An Act appropriating $80,539,578 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and various Green Acres funds to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
“Constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues” means corporation business tax revenues dedicated pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the “Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund” for the acquisition or development of lands by local government units for recreation and conservation purposes in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).
“Densely or highly populated municipality” means a municipality with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile, or a population of at least 35,000 persons, according to the latest federal decennial census.
“Densely populated county” means a county with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census.
“Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund” means the fund established pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-19).
“Green Acres bond act” means P.L.2009, c.117, P.L.2007, c.119, P.L.1995, c.204, P.L.1992, c.88, P.L.1989, c.183, P.L.1987, c.265, and P.L.1983, c.354.
“Highly populated county” means a county with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census.
“Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund” means the fund established pursuant to section 6 of the “Preserve New Jersey Act,” P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48).
“Stewardship activity” means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of the “Preserve New Jersey Act,” P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-45).
2. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the following sums for the purpose of providing grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to section 4 of this act and for the purpose of providing grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to section 5 of this act:
a. $76,802,956 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues. Of the amount appropriated pursuant to this subsection, the sum of $2,170,956 is available due to interest earnings on the constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues; and
b. $3,736,622 from the “Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund” and any Green Acres fund established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act, made available due to loan repayments and interest earnings.
3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the “Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund” the sum of $76,802,956 to implement the provisions of this act.
4. a. The following planning incentive acquisition projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED
GOVERNMENT AMOUNT
UNIT
Oakland Boro Bergen Boro of Oakland Open Space $500,000
& Recreation Plan
River Vale Twp Bergen Watershed Property 500,000
Acquisition
Burlington County Burlington Planning Incentive 1,000,000
Bordentown Twp Burlington Bordentown Twp 500,000
Open Space Acq
Eastampton Twp Burlington Planning Incentive 111,500
Evesham Twp Burlington Planning Incentive 750,000
Medford Twp Burlington Open Space Incentive 500,000
Moorestown Twp Burlington Open Space 500,000
Preservation Plan
Mount Laurel Twp Burlington Mt Laurel 750,000
Acquisition Plan
Gibbsboro Boro Camden Greenway Acquisition 400,000
Caldwell Boro Essex Caldwell OSRP Update 250,000
Livingston Twp Essex Livingston Twp 500,000
Open Space Acquisition
Verona Twp Essex Verona Open 500,000
Space Acquisition
Gloucester County Gloucester Open Space Plan 1,000,000
Bethlehem Twp Hunterdon Open Space 500,000
Plan Implementation
Delaware Twp Hunterdon Open Space Acquisition 500,000
Kingwood Twp Hunterdon Open Space Plan 500,000
Raritan Twp Hunterdon Land Acquisition Plan 500,000
Readington Twp Hunterdon Greenway Incentive Plan 500,000
Union Twp Hunterdon Union Twp 500,000
Open Space Plan
Mercer County Mercer Mercer County 1,250,000
Planning Incentive
Hamilton Twp Mercer Hamilton Township 750,000
Open Space Acquisition
Lawrence Twp Mercer Open Space Plan Acquisition 500,000
Pennington Boro Mercer Pennington Greenbelt 375,000
Planning Incentive
Princeton Boro Mercer Princeton Open Space 500,000
Acquisition
Robbinsville Twp Mercer Green Links Program 500,000
West Windsor Twp Mercer West Windsor 500,000
Planning Incentive
Middlesex County Middlesex Middlesex County 1,250,000
