Parks, Open Spaces, Wild Places News

Trenton - As November 6th approaches, dedicated Keep It Green volunteers will step up their efforts on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to encourage New Jersey voters to vote yes on statewide public question #3 – the Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007.

Passage of question #3 is critical to keeping the state’s open space, farmland and historic preservation programs afloat for one more year. For many, this is the culmination of months of hard work in favor of ballot question #3, which began with distributing posters, signs and bumper stickers.

“Volunteer efforts are particularly important over the next few days in the light of recent opposition from a $300,000 conservative Washington group attack campaign. Passage of #3 is critical; without these funds preservation efforts in communities across the state will come to a grinding halt,” said Liz Silvernail, Keep It Green Volunteer Coordinator.

Thousands of telephone calls will be made on Sunday and Monday to likely voters encouraging participation in the election and support of question #3. Phone banking will take place at three locations:  Environment New Jersey in Trenton, Morris Land Conservancy in Boonton and New Jersey Audubon Society’s center in Bernardsville.

“Keep It Green volunteers provide an essential link to communities across the state. The hours of service donated by our volunteers demonstrates the unwavering commitment of New Jersey residents to the future of our state’s preservation efforts,” explained Joanna Wolaver from New Jersey Audubon Society.

On Monday and Tuesday, volunteers from throughout the state will stand at bus and train stations to distribute Vote Yes materials and spread the word about the importance of this ballot question. Distribution locations include Trenton, Hoboken, New Brunswick, Newark, Hamilton, Morristown, Middletown and others.

"Apart from the financial advantages, open space is vital to our mental, emotional and spiritual health. We cannot live in a totally man-made environment," explained Norma Saltz, Ewing resident and Keep It Green volunteer.

Volunteers will also stand at polling places to answer last minute questions from those still unclear about the importance of this question to the future of New Jersey’s preservation programs. Question #3 authorizes the state to issue $200 million in bonds to keep the state’s open space, farmland and historic preservation programs afloat for one more year and to support the Blue Acres program to purchase flood-prone properties from willing sellers.

Over 150,000 Vote Yes flyers have been distributed to individuals, organizations and businesses. Volunteers have prepared mailings, folding letters and stuffing, stamping and addressing envelopes. They have delivered flyers to voters’ homes and businesses and handed them out at countless events and conferences in all 21 counties.

It is not too late to join the campaign. Please contact Liz Silvernail at lsilvernail@environmentnewjersey.org or 215-630-2832 to volunteer or for more details on times and locations of volunteer activities.

The New Jersey – Keep It Green Campaign is a coalition of over 90 organizations from across the state working to ensure the passage of Question #3. For more information, please visit www.NJKeepItGreen.org.