Governor pushes parks in cities, to strengthen communities 

 

(HOBOKEN) – Pointing to the project as a model for future efforts to strengthen New Jersey’s communities, Governor James E. McGreevey today participated in the official groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Jackson Street Park.

 

“Today, we are taking action to replace an unused eyesore with a park that this community can enjoy,” said Governor McGreevey, who was joined by Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley Campbell and Hoboken Mayor David Roberts. “The Jackson Street Park project is part of a broader initiative to strengthen New Jersey’s communities by steering infrastructure spending their way, by redeveloping brownfields, and by creating parks and open space that families can enjoy.”

 

“This is an exciting day for Hoboken and this neighborhood,” said Mayor Roberts. “It is a victory for all of us when we can reclaim an underutilized property and turn it into a recreational facility for everyone’s enjoyment. We are meeting the unique challenge of bringing additional open space to an urban community.”

 

"Governor McGreevey has put New Jersey on a clear course to combat sprawl and improve the quality of life for all its residents, particularly in our urban cities," said Commissioner Campbell. "We are pleased to fund the Jackson Street Park and are committed to supporting local parks in urban and suburban areas throughout the state.  We fully recognize that to win the battle against sprawl, we must make our cities more appealing places to live - with healthier air, cleaner water and more parks and open space."

 

The innovative park will be constructed in the roofless shell of a century-old public works garage, which will maintain its historic façade. The 5,000 square foot park is designed to be enjoyed by residents of all ages. In addition to traditional landscaping, the park will feature a fountain, game tables, and a climbing wall. The construction of Jackson Street Park will be entirely funded by the Green Acres program.

 

In his State of the State address, Governor McGreevey outlined ways the State can help target new development to urban centers and older suburbs, control sprawl, and protect the State’s most valuable natural resources, including:

·         Preserving 20,000 acres of farmland a year to preserve rural areas.

·         Creating or upgrading 200 local parks and adding at least two state parks in the next three years and planting 100,000 new trees across the Garden State.

·         Devoting at least an additional $100 million over the next three years—a 15 percent increase—to open space protection in areas such as the Highlands.

·         Creating an incentive for conservation by implementing a limited time capital gains tax waiver for landowners who sell their property to the State’s open space program.

 

The Governor also stated his unequivocal commitment to combating over-development and sprawl by giving local governments the power they need to fight developers and protect their residents, including:

·         Empowering towns with the legal and zoning tools to control and manage future development.

·         Allowing municipalities to impose a one-year building moratorium.

·         Establishing impact fees so that developers, not taxpayers, bear the burdens for the cost of new roads and schools.

·         Making county and regional planning authorities more effective and professional since the negative impacts of development are not limited to the boundaries of individual towns.