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SENATE, No. 4423 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 222nd LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED JUNE 4, 2026 Sponsored by: Senator JOHN F. MCKEON District 27 (Essex and Passaic) Senator LATHAM TIVER District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington) Assemblywoman MARISA SWEENEY District 25 (Morris and Passaic) Assemblywoman CARMEN THERESA MORALES District 34 (Essex) Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer) Co-Sponsored by: Senators Timberlake, Johnson, Wimberly, Gopal, McKnight, Holzapfel, Polistina, Amato, Henry, O'Scanlon, Testa, Bramnick, Corrado, Steinhardt, Space, Singer, Pennacchio, Schepisi, Assemblymen Freiman and Bhalla SYNOPSIS Appropriates $77,406,208 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects, and for certain administrative expenses. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced. An Act appropriating $77,406,208 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and various Green Acres funds to assist local government units to acquire and develop 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. $43,665,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues. Of the amount appropriated pursuant to this subsection, the sum of $8,276,000 is available due to interest earnings on the constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues; b. $11,880,000 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. $19,998,708 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 $45,527,500 to implement the provisions of this act. b. Of the amount appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the sum of $1,862,500 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 $1,316,115 Evesham Township Burlington Planning Incentive $405,000 Gloucester Township Camden Open Space Acquisition $205,000 Livingston Township Essex Open Space Acquisition $900,000 Verona Township Essex Open Space Acquisition $900,000 West Orange Township Essex Open Space Acquisition $1,350,000 Gloucester County Gloucester Open Space Plan $1,800,000 Kingwood Township Hunterdon Open Space Plan $650,000 Raritan Township Hunterdon Land Acquisition Plan $650,000 Readington Township Hunterdon Greenway Incentive Plan $900,000 West Windsor Township Mercer Planning Incentive $900,000 Monmouth County Monmouth Planning Incentive Acquisition $2,250,000 Colts Neck Township Monmouth Planning Incentive $900,000 Madison Borough Morris Open Space Acquisition $900,000 Mendham Township Morris Open Space Acquisition $900,000 Brick Township Ocean Open Space and Recreation Plan $1,752,250 Somerset County Somerset County Open Space Acquisition $334,000 Montgomery Township Somerset Open Space Acquisition $900,000 Peapack and Gladstone Borough Somerset Open Space Acquisition $412,000 Warren County Warren Open Space Plan $32,000 Knowlton Township Warren Open Space Acquisition $390,000 Total $18,746,365 b. The following standard 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 Fairview Borough Bergen 444 North 8th Street Acquisition $300,000 Wood-Ridge Borough Bergen Wood-Ridge Recreation Complex Acquisition $1,350,000 Riverside Township Burlington Riverdel Woodlands Acquisition $500,000 Total $2,150,000 c. 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 Hackensack City Bergen 155 Main Street Land Acquisition $1,400,000 Bloomfield Township Essex Bloomfield Township Third River Park and Preserve Acquisition $33,333 Neptune Township Monmouth Division St. Park Acquisition $126,000 Total $1,559,333 d. 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 Waldwick Borough Bergen 197 Wykoff Avenue Open Space Acquisition $700,000 Total $700,000 Grand Total, Acquisition $23,155,698 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 Camden City Camden Union Field Improvements $1,350,000 Gloucester Township Camden Community Park Improvements $1,325,000 Pennsauken Township Camden Lena Skelly Park Project $918,179 Bridgeton City Cumberland Improvements to Rec. Facilities in City Park $1,138,112 Vineland City Cumberland Howard Pagliughi Park Improvements $1,180,000 Essex County Essex Turtle Back Zoo African Adventure Exhibit $2,250,000 Belleville Township Essex Municipal Stadium Grandstand Improvements $1,500,000 East Orange City Essex Memorial Park Improvements $1,500,000 Montclair Township Essex Canterbury Park Improvements $1,500,000 Newark City Essex Broadway Park $489,000 Nutley Township Essex Monsignor Owens Park Facilities $398,580 Orange City Township Essex Metcalf Park Improvements $606,144 Glassboro Borough Gloucester Elsmere Park Improvements $1,022,305 Monroe Township Gloucester Amphitheater at Owens Memorial Park $1,269,045 Union City Hudson Ellsworth Park Improvements Phase 2 $1,400,000 Mercer County Mercer Harlan Joseph Peace Park $1,750,000 Carteret Borough Middlesex Arthur Kill River Walk North $1,500,000 Old Bridge Township Middlesex Ticetown Road Soccer Fields $1,400,000 Woodbridge Township Middlesex Ford Avenue Park Improvements $1,500,000 Neptune Township Monmouth Division St. Park Development $462,000 Passaic County Passaic North Pulaski Park Renovation Project $1,875,000 Clifton City Passaic Surgent Park Improvements $1,500,000 Passaic City Passaic Colonel Johnson Park Revitalization $1,170,000 Total $29,003,365 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 Bergen County Bergen Riverside County Park South $1,875,000 Englewood City Bergen Denning Park Improvements $1,050,000 New Milford Borough Bergen Kennedy Tennis Courts