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Madison to apply for $7.74M Green Acres grant to pay down turf debt and pursue Drew Forest acquisition
Summary
Council was asked to support a Green Acres grant application of $7,741,767.85 that would pay down the Madison Recreational Center (MRC) debt, aid the Drew Forest acquisition and purchase three additional acres from Drew University.
Borough staff requested council support for a Green Acres Planning Incentive grant application of $7,741,767.85 to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres program.
According to the presentation, the funding would be used for three purposes: (1) to pay down remaining debt service on the Madison Recreational Center (MRC) turf financing; (2) to support closing on the acquisition of the Drew Forest property; and (3) to acquire three additional acres of open space from Drew University. Staff said such a resolution of support is a condition of the Green Acres application process and invited public comment.
The council heard the request, received no extensive public opposition at that point, and placed the related resolution (3‑48) on the consent agenda. CFO Jim Burnett later addressed open-space trust fund balances and noted the trust’s beginning balance was about $756,000 and that the fund is ending the year with roughly $1,065,000 — figures staff said are relevant to future local match and maintenance planning.
The grant application would be filed between now and February 2025; council was asked to adopt a resolution endorsing the application as part of the submission requirements. Any acquisition and expenditure would follow state Green Acres rules and subsequent local ordinances and funding approvals.
