On the front page of the Burlington County Times (4/2/08), two articles told of the loss of greens in NJ. The first article, “N.J. farmers rally to sow discontent”, told of a rally in Trenton by farmers to show their discontent with Governor Corzine’s proposal to dissolve the Department of Agriculture. No Department of Agriculture for a state noted for its agriculture, a state with the nickname “The Garden State”? That just does not sound right.
Underneath this article was the second one that made me read it slowly and carefully: “Byrne Forest targeted for closure” Another aspect of Governor Corzine’s proposed budget is to close some of the state parks and forests. Byrne Forest is in Burlington County which is why it was named first in this article in the Burlington County Times. According to the article, the other places scheduled for closure are Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Stephens State Park, High Point State Park, Round Valley Recreation Area, Parvin State Park, Jenny Jump State Forest, Worthington State Forest and Fort Mott State Park. 2 million people visited these parks last year.
Though I breathed a sigh of relief when I found that my favorite parks, Belleplain State Forest and Cape May Point State Park, are not slated for closure, I would mourn the loss of all of these parks. I have visited many of these parks and enjoyed their trails and nature. If these parks close, I mourn the loss of such a resource for my grandchildren and generations to come. The true beauty and the natural history of this state cannot be learned through books and photographs, but must be experienced. I have visited and camped in the state parks and forests for at least the past 40 years. My children have learned the various ecosystems and the variety of plants and animals in this state, especially my beloved Pine Barrens, through multiple visits over many, many years. Unfortunately, with the closing of these parks, the quality of the experience that my children will be able to give their children will not be as rich, not as diverse.
If Governor Corzine’s proposals pass, it will be a sad day for the Garden State.
Posted by: atonewiththeworld | April 4, 2008
The Garden State About to Lose Its Greens
Responses
[...] the article that talk about the future for our children. This resonates with my post yesterday, The Garden State about to Lose Its Greens. Then Governor Kempthorne worked to revitalize Idaho’s state parks, particularly Ponderosa [...]
By: Governor Corzine should talk to Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne « At One With The World on April 5, 2008
at 10:20 am
As a mother living in New Jersey, I agree with your statement about mourning the lost parks in New Jersey. The state is so industrialized and overdeveloped, that these parks are more like refuges from modern life…and it’s so sad to watch them disappear. There’s a rally on April 19 at 10 a.m. to support Parvin State Park. For more details, visit my blog.
By: Courtney on April 10, 2008
at 7:53 pm
[...] State. I write another blog, At One With the World, and in that blog I have been writing about NJ Governor Corzine’s proposal to close nine state parks as a budget balancing measure. I strongly oppose that decision [...]
By: New Jersey: Prologue « Views from the Rear Window on April 16, 2008
at 9:17 pm
