HILLSBOROUGH — Almost a week after it was initially planned, Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation today to allocate money to green space preservation projects. On Thursday when headed to the news conference where he was originally intended to sign the bill, Christie suffered an asthma attack and was taken to Somerset Medical Center instead. But today he made it...
Gov. Chris Christie, left, and Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo talk Tuesday during a press conference announcing plans to redevelop 12.33 acres of waterfront property in Newark's Ironbound neighborhood into urban parkland.HILLSBOROUGH — Almost a week after it was initially planned, Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation today to allocate money to green space preservation projects.
On Thursday when headed to the news conference where he was originally intended to sign the bill, Christie suffered an asthma attack and was taken to Somerset Medical Center instead. But today he made it to Doyle Farm in Hillsborough and signed the legislation.
"Sorry for being a week late," Christie joked when he sat down to sign the bills.
The three-bill package spends $156.3 million on green space preservation. The funding will be divided into $84.5 million in grants for municipalities and county governments to buy green space, $14.8 million for non-profit groups to buy land and $57 million for the state to purchase land.
The state portion will include expanding parks, forest and wildlife areas and will also be used to purchase flood-prone areas.
The legislation was bipartisan in sponsorship, and a large group of lawmakers attended the bill signing.
“This funding helps strengthen the ‘garden’ in Garden State, and creates more recreational options for families,” said Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan (D-Middlesex) in a statement. “The preservation of New Jersey’s open spaces is clearly a priority for residents, and with this bill now law, their mandate will be met.”
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