1 © copyright the trust for public land. 2 rahway river association cindy roberts january 12, 2008

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© Copyright The Trust for Public Land

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Rahway River AssociationCindy Roberts

January 12, 2008

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Conserving Land For PeopleConserving Land For People

• The Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.

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The ChallengeThe Challenge

• America's natural open spaces are disappearing at a rate of 2.3 million acres a year (USDA).

• That’s equivalent to 2.5 Rhode Islands

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The Benefits … It’s A Matter of HealthThe Benefits … It’s A Matter of HealthThe Benefits … It’s A Matter of HealthThe Benefits … It’s A Matter of Health

Land People

Spiritual

Economic

Recreational

Aesthetic

Legacy

Social Historic

Cultural

Environmental

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TPL’s Five InitiativesTPL’s Five InitiativesTPL’s Five InitiativesTPL’s Five Initiatives

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Conservation TransactionsConservation TransactionsConservation TransactionsConservation Transactions

• Protecting Land– TPL helps structure,

negotiate, and complete land transactions that create parks, playgrounds, and protected natural areas.

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Park Design & DevelopmentPark Design & DevelopmentPark Design & DevelopmentPark Design & Development

• Building Parks– TPL helps transform

newly acquired or existing sites into parks, playgrounds, or restored natural areas.

– TPL employs a participatory design process and solicits the viewpoints of all stakeholders.

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Conservation Research & EducationConservation Research & EducationConservation Research & EducationConservation Research & Education

• Educating Professionals– TPL acquires and

shares knowledge of conservation issues and techniques to improve the practice of conservation, promote its public benefits, and encourage pro-conservation public policy.

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Land for People: Never More ImportantLand for People: Never More Important

• As many as 2 out of 3 city residents do not have access today to a nearby park, playground, or open space

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Parks Have Many BenefitsParks Have Many Benefits

Better Health

Stronger Community

Reduced Crime

Stronger Economy

Cleaner Air & Water

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Parks Promote Better Health…Parks Promote Better Health…

• Exposure to nature makes people healthier & happier– 10% increase in green

space = 5 year increase in lifespan

• Parks increase physical activity– Sedentary lifestyles:

• Obesity epidemic• 300K deaths per year• $150 billion cost

Source: Netherlands Study (see TPL Parks for People report); CDC

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…Especially For Kids…Especially For Kids

• Parks support play and brain development.– Without parks, children

suffer more from chronic obesity, diabetes, asthma, anxiety, depression

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Parks Revitalize Local EconomiesParks Revitalize Local EconomiesParks Revitalize Local EconomiesParks Revitalize Local Economies

• Increase property values– Residential &

commercial– Boost tax revenues

• Attract/retain businesses and residents

• Tourism revenue• Provide economic value

from other benefits – E.g., reduced health

costs

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Parks Help The EnvironmentParks Help The EnvironmentParks Help The EnvironmentParks Help The Environment

• Mitigate air pollution• Provide natural filters

for water pollution• Control storm water

runoff & flooding– Trees in cities save

$400B in storm water costs

One Tree in its Lifetime:

• $62K air pollution control

• $37K water recycling

• $31K oxygen

• $31K soil erosion control

One Tree in its Lifetime:

• $62K air pollution control

• $37K water recycling

• $31K oxygen

• $31K soil erosion control

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Parks Reduce CrimeParks Reduce CrimeParks Reduce CrimeParks Reduce Crime

• Recreational facilities keep at-risk kids off streets

• Community involvement in parks = less crime

• Play = critical element in child’s future success

Fort Myers, FL:

28% drop in juvenile arrests

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Parks Strengthen CommunitiesParks Strengthen CommunitiesParks Strengthen CommunitiesParks Strengthen Communities

• Provide focus for neighborhood activities

• Build social ties• Foster interaction

between different groups – Role models for

kids

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Americans Support ParksAmericans Support ParksAmericans Support ParksAmericans Support Parks

• Since 1988 voters have approved 77% of ballot measures (1,527) to raise public funds for land conservation.

