The Conservation Campaign News September 2014

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Biggest Election Day Yet for Conservation Funding

November 4 will be the most important election for land conservation and restoration in America's history. As communities and states recover from the recession, a pent-up demand for funds for land, water, and parks has led to five statewide and dozens of local ballot measures, adding up to more than $22 billion nationwide. The Conservation Campaign and The Trust for Public Land are supporting a number of the state and local measures (read on). To find a measure near you, click the map at left from TPL's Landvote database.

Voting for a New Era in State Conservation Funding

Land conservation, water protection, parks, and outdoor recreation projects depend on consistent state funding, yet even in states with historically strong conservation

Photo by Jason Flom/
Vote Yes on 1

programs, funding has dwindled in recent years. This November, voters in Florida, New Jersey, and North Dakota have an opportunity to secure land and water for future generations by approving constitutionally dedicated funding. Also on statewide ballots: a California Water Bond that includes the state's first funding for conservation in nearly a decade and a $10 million bond in Maine to protect water resources and wildlife habitat. Some highlights:

New Jersey Clean Water, Open Space, Farmland and Historic Preservation Dedication. The Conservation Campaign is sponsoring the campaign by the New Jersey Keep It Green coalition to pass a constitutional amendment permanently dedicating funds for the preservation and care of open space, parks, farmland, historic sites and flood-prone areas. It will generate $2.15 billion over the next 20 years. Read more.

Florida Water and Land Conservation Amendment. Placed on the ballot through a petition campaign, this measure guarantees that the state's historic source of funding for conserving, managing, and restoring water and land be spent as intended. If it passes, it will create more than $10 billion for conservation over the next 20 years, with no tax increase. Find out more about the Vote Yes on 1 campaign.

Local Campaigns around the Nation

Benton County "Our County Our Future"

From major metropolitan areas to rural counties, citizens will have a chance to shape their communities' future by voting "yes" on parks and land conservation funding ballot measures. The Conservation Campaign is sponsoring more than a dozen campaigns. Find out more on our website.

Los Angeles County Safe Neighborhood Parks (Proposition P) renews funding for improving and maintaining neighborhood parks, providing recreation to reduce gang activity, and protecting beaches, creeks, rivers, bays, and drinking water. Read more.

Portland, Oregon's, Fix Our Parks campaign seeks to pass a replacement bond measure investing in critical park repairs and improvements over the next ten years. Read more.

Benton County, WA, Prop 14-7 will provide an important advisory vote to create a Conservation Futures Fund for protecting the unique natural heritage of the urbanizing Mid-Columbia Valley region of eastern Washington. Read more about the Our County Our Future campaign.

Bernalillo County, NM, Open Space for All would reinvigorate an expired property tax levy to preserve Albuquerque's open space, farmland, wildlife habitat, and water supplies ahead of rapid development. Read more.

Massachusetts Community Preservation Act (CPA). Eight towns and cities, including the historic seaport city of New Bedford, are voting to join 155 other Massachusetts communities in adopting CPA and creating local funding, plus an annual state match, for open space, historic preservation, recreation, and affordable housing. Read more.

SUMMER SUCCESSES

The Massachusetts legislature passed the largest environmental bond in the state's history, authorizing $2.2 billion over four years. The Conservation Campaign was a leading member of the coalition that wrote and negotiated passage of the bond, which authorizes $360 million for land conservation, including $111 million for parks in under-served urban communities and $8 million for urban agriculture. The legislature also appropriated $25 million to boost the Community Preservation Act Trust Fund for a second year in a row.

In August, Seattle voters approved Proposition 1, creating a park district with a dedicated levy to protect and maintain green spaces. Funds are already being used to create parks on 12 small lots the city purchased but had run out of funds to develop.