An Act appropriating $107,999,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and various Green Acres funds to assist local government units to acquire, develop, and conduct planning activities related to, lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
“Constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues” means corporation business tax revenues dedicated pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the “Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund” for the acquisition or development of lands by local government units for recreation and conservation purposes in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).
“Densely or highly populated municipality” means a municipality with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile, or a population of at least 35,000 persons, according to the latest federal decennial census.
“Densely populated county” means a county with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census.
“Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund” means the fund established pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-19).
“Green Acres bond act” means P.L.2009, c.117, P.L.2007, c.119, P.L.1995, c.204, P.L.1992, c.88, P.L.1989, c.183, P.L.1987, c.265, and P.L.1983, c.354.
“Highly populated county” means a county with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census.
“Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund” means the fund established pursuant to section 6 of the “Preserve New Jersey Act,” P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48).
“Stewardship activity” means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of the “Preserve New Jersey Act,” P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-45).
2. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the following sums for the purpose of providing grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to section 4 of this act and for the purpose of providing grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to section 5 of this act:
a. $52,679,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues. Of the amount appropriated pursuant to this subsection, the sum of $8,352,000 is available due to interest earnings on the constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues;
b. $13,000,000 from the “Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund” and any Green Acres fund established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act, made available due to loan repayments and interest earnings; and
c. $40,000,000 from the “Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund,” the “Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund,” and any Green Acres fund established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act, made available due to project cancellations and withdrawals.
3. a. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the “Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund” the sum of $54,999,000 to implement the provisions of this act.
b. Of the amount appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the sum of $2,320,000 is appropriated from the “Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund” to the Department of Environmental Protection for the purposes of paying administrative costs associated with administering the applicable provisions of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).
4. a. The following planning incentive acquisition projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
Local Government Unit County Project Approved Amount
Burlington County Burlington Planning Incentive $150,000
Cherry Hill Twp Camden Planning Incentive Grant $1,025,000
Clementon Boro Camden Open Space Acquisition $342,000
Gloucester Twp Camden Open Space Acquisition $2,000,000
Livingston Twp Essex Open Space Acquisition $362,000
Verona Twp Essex Open Space Acquisition $1,000,000
West Orange Twp Essex Open Space Acquisition $1,500,000
Gloucester County Gloucester Open Space Plan $2,000,000
Readington Twp Hunterdon Greenway Incentive Plan $1,000,000
Mercer County Mercer Planning Incentive $825,000
West Windsor Twp Mercer Planning Incentive $1,000,000
Monmouth County Monmouth Planning Incentive Acquisition $2,500,000
Millstone Twp Monmouth Planning Incentive $484,000
Denville Twp Morris Open Space Acquisition $700,000
Madison Boro Morris Open Space Acquisition $1,000,000
Mendham Twp Morris Open Space Acquisition $546,000
Point Pleasant Beach Boro Ocean Open Space & Recreation Acquisition $1,000,000
Somerset County Somerset County Open Space Acquisition $295,000
Montgomery Twp Somerset Open Space Acquisition $1,000,000
Warren County Warren Open Space Plan $665,000
Knowlton Twp Warren Open Space Acquisition $565,000
Total $19,959,000
b. The following projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes, located in municipalities eligible to receive State aid pursuant to P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.) either as of June 30, 2021 or the effective date of this act, or sponsored by densely populated counties, are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
