National Association for Olmsted Parks Opposes More Development

Essex County, NJ
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Coalition to Save South Mountain Reservation

Coalition to Save South Mountain ReservationCoalition to Save South Mountain ReservationCoalition to Save South Mountain Reservation

Opposing further expansion of the Turtle Back Zoo into South Mountain Reservation by Essex County, at an estimated cost to taxpayers of at least $10.7-million dollars, while destroying more forested land.


"[We are] not looking to draw additional people to the Turtle Back Zoo.” 

-Kate Hartwyck, Essex County Parks Deputy Dir.


"We are extremely humbled by the record number of people who keep coming each year..[and] look forward to seeing the crowds grow in the future." 

-Joe DiVincenzo, Essex County Executive

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We need your support!

Help us protect South Mountain Reservation, the  first county park system  in the nation?  Legal professionals, environmental consultants, printing,...it all takes moolah. We have been  fortunate as stewards of this beautiful, Olmsted-designed reservation, but are saddened to see it sliced away bit-by-bit to build asphalt parking lots, parking decks, and expand an already expansive zoo.  Our goal is protect and preserve what is widely considered the jewel of Essex County.

Your contribution is tax deductible, thanks to our Coalition partner Our Green West Orange.  We need you to click the donate button below so we can educate the county on what TRUE conservation looks like.  (And that it doesn't begin with  backhoes and cranes.) - Thank You!

Donate Now

National Association for Olmsted parks publishes statement

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In a statement posted June 1, 2020, NAOP opposed development plans in the South Mountain Reservation.   Essex County is the home of the first county-wide park system designed by the Olmsted firm.  This jewel of Olmsted design – celebrating its 125th anniversary this year – provides restorative green and open space across diverse communities in a densely populated area.   To read the full statement click HERE."

Essex County Environmental Commission Acts

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On May 4th, 2020, the Essex County Environmental Commission (yep, the county’s own Commission) passed a unanimous resolution recommending that the “Conservation Pavilion” project be "dropped altogether" given the new realities of COVID-19 and budgetary shortfalls.   

Short of nixing the project, the Commission recommended a full and independent environmental study that should show a “net neutral environmental impact” before any ground is disturbed. (And if said study doesn't show net neutrality, the project should be abandoned.)

If Essex County proceeds with the proposed  “Conservation Pavilion” project as planned, it will be ignoring the advice of its own Environmental Commission. 

[Full resolution pdf below]

ECEC RESOLUTION MAY 4, 2020 (pdf)Download

People Ask, "What can we do to save the Reservation?"

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Your Coalition in action !

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Essex County Markets their Amphitheater Plan

Residents throughout Essex County speak out against a wasteful project that destroys habitat in the South Mountain Reservation, at taxpayers' expense. January 21, 2020 at Cedar Grove public hearing.


Watch Video on YouTube
NJ.com Article: The Turtle Back Zoo wants to get bigger. These teens are fighting it. By Jenna Wise

Rally to Save the Rez!

Our FIRST rally with over 350 attendees!  

Click the photo to read the NJ.com article by Jenna Wise


Watch Rally Videos
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Freeholder States Env. Impact Study will be done AFTER the project is done

On February 4, 2020, Freeholder Leonard Luciano explained to the Millburn Town Committee that Essex County will complete an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) after the amphitheater project is complete. According to NJ State Executive Order #215, that would be illegal. 

[See 3-min video HERE.]

[View Executive Order HERE]

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NJ.com Article, Feb 22, 2020

Residents through Essex County have been contacting their local papers and online news sites.  This opinion piece "Don’t fall for Essex County’s greenwash of habitat destruction at Turtle Back Zoo,"  is written by Coalition SMR's very own Joyce Rudin.  

Be sure to write your local editors, too!

Read article now

Essex County Towns Unite to say, "Big enough!"

Millburn

South Orange

West Orange

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February 11, 2020 the Millburn Environmental Commission passed a strong resolution to halt the county's amphitheater project based on detrimental environmental impacts.  

View Resolution

West Orange

South Orange

West Orange

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Sept 10, 2019 the West Orange Township Council presents resolution calling on Essex Board of Chosen Freeholders to HALT expansion of the South Mountain Recreation Complex. County must provide a traffic study, environmental impact study, &

adhere to all DEP, soil conservation & other environmental protection & erosion guidelines.

View Resolution

South Orange

South Orange

South Orange

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February 27, 2020 the South Orange Environmental Commission unanimously passed a strong resolution against the county's amphitheater project.

View Resolution

Maplewood

And YOUR town???

South Orange

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Aug. 6, 2019 the Maplewood Township Committee passed a resolution calling on Essex Board of Chosen Freeholders to HALT expansion of the South Mountain Recreation Complex. (Committeewoman Nancy Adams drafted the town’s resolution with help from the Maplewood Green Team.)  

[Resolution PDF below]

Newark

And YOUR town???

And YOUR town???

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March 4, 2020, the Newark Environmental Commission  adopted a resolution similar to that of the Millburn: Enough is enough.  