Improvement $421,292 Teaneck Township Bergen Sagamore Park Improvement Project $175,000 Audubon Borough Camden Audubon Family Park Improvements $500,000 Haddon Township Camden Crystal Lake Park Soccer Fields $105,225 Maplewood Township Essex Dehart Park Rec. Improvements $967,500 West Caldwell Township Essex Grover Cleveland Field Improvements $750,000 Ewing Township Mercer Completely Inclusive Playground $939,692 Middlesex County Middlesex Metuchen Trailhead Park $1,875,000 Red Bank Borough Monmouth Johnny Jazz Park Improvements $384,500 Morris County Morris Boonton Reservoir Trail $1,727,250 Somerset County Somerset Skillman Park Improvements $712,500 Linden City Union James Dobson Park Improvements $1,115,000 Total $12,597,959 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 Buena Borough Atlantic Bruno Melini Park Athletic Lighting $700,000 Hammonton Town Atlantic Hammonton Lake Park Rec. Improvements $750,000 Somers Point City Atlantic Kern and Fehrle Field Improvements $700,000 Burlington City Burlington William Allen School Park Improvements $750,000 Paulsboro Borough Gloucester Fort Billings Park Improvements $543,000 East Windsor Township Mercer Etra Lake Park Inclusive Playground $622,500 Eatontown Borough Monmouth Wolcott Park Court Renovations $476,702 Fair Haven Borough Monmouth Waterfront Access Park $318,750 Manasquan Borough Monmouth Axel Carson Park Improvements $750,000 Roxbury Township Morris Imagination Station $750,000 Beachwood Borough Ocean Mayo Park Recreation Improvements $337,335 Harvey Cedars Borough Ocean Sunset Park Waterfront Access $400,000 Lakehurst Borough Ocean Lake Horicon Inclusive Playground $700,000 Seaside Heights Borough Ocean Reflection Park $700,000 Seaside Park Borough Ocean J Street Marina Rehabilitation $750,000 Bernardsville Borough Somerset Nervine Memorial Park Improvements $690,525 Total $9,938,812 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 Somers Point City Atlantic DeFeo Lane Nature Trail $116,461 Hamilton Township Mercer Sayen Gardens Restoration Project $11,333 Princeton Borough Mercer Princeton Ridge East Forest Restoration $150,000 Warren Township Somerset Dealaman Nature Trail and Pond $570,080 Total $847,874 Grand Total, Development $52,388,010 6. 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. 7. 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, 2026, 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. 8. This act shall take effect immediately. STATEMENT This bill appropriates $77,406,208 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues and various Green Acres funds to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Of the total amount appropriated by the bill, $75,543,708 would be used by the DEP to provide grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units in the State to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and $1,862,500 would be used for the DEP’s associated administrative costs. The total amount of funding allocated for local government projects listed in this bill is $75,543,708. Of this amount, $23,155,698 is for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes identified in section 4 of the bill, and $52,388,010 is for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes identified in section 5 of the bill. Of the sum for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $18,746,365 is allocated for planning incentive open space acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities and counties that have an open space tax and an approved open space plan); $2,150,000 is allocated for standard acquisition projects; $1,559,333 is allocated for open space acquisition projects in urban aid municipalities or sponsored by densely populated counties; and $700,000 is allocated for site-specific incentive acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that have an open space tax, but do not have an open space plan). Of the sum for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $29,003,365 is allocated for local park development projects in urban aid municipalities or sponsored by densely populated counties; $12,597,959 is allocated for local park development projects in densely or highly populated municipalities or sponsored by highly populated counties; $9,938,812 is allocated for standard local park development projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that do not meet the criteria of the prior two categories); and $847,874 is allocated for stewardship activity projects. The projects approved by the bill include projects in “urban aid” and densely or highly populated municipalities and counties. The bill defines a “densely or highly populated municipality” as a municipality with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile or a population of at least 35,000 persons; a “densely populated county” as a county with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile; and a “highly populated county” as a county with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile. To the extent that there are funds remaining after the local government unit projects listed in this bill are offered funding, the bill also authorizes the DEP, with the approval of the JBOC, to use those funds to provide additional funding for local government unit projects listed in this bill as well as for local government unit projects previously approved for funding pursuant to various other laws. The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT).
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