Contact: Michelle Peal
C: (908) 313-4178

Stockton, NJ — The Keep It Green coalition is celebrating two powerful milestones in New Jersey’s conservation story: the 50th Anniversary of the D&R Canal State Park and Historic Preservation investments under 10 Years of CBT dedication, which has helped protect and preserve our open spaces, parks, farmland, and historic sites. Together, these anniversaries highlight how far the Garden State has come in protecting its natural and cultural treasures, and how important it is to continue that work for generations to come.
The Delaware & Raritan Canal, once a vital transportation route for coal and freight, has long been transformed into one of New Jersey’s most beloved state parks. Stretching for 70 miles across the state, the canal connects communities, provides recreation for millions of visitors each year, and serves as a living reminder of New Jersey’s industrial and cultural heritage. Sites like the historic Prallsville Mill—nestled alongside the canal—showcase the importance of preservation in maintaining the character and beauty of the state.

“From the Delaware & Raritan Canal to the Prallsville Mill, historic preservation and open space investments are the lifeblood of New Jersey’s quality of life,” said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director of New Jersey LCV and Chair of Keep It Green. “Thanks to the dedicated support of New Jersey voters and our legislators, we’ve been able to safeguard the places that make our state special for generations to come with nearly $2.5 billion of voter approved constitutionally dedicated investments. Today we not only honor that progress and thank the voters, but also recommit ourselves to ensuring a vibrant future for our parks, open spaces, farmland, and
historic treasures.”

But these achievements didn’t happen by chance. They are the result of decades of advocacy, voter action, and sustained state commitment to preservation funding. In 2007 and 2009, New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved preservation bonds totaling $600 million. Building on that momentum, in 2014 voters passed a constitutional amendment dedicating 6% of the CBT to open space, farmland, and historic preservation—ensuring stable, long-term funding for these critical investments. That dedication now generates approximately $48 million annually and has already delivered nearly $2.5 billion for preservation across the state.

“So much of the rich tapestry of New Jersey’s history can be found in protected landscapes and historic treasures like Prallsville Mills and the D&R Canal State Park,” said Anthony Cucchi, Director of Programs for NJ Conservation Foundation. “Thanks to the foresight of New Jersey voters consistently supporting open space ballot measures and the dedicated funding in place to continue this important work, we can look forward to conserving more of our history for future generations to learn from.

“An unoccupied historic building is destroyed by benign neglect,” said Robert Barth, Board Trustee for D&R Canal Watch. “The C&O Canal’s Quarters program has saved seven historic buildings and earned $72,000.”

“We are thrilled to participate in celebrating 10 years of CBT dedication,” said Andrea Mergentime, Vice President for Prallsville Mills Conservancy. “As one of the only extant 19th century mill complexes on the Delaware River, we recently benefited from a NJ Historical Trust planning grant redefining our mission statement, to preserve the Prallsville Mills, interpret its history and foster its use for educational, cultural, community and recreational activities. We look forward to continued cooperation and collaboration with the Keep It Green Coalition.”

For many communities, especially those without abundant resources, CBT funding has been the difference between a crumbling historic site and a revitalized cultural landmark, or between degraded open space and a thriving community park. Preservation dollars have supported projects that protect clean drinking water, expand outdoor access, and preserve New Jersey’s diverse history, whether it’s through farmland easements, restored mill buildings, or revitalized state parks.

Keep It Green, a coalition of more than 150 conservation and historic preservation organizations, has been at the forefront of these efforts for more than 25 years. By uniting advocates, securing bipartisan legislative support, and engaging voters across the state, the coalition has turned “The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection appreciates and continues to do great things with the land acquisition and park development funding made available through the Preserve New Jersey Act,” said Martha Sullivan Sapp, Director of the NJDEP’s Green Acres Program. “Whether by preserving open space or providing places for people to play, our investments are having a profound positive impact on the quality of life in communities across New Jersey.”

“A portion of the revenue from New Jersey’s Corporation Business Tax (CBT) is constitutionally dedicated to open space, recreation, farmland, and historic preservation,” said Robert von Zumsbuch, President for the Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway Board of Trustees. “While many are aware of the role of the CBT in providing funding for open space and recreation, few are aware of the importance of funding for historic preservation and agriculture.

The creation of contiguous multi-resource corridors such as that of the D&R Canal State Park provide a richer experience for all users.”

Still, challenges remain. New Jersey’s state parks and historic sites face ongoing needs for maintenance and infrastructure upgrades. With visitation rising, demand for clean, safe, and accessible outdoor spaces has never been greater. That’s why Keep It Green is leading the Fix Our Parks campaign, calling for renewed investment to ensure that treasured places like the D&R Canal and Prallsville Mill continue to thrive in the decades to come.

As the coalition looks back on 50 years of the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park and 10 years of CBT dedication, it also looks forward with a renewed commitment to protecting New Jersey’s open spaces, waterways, historic sites, and farmland for the next generation.

About Keep It Green
Keep It Green is New Jersey’s largest coalition of conservation and historic preservation organizations—more than
150 strong—working to secure sustainable funding to protect and preserve New Jersey’s open spaces, waterways,
farmland, and historic sites. Since its founding, Keep It Green has helped secure billions of dollars in state funding
for land and historic preservation.