Passaic County
Open Space and
Recreation Master Plan — Draft Report
MISSION
STATEMENT
Even though good land use policies, planning, and zoning throughout the
County have been applied, current data shows that adequate open space is not
preserved. The citizens of Passaic County have a growing interest in the
environmental quality of life. This opinion is reflected in the recent
activities that have more carefully taken place in an attempt to establish a
balance between growth and development and the need to preserve our natural
resources, park lands, recreation sites, reservoirs, historical sites and
farmlands. Promoting a better quality of life for our families should never
come at the expense of economic growth. By preserving open space, we fashion
a richer, greener, more complex infrastructure that makes the municipalities
of Passaic County more appealing places to live.
Being aware of this fact, the Passaic County Open Space and Farmland
Preservation Advisory Committee is committed and stands ready to address the
concerns of its stakeholders as to: (1) What open-space currently exists;
(2) What areas need to be preserved; (3) What forces threaten our natural
resources, park lands, recreation sites, reservoirs, historical sites and
farmland; and (4) How best to present recommendations to the governing body
to secure available county, state and/or federal funds to achieve the common
goal of open space preservation for applicants and potential program
participants from the urban, suburban and rural areas of the county.
Therefore, the Committee not only envisions a common goal that will enhance
the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP’s) Green
Acres Program’s six point Open Space and Recreation Plan Guidelines, but the
Committee also endeavors to facilitate developing these guidelines into a
true reflection and visible reality as needed within the landscape and
boundaries of the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders (Grantor) and
the eligible program participants (Grantees). The six guidelines are:
a. acquisition
of lands for recreation and conservation purposes;
b. development
of lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes;
c. maintenance
of lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes;
d. acquisition
of farmland for farmland preservation purposes
e.
preservation of historic properties, including the acquisition of such
properties for historic preservation purposes; or
f. payment of
debt service on indebtedness issued or incurred by a local government for
any of the purposes listed in a., b., d., or e. above.
