Welcome to Livingston, New Jersey

Photo by Malini Parekh, winner of the January 2006 Livingston Open Space Committee photo contest

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.

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 the scope of the LOSTFC, members of the Livingston Open Space Trust Fund Committee are also serve on other Open Space related committees including:

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.

Friends of Livingston Dog Parks
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.

Prospect Park Hiking & Biking Trails Committee
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 are being developed, along with interpretive and handicapped accessible trails.

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 purpose of the Becker Park Conservancy is to promote, encourage and work for the conservation, preservation and promotion of the wise use and appreciation of the natural resources and historic properties in Becker Park for the benefit of residents.