Open Space Acquisition
North Brunswick Twp Middlesex North Brunswick Plan 750,000
South Brunswick Twp Middlesex Open Space Acquisition 750,000
Monmouth County Monmouth Planning Incentive Acquisition 1,250,000
Holmdel Twp Monmouth Holmdel Planning 500,000
Incentive Acquisition
Howell Twp Monmouth Planning Incentive 2 750,000
Millstone Twp Monmouth Millstone Planning Incentive- 500,000
Project Evergreen
Madison Boro Morris Madison Boro 500,000
Open Space Acquisition
Ocean County Ocean Planning Incentive Grant 1,000,000
Manchester Twp Ocean Planning Incentive 750,000
Point Pleasant Beach Ocean Open Space & Recreation 500,000
Boro Acquisition
Passaic County Passaic Open Space Plan 1,250,000
Acquisitions
Somerset County Somerset County Open Space 1,000,000
Acquisition
Bernardsville Boro Somerset Bernardsville Boro Open Space 500,000
& Recreation Land Acquisition
Montgomery Twp Somerset Open Space Acquisition 5 500,000
Peapack - Gladstone Boro Somerset Open Space Acquisition 500,000
Frankford Twp Sussex Frankford Twp 462,500
Planning Incentive
Union County Union Open Space & 1,500,000
Recreation Plan
TOTAL $29,349,000
b. The following projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes located in municipalities eligible to receive State aid pursuant to P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.), either as of June 30, 2021 or the effective date of this act, are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED
GOVERNMENT AMOUNT
UNIT
Bloomfield Twp Essex Third River $1,000,000
Park and Preserve
Union City Hudson 4100 Palisade Ave Acq 1,000,000
Rahway City Union East Cherry Street 179,000
Park Acq
TOTAL $2,179,000
c. The following standard acquisition projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED
GOVERNMENT AMOUNT
UNIT
East Rutherford Boro Bergen Richard Outwater $500,000
House Acq
Wood-Ridge Boro Bergen Wood-Ridge Recreation 750,000
Complex Acq
Edison Twp Middlesex Glendale Park Acq 750,000
Fair Haven Boro Monmouth Spagnuolo Acq 500,000
Lincoln Park Boro Morris Lincoln Park 213,518
Floodplain Acq
Mountainside Boro Union Our Lady of Lourdes Fields 478,000
TOTAL $3,191,518
d. The following site-specific incentive acquisition projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED
GOVERNMENT AMOUNT
UNIT
Lambertville City Hunterdon Closson Property Acq $500,000
Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp Morris Kosut Tract Acq 400,000
Hardwick Twp Warren White Lake Natural 265,000
Resource Area Addition
TOTAL $1,165,000
GRAND TOTAL $35,884,518
5. a. The following projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, located in municipalities eligible to receive State aid pursuant to P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.) either as of June 30, 2021 or the effective date of this act, or sponsored by densely populated counties, are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED
GOVERNMENT AMOUNT
UNIT
Atlantic City Atlantic Gardner’s Basin $596,450
Improvements
Pleasantville City Atlantic Bayview Avenue 633,333
Waterfront Park
Cliffside Park Boro Bergen Gorge Road Park 187,500
Improvements
Garfield City Bergen Columbus Park 1,200,000
Improvements
Hackensack City Bergen Columbus & Carver 1,200,000
Park Improvements
Burlington County Burlington Willingboro Lakes 1,000,000
Improvements Ph II
Pemberton Twp Burlington Pemberton Sports 1,200,000
Filed Lighting
Vineland City Cumberland Romano Complex 1,200,000
Improvements
Essex County Essex Multi-Park 1,519,525
Improvements 2021
Belleville Twp Essex Fairway Park 601,954
Improvements
Bloomfield Twp Essex Clarks Pond South & 503,160
Vassar Field Improvements
East Orange City Essex Oval Parks Improvements 1,200,000
Newark City Essex Broadway Park 1,200,000
Orange City Twp Essex Military Park 1,200,000
Improvements
Glassboro Boro Gloucester S. Delsea Dr. Sports 1,000,000
Complex Turf Project
Bayonne City Hudson DiDomenico Park & Pool 1,200,000
Hoboken City Hudson Cove Park 576,300
Waterfront Improvements
Hoboken City Hudson Southwest Park 1,200,000
Development
Jersey City Hudson Leonard Gordon Park 1,200,000
Kearny Town Hudson Harvey Field Improvement 1,200,000
Kearny Town Hudson Passaic River 1,200,000
Shoreline & Dock
Weehawkin Twp Hudson Waterfront Multi-Use 1,200,000
Pavilion II
West New York Town Hudson Washington Park 537,964
Improvement
Trenton City Mercer Amtico Square 1,200,000
Skatepark Complex
