LIVINGSTON
OPEN SPACE TRUST COMMITTEE (LOSTC)
Current Topics
Photo by Malini Parekh, winner of
the January 2006 Livingston Open Space Committee photo contest
December 18, 2007
Orchard Hill purchase (2 1/2 acres) at 244 Hillside Ave.

"GATEWAY NORTH" open space dedication October 21, 2006
Livingston’s
Outdoor Treasures
A downloadable pamphlet describing the various outdoor areas in and
around Livingston. You can click on some areas for historical brochures
about them. On October 21, 2005, the Livingston
Environmental Commission and Open Space
Trust Fund Committee received an Environmental Achievement Award
from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions at its
annual Environmental Congress.
Historical
brochures:
Becker
Park Conservancy
One of three parks that is part of Riker Hill Park, Becker Park is
located in Livingston and Roseland and can be accessed from North
Livingston Ave. near Route 280 or from Locust Ave. off Eagle Rock
Ave. in Roseland. For more information visit www.rikerhillpark.org.
The Conservancy promotes and encourages the wise use and appreciation
of the natural resources and historic properties in Becker Park.
Open
Space Progam
In November of 2002 Livingston voters overwhelmingly
supported a ballot question to establish an Open Space Trust Fund
to acquire land for the purposes of open space, recreation, and historic
land preservation.
The
LEC published the Livingston
Open Space Inventory in December 2002, with the aid of
a grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Environmental Services Program.
In
January of 2003, the Township Council adopted an ordinance
establishing the Open Space Trust Committee and Open Space Trust Fund.
This fund began collecting three cents per $100 of assessed value
in January of 2003, and will generate an estimated $272,000 per year
for open space preservation.
The
Livingston Open Space and Recreation
Plan was compiled by the Morris Land Conservancy and the LEC in
February of 2003 and was adopted as the Conservation, Recreation and
Historic Element of the current Master Plan by the Planning Board
in May of 2003.
In
November, 2008, the Open Space ballot to eliminate the Sunset provision
and permit the Open Space Trust Fund to continue in perpetuity was
overwhelmingly approved by Livingston residents in a referendum when
76% of voters voted "yes."
Green Acres Grants
From 2003 to the present, the Township has received over $1.2 million
in grants from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres
Planning Incentive Program. The funds from these grants must be
matched dollar for dollar by the Township and can be used to acquire
and preserve open space in Livingston.
Current
Livingston Open Space Projects
Although not directly under their scope, members of the Livingston Open
Space Trust Fund Committee serve on other Open Space related committees
including: Littell's Pond Committee, Friends
of Livingston Dog Parks, and
Prospect Park Hiking & Biking
Trails.

Littell’s Pond Committee
Littell’s Pond, located near the tennis courts at Memorial Park,
was refurbished in 2007 to provide a pleasant place to relax, fish
or ice-skate.
The Livingston Dog Park was established in 2003 at East Hills Park.
There are two fenced-in areas, one for dogs 25 lbs. or less, and a
larger area for dogs of all sizes.
Located on Shrewsbury Dr. between East Mount Pleasant and Laurel Avenues,
Prospect Park is a beautiful forested 29-acre parcel of Township preserved
property. Hiking and mountain biking trails, along with interpretive
and handicapped accessible trails, opened in October 2010.