Christie Approves Funding For Nearby Open Spaces

Governor Christie this week approved funding for the acquisition of new lands in nearby parks in Bergen County. The $2.2 million of open space funding allocated to sites in Bergen County will also be used to preserve farmland and historic sites.

The nearby open spaces that will receive funding include more than $120,000 toward improvements to and $450,000 each to the Haledon Reservoir in Franklin Lakes, Village Open Space Project in Ridgewood and the Wyckoff Land Acquisition Project. An additional $675,000 will go to the Open Space Acquisition Project in Wayne.

District 40 State Sen. Kevin O’Toole released a statement in support of this funding.

“Protecting our natural environment and historic sites ensures that our connection with the natural world and our heritage, will continue for future generations,” O’Toole said in the release.

O’Toole said Green Acres and Historical Preservation allocations will keep the impact of traffic and pollution to a “minimum.”

“These grants will help ensure that our children and grandchildren will enjoy the same quality of life we have come to expect,” O’Toole added.