A 5334

ASSEMBLY, No. 5334
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED JUNE 28, 2026
Sponsored by:
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:
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).