PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:
October 9, 2007

Contact:
Mark Zakutansky, Staff Member, NJ Keep It Green
609.392.5830 (office), 551.427.0974 (cell)

Historic Stockton School to Highlight Preservation Efforts

Event to Showcase Open Space and Historic Site to Demonstrate Critical Need for the Passage of Ballot Question #3 This November 6th

STOCKTON, NJ – Today, distinguished elected officials including State Senator Leonard Lance and Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow joined Hunterdon County Freeholders, local officials, concerned citizens and environmental organizations in urging the public to approve statewide public question #3 this November in order to continue successful open space and historic preservation programs.

“It is critically important that the people of New Jersey support question number 3 on the ballot this November. This is essential bridge funding of $200 million not only for Green Acres and Farmland, but also for Blue Acres and Historic Preservation,” stated Senator Leonard Lance, district 23.

The event was held at the historic Stockton School, recently listed on the Nation Registry of Historic Places. The Stockton School is a “Walkable School” and is an excellent working example of adaptive use of a Historic Structure. Proposed current renovations to restore and maintain this vital cultural, educational and historic landmark hinge upon the future availability of preservation funding made possible through public question #3, the Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres, and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007.

As Chief School Administrator for the Stockton Borough School, Suzanne Ivans shared, “In the world of education you are given many chances – we tell our students to persevere and to keep trying until they get it right. But when it comes to preservation efforts – there is no second chance. Once a historic structure is beyond repair, you can never bring it back; once a piece of land is developed, a natural habitat is lost forever. These are more than just “things.” They are a legacy for our children; a way of preserving a piece of their history.”

As Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow, district 23, explained, “I am proud to be participating in this important event and urge the public to approve the statewide public question this November. Having been personally involved in farmland and open space preservation for more than a decade, I have always supported the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund and believe that protecting New Jersey's natural and historic resources and agriculture should be one of the State's highest priorities.”

The event also discussed the recent preservation efforts of the “Captain John Anderson Forest”, formerly known as the “MyBen” property, adjacent to the school. This site, located along the Delaware River, was purchased in 2004 by the borough with money from state and county funding sources. This collaborative effort was successful in protecting this 44-acre tract which had been slated for residential development. Local governing officials and concerned residents in Stockton reached out to the state Green Acres program and to Hunterdon County to successfully preserve this tract as open space. Increased development in Stockton would have added a substantial increase in traffic congestion, storm water runoff and an overcrowding of the historic Stockton School for this small town nestled along a bend in the Delaware River. Without funding from the Green Acres program this vital piece of property would have been lost forever.

“Preservation projects like this occur because of partnerships--private and public entities combining resources to make it happen. Preservation in New Jersey works because funding is leveraged from a multitude of sources. Since 1999, 225 municipalities and 21 counties have established open space and farmland preservation funding programs. Without the state matching grants that the Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007 will provide, these local sources of preservation funding will become ineffective and we risk losing the race for preservation in our state,” commented Margaret Waldock, Executive Director of the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance.

“The preservation of My Ben is a tribute to the forward thinking and planning of Gregg Rackin when he was Mayor of Stockton,” explained Hunterdon County Freeholder Ron Sworen. “Preserving My Ben not only preserved a major ground water recharge area and forest for Stockton but also allowed us to keep CR523 a country road. The planned project would have caused the widening of CR523, a turning lane, and probably a traffic signal, in short a mini-RT202 or 31. That would have forever changed Stockton. Hunterdon County's contribution to the purchase will save taxpayers that cost at least 10 times over.”

Passage of the Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres, and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007 would allow vital preservation programs such as those in Stockton to continue 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.

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.

As Hunterdon County Freeholder Erik C. Peterson explained, “All of Hunterdon County officials, past and present, from State Senator Lance, Assemblyman Doherty and Assemblywoman Karrow, the Freeholder Board and Municipal officials in Stockton and throughout all 26 Municipalities in the county have been and continue to be dedicated to preserving Hunterdon County’s rural character and the natural resources that make Hunterdon County the jewel of New Jersey. We are blessed in Hunterdon to have private not for profit organizations like the New Jersey Audubon, New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the Hunterdon Land Trust Association working with us to achieve these goals. However, our work is not done and, therefore, I encourage everyone who believes that it is important to the well being of New Jersey that we, as a State, continue to purchase open space and farmland vote for Public Question 3.

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.

"Major partnership projects like the My Ben acquisition will not be possible in the future without the passage of Ballot Question #3," added Amy Hansen, Policy Analyst NJCF.

In order to allow municipalities like Stockton and counties like Hunterdon to continue their open space, historic and farmland preservation efforts through this collaborative, 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 ‘Vote Yes’ 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 .

###

‹Back to News