New Jersey has a new website on capital spending at its parks, forests, historic sites and wildlife management areas, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Gov. Chris Christie's administration announced a controversial initiative this month to keep the parks open through privatization and other efforts.
The new website tracks park-by-park spending linked to a 2006 state constitutional amendment that dedicated part of the corporate business tax to the DEP, according to the agency.
The DEP gets about $15 million a year from the business tax for parks-related projects and will get about $32 million a year beginning in 2015, according to the agency.
From fiscal 2007 through 2011, the DEP invested $62 million in parks and forestry projects and $12 million in fish and wildlife projects, according to the agency.
For example, here's a list of projects and spending at Island Beach State Park:
- Marina restaurant demolition, $14,325.
- Underground communication line replacement, $319,477.
- Road rehabilitation, $13,502.
- Bay house repairs, $80,561.
- Office women's shower room analysis & upgrade, $173,923.
- Gatehouse HVAC renovations, $23,354.
- Ocean house renovations, $118,045.
- Park police sub-station renovations, $28,347.
- Baywalk emergency repairs, $35,532.
- Ocean house cabana exterior renovations, $12,910.
The governor's ocean mansion at Island Beach State Park in July 2011. Special events are held occasionally on mansion property (file photo by Ian C. Bates)