• $109 billion raised ($44 billion for conservation)

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Opportunities in the Rahway River Opportunities in the Rahway River WatershedWatershedOpportunities in the Rahway River Opportunities in the Rahway River WatershedWatershed

• Vacant land• Reuse of land – previous use has gone idle• Partnering with public schools• Local advocate or mobilized community group

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Kirkwood ForestKirkwood ForestKirkwood ForestKirkwood Forest

• 15 acres, Voorhees Township, Camden County• Approved for 105,000 square foot of office space and

500 parking spaces• Township agreed to preserve after 70 residents

packed meetings saying enough development• Contaminated by parking lot scrapings from adjacent

developed site• Needed No Further Action letter from DEP

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HobokenHobokenHobokenHoboken

• 2 acres, City of Hoboken, Hudson County• To become part of a growing assemblage of parkland along the

Hudson River• The $7.1 million purchase was funded by the City of Hoboken,

Hudson County, and the State of New Jersey• Located in a former industrial area that is quickly transitioning

into high-rise, residential developments• What people really wanted here was to establish a beachhead

that will enhance access to the waterfront• This land will provide better access to a portion of the Hudson

River Walkway and additional planned recreational amenities as well as unparalleled views of midtown Manhattan in one of the most densely populated areas of the state

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Nat Turner ParkNat Turner ParkNat Turner ParkNat Turner Park

• Located in City of Newark, Essex County• TPL will build Newark's largest city-owned park,

which will serve over 2,000 young people• The work will require an investment of $8.7 million,

more than half of which has already been raised. • 17 USTs were found and needed to be removed• City qualified for $3 million in NJ State Hazardous

Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF) funds

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Passaic River WaterfrontPassaic River WaterfrontPassaic River WaterfrontPassaic River Waterfront

• The election of 38-year-old Cory A. Booker as mayor in 2006 has injected a new sense of optimism into the City of Newark’s conservation work.

• City Hall has signaled its support for parks and open space, not only to improve life in the neighborhoods but as a key component of its aggressive strategy for Newark's renaissance

• The new park will cover 2.2 miles and link Newark's bustling downtown to the densely and diversely populated Ironbound neighborhood.

• Parks can and should be regarded as oases for people who live in densely populated environments.

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Linear ParksLinear ParksLinear ParksLinear Parks

• Remaining open spaces along stream corridors, including S. Branch, Robinsons Branch, Nomahegan Brook, W. Branch, E. Branch and the main stem of the Rahway River

• Enhance habitat, wildlife migration and recreation opportunities

• Establish linkages between existing open spaces and parks

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BrownfieldsBrownfieldsBrownfieldsBrownfields

• Abandoned industrial sites that have some level of contamination, although they are not a superfund site

• Often go overlooked as the stigma of potential contamination eliminates the property from consideration

• This is especially unfortunate as neighborhoods with Brownfields are often also the most park-poor

• Assess those sites needed for critical linkages or needed for open space in underserved areas provided necessary cleanup will be conducted.

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Habitat RestorationHabitat RestorationHabitat RestorationHabitat Restoration• Forests and trees in urban and suburban areas provide

many environmental and economic benefits that can lead to improved environmental quality and human health

• These benefits include improvements in air and water quality, richer terrestrial and aquatic habitat, cooler air temperatures and reductions in building energy use and noise

• Restore habitat on properties already preserved• Most restoration activities happen around stream corridors

although forestry activities will be included more in the future as carbon sequestration continues to be a concern

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Augment Existing ParksAugment Existing ParksAugment Existing ParksAugment Existing Parks

• Add acreage to existing parks and other open spaces

• Map lands owned by Homeowner’s Associations, which may provide additional opportunities and linkages

• Assess “quasi” public lands such as schools, churches, cemeteries, etc. to see how they fit into your open space network

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The Sky is the LimitThe Sky is the LimitThe Sky is the LimitThe Sky is the Limit

• In the world of land conservation, anything is possible.

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1 © copyright the trust for public land. 2 rahway river association cindy roberts january 12, 2008

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