PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
October 3, 2007
Contact:
John Malay, Media Coordinator, Keep It Green Coalition –
908.419.4264,
Eric Stiles, New Jersey Audubon Society908.240.9316,
Bernards Cape May &
Conservation Groups To Showcase
Open Space Preservation and Advocate For Ballot Question #3
Basking Ridge, NJ – Joined
by Somerset County Freeholder Denise Coyle and Bernards Mayor
Mary Pavlini, local officials and environmental activists met
at the Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead on King George Road to
urge New Jersey voters to approve statewide public question #3
the Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres, and Historic Preservation
Bond Act of 2007. The property highlights the great community
benefits of successful preservation in New Jersey, requiring local,
county, statewide, and nonprofit collaboration.
Purchased in 1999 with money from the Bernards Open Space Trust
Fund, the Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead has benefited from State,
county and local funding for on-going restoration projects. The
farmstead features an “English” barn, a distinct 18th
Century style. Portions of the original farm house are in the
process of restoration with funding from the New Jersey Historic
Trust. Other structures and out buildings on the property are
being evaluated for future restoration.
Mayor Mary Pavlini stated, “The Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead
represents a great example of the benefits of preservation partnerships
between many levels of government and private citizens. The Farmstead
as we see it today represents an on-going project funded by municipal,
county and state government, with contributions of time, effort
and money from private citizens and preservation professionals.
Without continued funding of the state’s preservation efforts,
projects like these will cease to exist and our historic heritage
will be lost forever.”
There are also critical wetlands on the property and it borders
the Passaic River, a source of drinking water for millions of
New Jersey residents. In addition to the farmstead, the property
has a municipal soccer field providing recreation facilities for
the town. Future plans potentially include a canoe launch along
the Passaic River. Without preservation funding made available
through the passage of public question #3 on this November’s
ballot these community benefits may never become a reality.
"Our landscape - with its rich heritage, diverse natural
habits, prime agricultural resources, and cultural and historic
significance - must be preserved to insure the quality of life
of our residents,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Denise
Coyle. “Preserving open space is a top priority for Somerset
County. In fact, we have one of the most aggressive open-space
preservation programs in the state. The county has already acquired
nearly 10,000 acres towards our goal of preserving 20,000 acres
of open space."
Township Engineer and project overseer Peter Messina and Director
of the non-profit Friends of the Farmstead, John Campbell also
spoke at the event. Comments from John Campbell, of Friends of
the Farmstead, the non-profit group leading the preservation,
highlighted the cooperative nature of state, county and local
government funding at the Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead as well
as the need to ensure the successful passage of public question
#3 on November 6th.
“These open spaces and historic sites provide recreational
opportunities for New Jersey’s citizens and visitors and
are critical to creating a high quality of life, livable communities
and sustainable economies in places like Bernards,” stated
Joanna Wolaver, Conservation Project Coordinator for New Jersey
Audubon Society
Passage of the Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres, and Historic
Preservation Bond Act of 2007 would allow vital preservation programs
at sites such as the KMS Farmstead to continue uninterrupted while
a long-term, stable funding source for the Garden State Preservation
Trust, which is quickly running out of money, can be identified
and secured.
“A ‘Yes’ vote on Ballot Question #3 is truly
an investment in our future,” explained Mark Zakutansky,
NJ ‘Keep It Green Campaign’ staff member, “With
additional grassroots support, and by expanding our campaign partners
and endorsements, the ‘Keep It Green Campaign’ plans
to reach every New Jersey voter and provide them with a clear
rationale for voting ‘Yes’ to protect New Jersey's
threatened natural and cultural resources before they are lost
forever,”
These funds will help protect and maintain our clean drinking
water; provide safe and attractive playgrounds and urban parks
for our children; preserve precious farmland to maintain our agricultural
heritage; finance the Blue Acres program to purchase flood prone
properties from willing sellers; and purchase and maintain the
State’s numerous historic sites. Preserving open space,
farmland, and historic sites supports our local economy by stabilizing
local property taxes and protecting our quality of life.
If approved by voters in November, the bond act will allow the
State Treasurer to issue general obligation bonds totaling $200
million with $109 million directed to the Green Acres program,
$73 million for farmland preservation, $12 million for the Blue
Acres program to purchase flood prone properties, and $6 million
for historic preservation purposes.
In order to allow municipalities like Bernards and counties like
Somerset to continue their open space, historic and farmland preservation
efforts, the ‘Keep It Green Campaign’ continues to
reach out to municipal governments, businesses and grassroots
organizations, through flyers, posters and resolutions of support,
to help spread the preservation message to New Jersey residents.
The successful passage of public question #3 will not only provide
$200 million in desperately needed funds to the Green Acres, Farmland,
Blue Acres, and Historic Preservation programs, but will send
a clear message that New Jersey voters overwhelmingly value the
continued protection of our state’s natural and cultural
heritage.
For more information on this ballot question, please visit www.NJKeepItGreen.org.
The New Jersey Keep It Green Campaign is
a coalition of over 90 organizations from across the state working
to ensure the passage of the Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres
and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007 this November. For
more information on how you can help, please visit www.NJKeepItGreen.org
or contact Mark Zakutansky at 609-392-5830 or
.
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