding may be increased as the local government makes significant progress in its acquisition efforts," Mr. Rasmussen said.
The Green Acres Program was created in 1961 to meet New Jersey’s growing recreational and conservation needs.
To date, Green Acres has protected 517,571 acres of open space and developed hundreds of public parks, bringing the statewide system of preserved open space to more than 1.2 million acres of open space and farmland, Mr. Rasmussen said.