Public meeting on open space and recreation plan

Vernon — A meeting to discuss the update in progress for Vernon’s 2004 Open Space and Recreation Plan — open to the public — will be held Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. in the municipal offices at 21 Church Street. Vernon Township is updating the plan to identify the parks and public lands it has purchased using the Township’s Open Space Trust Fund and establish priorities for future land acquisitions. The public meeting is intended to gather community input on the goals and objectives for open space, recreation and natural resource protection. The Township is working in this effort with The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, a nonprofit land trust. Bicycling paths on the agenda Included in the updated plan is the incorporation of Vernon’s proposed bicycling plan and how it interconnects with the Township’s parks and neighborhoods. A priority for the Environmental Commission is determining how the Township can connect its network of open space and public lands to increase the recreational opportunities for Vernon residents and visitors. According to Barbara Heskins Davis, vice president of programs for the Conservancy, “an Open Space and Recreation Plan results in increased funding and guides a municipality to target its land acquisition program to develop a system of preserved land to protect the quality of life for residents.” Grant to help fund project The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) has awarded a Smart Growth Planning Grant for this project. This program provides matching grants to New Jersey municipalities and counties to help cover the costs of developing local or regional plans that will lead to more sustainable use of natural resources, which is a goal of the Vernon Township’s Environmental Commission as well. Further information can be found at www.anjec.org. For questions, directions or information on the Dec. 9 meeting, call the Township of Vernon’s Land Use Board at 973-764-4055 or The Land Conservancy of New Jersey at 973-541-1010, ext. 33.