NJ weighs corporate sponsors to help keep parks open
TRENTON, N.J.—New Jersey is considering corporate sponsorship to help keep state parks open amid state budget woes.
Elaine Makatura, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said it is one option as the state looks for ways to keep parks from closing on July 1.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine has proposed closing nine parks and curtailing services at others to save $4.5 million. The move is part of $2.7 billion in budget cuts proposed by Corzine to try to fix state finances plagued by annual deficits and high debt and taxes.
"The governor realizes that there's a strong desire to keep parks open," Makatura said. "There is an ongoing dialogue that is considering alternatives to closing parks. No final decisions have been made."
DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson told lawmakers on Wednesday that she's hopeful alternatives can be found to keep most park services open, but she cautioned that camping and swimming -- the most expensive services -- might not be retained.
She said new or increased park fees and sharing services with local governments and nonprofit groups that support parks were among other options to keep parks open.
New Jersey isn't the first state to mull corporate sponsorship.
Washington considered it in 2006. It advertised for corporate sponsors to donate money in exchange for putting the company name out where park visitors could see it. The goal was to find new money for repairs and construction.
But Virginia Painter, spokeswoman for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, said the commission never voted on the idea.
"I think the consensus was clear that they would not support parks being named for corporations, nor would they support large commercial-looking displays noting sponsors in parks," Painter said.
In Washington, she said, "There's a lot of sensitivity around not commercializing our parks -- both within our state parks agency and with the public."
Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-Middlesex, has suggested allowing private companies to operate state parks to try to save money.
Jeff Tittel of the New Jersey Sierra Club said they would oppose corporate sponsorship in parks.
He said it would pose conflicts if companies sponsoring parks seek DEP approvals. He thought corporations might meddle with park operations, and try to plaster their names all over parks.
"It could look really ridiculous," Tittel said. "We would have real concerns on corporate sponsorship."
Still, corporate sponsorship deals with the state are not unprecedented.
PSE&G, the state's largest electric utility, recently donated $500,000 for a climate change display at the state museum in Trenton.
James Hughes, dean of Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, said corporate sponsorship for parks makes sense.
"State parks are obviously environmental and recreational assets. If they can produce an income flow, they can also function as direct economic assets," Hughes said.