[Resolution PDF below]

And YOUR town???

And YOUR town???

And YOUR town???

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Be sure to call on your town's elected & appointed officials and request that they adopt similar resolutions to HALT any expansion into South Mountain Reservation. Your tax dollars. Your environment. Your community. Your voice!  

Find your elected officials HERE.

Maplewood_Twp Committee Resolution (pdf)Download
Newark Environmental Commission TBZ Resolution (pdf)Download

Coalition Partners unite to say, "Enough is enough!"

SOMA (South Orange Maplewood) Action
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The Sierra Club
New Jersey Student Sustainability Coalition
Newark water coalition logo
Our Revolution Essex NJ Logo
350 new jersey rockland logo
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Essex Rising logo
Our Green West Orange Logo
Arbor Day Foundation Logo
Montclair High School Young Democratic Socialists
Columbia High School Environmental Club
Columbia High School Students for Social Justice
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West Orange Young Democrats
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West Orange African Heritage Organization
Coalition for animals logo
NY/NJ Baykeeper: Protect, Preserve, Restore
Friends of Liberty logo

Documents of Interest

County Opens Bids for Faulty Amphitheater

Olmsted Foundation Opposes 500-Seat Pavillion

Olmsted Foundation Opposes 500-Seat Pavillion

Essex County New Jersey Office of Purchasing Open Bid Amphitheater at Turtle Back Zoo

Despite the county only submitting a draft Master Plan, and not including all townships directly impacted by the proposed project in the planning process, and not conducting an environmental impact study, Essex County opens their million dollar amphitheater project up to bidding under the guise of "Conservation Pavillion."  [PDF below]

Olmsted Foundation Opposes 500-Seat Pavillion

Olmsted Foundation Opposes 500-Seat Pavillion

Olmsted Foundation Opposes 500-Seat Pavillion

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On June 1, 2020 NAOP issued a letter opposing Essex County's proposed 500-seat "conservation Pavillion."  

Read their letter HERE.

Turtle Back Zoo Master Plan DRAFT

Taxpayers Buy $600,000 Amphitheater Plan

Taxpayers Buy $600,000 Amphitheater Plan

Master Plan of Turtle Back Zoo Bird's Eye view

The county provided a Master Plan to West Orange Township Planning Board after months of both residents and township officials requesting the promised plan be made available.  Below is PDF of this plan, for your downloading pleasure, which includes convenient words like, "Conservation" and "Education."

Taxpayers Buy $600,000 Amphitheater Plan

Taxpayers Buy $600,000 Amphitheater Plan

Taxpayers Buy $600,000 Amphitheater Plan

Stack of logs cut, with hands holding wads of money

Lights!   Sound!  Cages!  Tranqulizers!  Kindergarteners are now ready to learn about conservation while seated in groups of 500, in an entertainment Pavillion that was home to 135 mature trees, and home to native species plants and animals.  From here, they can use the planned "rustic toilets"  and head to the gift shoppe to forget about climate change and buy stuff!  [See the Zoo's PDF diagram below]

Documents

Rally Flyer FAQs (pdf)Download
Essex County Bid Document_Amphitheater (pdf)Download
Olmsted letter to the Essex County (pdf)Download
TBZ Master Plan (pdf)Download
TBZ Amphitheater Plan 011620 (jpeg)Download

Citizens File OPRA Requests for Info on Turtle Back Zoo

Filing Open Public Records requests (OPRA) is an important step in understanding the current state of South Mountain Reservation. OPRA records can reveal the impact  that proposed projects can have on climate change.  This information also helps us understand the workings of Essex County so we as residents can be prepared for future projects.  

Below are responses to our OPRA requests, which demonstrate a clear lack of transparency in sharing information regarding public matters.  To file your own Essex County OPRA request, click HERE.

OPRA1_Land Purchases (pdf)Download
OPRA2_Animal Deaths at Turtle Back Zoo (pdf)Download
OPRA3_Info On Building Zoo (pdf)Download
OPRA4_1988 Master Plan Inquiry (pdf)Download
OPRA5_SouthMtnRezBoundariesSize (pdf)Download
OPRA6_2018StreetPavingContract_Granada (pdf)Download

South Mountain Conservancy Submits Letter to County

A sample of some of SMC's recommendations for the County:

  • Suspend any zoo expansion until a comprehensive and independent traffic study, as recommended by the master plan, with the input from West Orange, demonstrates minimal or manageable impact of current usage and planned growth.
  • Provide an estimated cost of the pavilion.
  • Tabulate the costs and benefits to the community from the commercial development in the South Mountain Recreational Complex (present and anticipated).
  • Expand the planned 2:1 replacement of trees in any future development. 
  • Reduce by one-quarter the size of the special event parking in order to reconstruct the natural amphitheater along Cherry Lane north of the Oakdale Parking area.

...while we think that the County’s announcement of public hearings on the master plan is excellent, the process from the start should have included stakeholders, both West Orange and the Conservancy. That was not the case. Too much money and precious land is at stake for this to have been developed in a vacuum.



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