Murphy Finally Releases Funds for Urban Parks & Watershed Protections

Governor Murphy released the $12 million for urban parks and programs from reserve. In July, Governor Murphy put $235 million worth of projects into reserve until the state had come up with money to pay the funding. One of those projects included $4 million for Urban Parks, $4 for the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, $250,000 for the Morris Canal Park, $3 million for Irvington Township Camp Irvington Repair and Redevelopment and $125,000 for the Bellville Recreation Program, and $1,100,000 for the Franklin Twp. Stream Restoration.

“Governor Murphy is finally releasing funds for urban parks and watershed protections in New Jersey. Money had been held for 6 months for important projects like fixing streams in Franklin Township and funding Belville’s Recreational program. New Jersey’s parks, especially those in urban areas like Irvington, have been suffering for years from declining funding and repairs left undone. It’s good that the money is out of reserve, but it should have never been held in the first place. Hopefully the treasurer will use money and send checks out soon to build these projects in a timely fashion,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

Governor Murphy held $3 million for Irvington Township Camp Irvington Repair and Redevelopment. The program provides year round programs of wholesome recreational activities for all of the Township of Irvington’s residents.

“The Irvington recreational program in the Highlands is a camp for kids to learn and understand nature. This park is one of their only sanctuaries to escape from the It is shameful that Murphy froze critical funding for recreational programs like these. Hopefully now that the money is out of reserves, the camp can get new bathrooms by next season,” said Tittel.

Parks and open spaces in many of the state’s suburban and rural areas are prevalent while urban areas continue to suffer. Funding inequities continue to enhance those disparities in green spaces. Residents in many lower-income and minority communities must travel significant differences just to go to a park or find an open swimming area.

“For years state parks and parks in urban areas have been significantly underfunded. It is critical that the Murphy Administration and the state legislature find a more equitable way to fund our parks and open spaces. Fast-growing places like Jersey City and New Brunswick need more funding for their parks. We need money to open new parks and plant trees and restore natural habitats in the parks we have. We need more money for capital improvements in all of our parks. That will require a more stable source of funding. There are 17 million people a year visiting parks in New Jersey, generating $4 billion in tourism revenue. That’s why we need to invest more,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.