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MY WORD - 4/16/2008
(by Holly Stewart - OpEd Columnist - April 16, 2008)
The wrong kind of closure
Nature thrives on patience; man on impatience.
—PAUL BOESE
And the hits just keep on coming.
It seemed like an April Fool’s Day gag at first: New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Jackson announced last Tuesday that the Corzine Administration seeks to save $8.8 million from next year’s budget by closing and/or limiting access at a dozen state parks. Most of the facilities named are in northern and western portions of New Jersey; they include High Point State Park, Round Valley Recreation Area, Jenny Jump State Forest, Worthington State Forest and Ringwood Manor. Impacted services range from the suspension of camping and swimming activities to the closing of entire parks.
We are told that the DEP made an extensive study of the state park system and reviewed all 42 parks, 11 forests and three recreation areas in an effort to determine approximate annual attendance and revenue generated at each one. They also took into account whether similar services could be provided by other areas nearby. The facilities named are expected to lose $860,000 in revenue under this closure program; it has been decided that the savings will far outweigh this paltry sum.
So how stupid is this plan, really? We live in the most congested state in the nation. People need to get away from the cities and get into the woods. They need to hike and swim and fish and camp. They need to convene with nature. They need to be able to do these things in close proximity to their homes, especially now, when the cost of gasoline and food and everything else has escalated well beyond the average pay raise. Many families can’t afford to take vacations at Disney World or the shore. For them, a week’s camping in Worthington on the Delaware River is a chance to get away at minimum expense. If the budget allows, they may rent a boat or go tubing down the river.
Some pundits say this is all political posturing, that Corzine and Co. are merely trying to scare the constituency into relenting their opposing towards some of the other unpopular money-saving ideas already proposed, such as the toll-hike program. Unfortunately, however, there have been no such murmurings from Trenton since this story first made news. For now the administration appears to be serious about these closures, despite the public outcry against them.
A few weeks ago I bought some new trail maps for North Jersey. I love maps, especially topographic ones; I can spend hours studying them, identifying previous journeys in my mind and planning future hikes as well. It occurred to me while looking at all the public land around here that we have been very fortunate to set aside so much open space for our wanderings. Norvin Green State Forest has preserved almost 5,000 acres in Bloomingdale and Wanaque, with some of the best maintained (and most challenging) trails anywhere. Long Pond Ironworks includes almost 3,000 acres and is adjacent to the fabulous fishing to be found in Monksville Reservoir. For those willing to pay a permit fee, Newark Watershed opens up another 35,000 acres to the outdoor enthusiast. None of these places allow overnight camping, however.
Canadian poet Bliss Carman wrote that “the greatest joy in nature is the absence of man.” There may be an abundance of that emotion in the parks scheduled to close by mid-summer, but it will not be recognized in the cheerful shouts of children swimming in Shepherd’s Lake or the smiles on the faces of families picnicking beneath the High Point Monument.
What further drastic steps await us in an effort to meet the revenue beast? Do we start selling off these public lands to pay our debts? Will the Highlands Supermall replace the peace and quiet of our woodlands? I would urge the Governor to re-member this: Fiscal responsibility is only as good as the quality of life it offers to those under its umbrella. If lower taxes mean more development, I’m happy to keep paying them.
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