Local Government Unit County Project Approved Amount
Bloomfield Twp Essex Third River Park and Preserve $2,000,000
Neptune Twp Monmouth Division Street Park Acquisition $86,000
Total $2,086,000
c. The following site-specific incentive acquisition projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
Local Government Unit County Project Approved Amount
Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp Morris Kosut Tract Acquisition $382,000
Total $382,000
Grand Total, Acquisition $22,427,000
5. a. The following projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, located in municipalities eligible to receive State aid pursuant to P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.) either as of June 30, 2021 or the effective date of this act, or sponsored by densely populated counties, are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
Local Government Unit County Project Approved Amount
Atlantic City Atlantic Dolphin Field Improvements $1,330,000
Bergenfield Boro Bergen Twin Boro Park Improvements $673,000
Project – Phase 3
Garfield City Bergen Columbus Park Improvements $2,000,000
Hackensack City Bergen Foschini Park Improvements $1,152,000
Pennsauken Twp Camden Stockton Park Improvements $770,000
Vineland City Cumberland Romano Complex Improvements $1,313,000
Essex County Essex Irvington Park Improvements $1,916,000
Belleville Twp Essex Municipal Stadium $680,000
Grandstand Improvements
East Orange City Essex Oval Park Improvements $2,000,000
Montclair Twp Essex Mountainside Park Improvements $1,867,000
Monroe Twp Gloucester Amphitheater at Owens Memorial Park $1,302,000
Hudson County Hudson James J. Braddock Park Nature Trail $2,099,000
Bayonne City Hudson Veterans Park Shoreline $605,000
Restoration & Resiliency
Hoboken City Hudson 800 Monroe Resiliency Park Project $500,000
Union City Hudson Ellsworth Park Improvements $1,400,000
Weehawken Twp Hudson Waterfront Multi-Use Pavilion II $2,000,000
Trenton City Mercer Assunpink Greenway Park Development $2,000,000
Perth Amboy City Middlesex Veteran Memorial Park Improvements $2,000,000
Brick Twp Ocean Windward Beach $405,000
Playground Rehabilitation
Passaic City Passaic Third Ward Veterans Memorial $985,000
Park Improvements
Salem City Salem Salem City Pool Recreational Area $573,000
Union County Union Improvements at Wheeler Spray Park $1,575,000
Total $29,145,000
b. The following projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, located in densely or highly populated municipalities or sponsored by highly populated counties, are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
Local Government Unit County Project Approved Amount
Egg Harbor Twp Atlantic Veteran's Memorial Park $139,000
Improvements – Phase I
Bergen County Bergen Riverside County Park South $2,500,000
New Milford Boro Bergen Williams Field Lighting $148,000
Teaneck Twp Bergen Argonne Park Restroom & $375,000
Splash Pad Improvements
West Caldwell Twp Essex Grover Cleveland Field Improvements $1,500,000
Edison Twp Middlesex Angels Field Improvement Project $1,050,000
North Brunswick Twp Middlesex Sabella Park Field House $832,000
Sayreville Boro Middlesex Bailey Park Improvements $975,000
Keyport Boro Monmouth Fireman's Park Improvements $872,000
Dover Town Morris Waterworks Splash Water Park $400,000
Toms River Twp Ocean Deer Hollow Park Improvements $707,000
Passaic County Passaic Peckman Preserve Improvements $2,018,000
North Plainfield Boro Somerset Green Acres Park Inclusive Playground $435,000
Total $11,951,000
c. The following standard park development projects are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
Local Government Unit County Project Approved Amount
Hamilton Twp Atlantic Liepe Recreation Complex $1,000,000
Somers Point City Atlantic Bike Path Improvements $342,000
Burlington City Burlington 6th Street Park Improvements $955,000
Burlington Twp Burlington Amenity Expansions at $1,000,000
Green Acres II
Greenwich Twp Gloucester Memorial Park Improvements $1,000,000
Woolwich Twp Gloucester Locke Ave Park Improvement Project $1,000,000
Little Falls Twp Passaic Amity Field Park Improvements $84,000
Carneys Point Twp Salem Recreation Complex Improvements $511,000
Alpha Boro Warren Walking Trail Phase 1 $746,000
Total $6,638,000
d. The following projects for stewardship activities are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
Local Government Unit County Project Approved Amount
West Orange Twp Essex Vincent's Pond Improvements $906,000
Mercer County Mercer Rosedale Lake Restoration and $105,000
Enhancement
Middlesex Boro Middlesex Victor Crowell Park Stewardship $76,000
Improvements
Passaic County Passaic Lambert Castle Historic Landscape $2,500,000
Restoration II
Somerset County Somerset Green Knoll Golf Course Hydro-raking $174,000
Union County Union Deserted Village Improvements $191,000
Linden City Union Wilson Pond Restoration $295,000
Total $4,247,000
e. The following projects for completely inclusive playgrounds, pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2018, c.104 (C.13:8C-27.1), are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
