Livingston, New Jersey

The winner of the Livingston Open Space Committee photo contest is Malini Parekh. View her photo and read about her inspiration from Livingston's open spaces!(Click on link to download an adobe acrobat .pdf file)

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 supporting the establishment of 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.

Green Acres Grants: In 2003, 2004 and 2005 the Township has applied for and received a grant of $400,000 each year from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Planning Incentive Program. In 2006 the grant was again applied for, but this time the award was $300,000. The funds from this grant 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 is being refurbished 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. The development of hiking and mountain biking trails will begin in the spring of 2005. Interpretive and handicapped accessible trails are also planned for this site.