Carteret Boro Middlesex Arthur Kill River 1,200,000
Walk North
Old Bridge Twp Middlesex Cottrell Farm 1,200,000
Park Development
Perth Amboy City Middlesex Veteran Memorial Park 1,200,000
Improvements
Brick Twp Ocean Mallard Point Park 712,500
Redevelopment
Brick Twp Ocean Multi-Park 1,102,536
Improvements 2
Passaic County Passaic Dundee Island Park 1,800,000
Phase II
Passaic City Passaic Multi-Park Improvements 1,200,000
2021
Paterson City Passaic Vista Park Development 221,558
Project
Hillside Twp Union Athletic Courts 304,550
Resurfacing Project
Plainfield City Union Rushmore Ave. Rec. 1,200,000
Complex – Phase II
Roselle Boro Union Home Terrace Park 1,200,000
Improvement
TOTAL $35,297,330
b. The following projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, located in densely or highly populated municipalities or sponsored by highly populated counties, are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED
GOVERNMENT AMOUNT
UNIT
Egg Harbor Twp Atlantic Tony Canale Park $900,000
Expansion
Bergen County Bergen Riverside County 1,500,000
Park South
Fairview Boro Bergen Bergen Boulevard 90,000
Park
North Arlington Boro Bergen Fisher Field 117,683
Improvements
Wallington Boro Bergen Hathaway Park 219,384
Improvements
Ewing Twp Mercer ESCC Pool Area 524,390
Improvements
Freehold Boro Monmouth Liberty Park 127,243
Improvements
Highlands Boro Monmouth Snug Harbor Skate Park 599,013
Middletown Twp Monmouth Multi-Park 737,750
Improvements
Seaside Heights Boro Ocean North Bayfront 286,500
Boat Ramp
Bound Brook Boro Somerset Billian Legion 70,325
Park Development
TOTAL $5,172,288
c. The following standard park development projects are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED
GOVERNMENT AMOUNT
UNIT
Hamilton Twp Atlantic Leipe Recreation $600,000
Complex Expansion
Hazlet Twp Monmouth North Hazlet 600,000
Community Park
Carneys Point Salem Recreation Complex 600,000
Twp Improvements
TOTAL $1,800,000
d. The following projects for stewardship activities are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED
GOVERNMENT AMOUNT
UNIT
Evesham Twp Burlington Black Run Preserve $50,000
Stewardship
Cumberland County Cumberland Trail Development 486,060
on Mid-County Park
Belleville Twp Essex Fairway Park River 267,012
Bank Walkway
Washington Twp Gloucester Washington Lake Park – 315,000
Phase II
Westville Boro Gloucester Thomas West Park 65,540
Pond Improvements
Mercer County Mercer Watson’s Creek 150,000
Living Shoreline
Middletown Twp Monmouth Poricy Park Watershed 143,500
Improvements
Millstone Twp Monmouth Barnegat Bay Preserve 108,330
Passaic County Passaic Lambert Castle 500,000
Landscape Restoration
Bound Brook Boro Somerset North Park Project 300,000
TOTAL $2,385,442
GRAND TOTAL $44,655,060
6. a. Any transfer of funds, or change in project sponsor, site, or type, listed in section 4 or 5 of this act shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.
b. To the extent that moneys remain available after the projects listed in section 4 or 5 of this act are offered funding pursuant thereto, any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes, or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, shall be eligible to receive additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.
7. a. There is reappropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the unexpended balances, due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, of the amounts appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for the purposes of providing:
(1) grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to this act; and
(2) additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor. Any such additional funding provided from a Green Acres bond act may include administrative costs.
b. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection such sums as may be, or may become, available on or before June 30, 2022, due to interest earnings or loan repayments in any "Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act or in the "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund," for the purpose of providing:
(1) grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to this act; and
(2) additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor. Any such additional funding provided from a Green Acres bond act may include administrative costs.
8. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved January 18, 2022.