Local Government Unit County Project Approved Amount
Brigantine City Atlantic East Shore Drive $750,000
Inclusive Playground
Hammonton Town Atlantic Jake's Law Playground at $745,000
Hammonton Lake Park
Somers Point City Atlantic JFK Park Inclusive Playground $423,000
Bergen County Bergen Pascack Brook County Park CIP $1,000,000
East Rutherford Boro Bergen Anthony Gallo Park $544,000
Fort Lee Boro Bergen Constitution Park Playground $693,000
Improvements Project
Franklin Lakes Boro Bergen Pulis Avenue Jake’s Law Playground $750,000
Garfield City Bergen Garden Court East Park Project $496,000
Rutherford Boro Bergen Tamblyn Together $536,000
Teaneck Twp Bergen Votee Park Inclusive $750,000
Playground Improvements
Maple Shade Twp Burlington Improvements to Buttonwood Park $750,000
Moorestown Twp Burlington Full Throttle IP at Wesley Bishop Park $750,000
Camden County Camden New Camden Park Playground $883,000
Gloucester Twp Camden Jake's Law Playground $750,000
Valleybrook Complex
Lower Twp Cape May Jake's Law Playground at Rotary Park $750,000
Stone Harbor Boro Cape May 82nd St. Jakes Law Playground $750,000
Nutley Twp Essex Father Glotzbach Park $403,000
Inclusive Playground
West Orange Twp Essex Colgate Park Playground $503,000
Bayonne City Hudson Improvements to North Street Park $534,000
Hoboken City Hudson Tom Olivieri Park Improvement Project $750,000
Secaucus Town Hudson Schmidt's Woods Park $630,000
Inclusive Playground
Mercer County Mercer Rosedale Park Inclusive Playground $938,000
Trenton City Mercer Inclusive Playground at Franklin Park $750,000
Carteret Boro Middlesex Carteret Park Inclusive Playground $750,000
North Brunswick Twp Middlesex Sabella Park Inclusive Playground $642,000
Perth Amboy City Middlesex Truxton Park Inclusive Playground $750,000
Sayreville Boro Middlesex Bailey Park Inclusive Playground $750,000
South River Boro Middlesex Volunteer Memorial Park $750,000
Inclusive Playground
Fair Haven Boro Monmouth McCarter Park Inclusive Playground $750,000
Red Bank Boro Monmouth Marine Park Playground Improvement $750,000
Spring Lake Boro Monmouth Divine Park Inclusive Playground $750,000
Beach Haven Boro Ocean Together We Play $750,000
Lavalette Boro Ocean Chandler Park Jake's Law Improvements $652,000
Pine Beach Boro Ocean Vista Park Inclusive Playground $750,000
Toms River Twp Ocean Clifton Avenue Park Inclusive $750,000
Playground
Passaic County Passaic Weasel Brook Park Playground $850,000
Replacement
Pennsville Twp Salem Riverview Beach Park Inclusive $750,000
Playground
Union County Union Improvements at Unami Park $1,000,000
Linden City Union George L. Milkosky Jake's Law $590,000
Playground
Plainfield City Union Hannah Atkins Completely $459,000
Inclusive Playground
Total $28,271,000
Grand Total, Development $80,252,000
6. The department shall utilize $3 million of the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act to establish a Planning Grant program, the purpose of which shall be to provide matching grants to local governments to fund the preparation of plans and other activities necessary to identify needs and opportunities for additional recreation and conservation initiatives in the State. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection e. of section 6 of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48) or any other law to the contrary, the distribution of grant funds pursuant to this section shall not require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee.
7. a. Any transfer of funds, or change in project sponsor, site, or type, listed in section 4 or 5 of this act shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.
b. To the extent that moneys remain available after the projects listed in section 4 or 5 of this act are offered funding pursuant thereto, any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes, or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, shall be eligible to receive additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.
8. a. There is reappropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the unexpended balances, due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, of the amounts appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for the purposes of providing:
(1) grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to this act; and
(2) additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor. Any such additional funding provided from a Green Acres bond act may include administrative costs.
b. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection such sums as may be, or may become, available on or before June 30, 2025, due to interest earnings or loan repayments in any "Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act or in the "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund," for the purpose of providing:
(1) grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to this act; and
(2) additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor. Any such additional funding provided from a Green Acres bond act may include administrative costs.
9. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved August 4, 2025.