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{"id":2654,"date":"2025-06-03T10:00:54","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T14:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/njdep.local\/?page_id=2654"},"modified":"2026-03-04T12:36:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:36:16","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/parksandforests\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221;][vc_column]                    <div class=\"custom-fullwidth-innerhero-section-empty\"><\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"breadcrumbs w-full\"><div class=\"contentholder\"><ul id=\"breadcrumbs\" class=\"breadcrumbs underfull\"><li class=\"item-home\"><a class=\"bread-link bread-home\" href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/parksandforests\" title=\"Home\"><strong>Home<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li class=\"separator separator-home\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;\/&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\r\n    \r\n    <style>\r\n        .custom-fullwidth-depthero-section {\r\n            position: relative;\r\n            background-size: cover;\r\n            background-position: center;\r\n            background-repeat: no-repeat;\r\n            overflow: hidden;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .custom-fullwidth-depthero-section .bg-video {\r\n            position: absolute;\r\n            top: 0;\r\n            left: 0;\r\n            width: 100%;\r\n            height: 100%;\r\n            object-fit: cover;\r\n            z-index: 0;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .custom-fullwidth-depthero-section .custom-overlay {\r\n            position: relative;\r\n            z-index: 1;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        @media screen and (max-width: 768px) {\r\n            .custom-fullwidth-depthero-section .bg-video {\r\n                display: none;\r\n            }\r\n        }\r\n    <\/style>\r\n\r\n    [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1748959197972{padding-top: 30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column]   \r\n    <div class=\"custom-text_heading-section\">    \r\n        <div class=\"contentholder\">\r\n                            <div>\r\n                                            <h2 class=\"fivezero blue\">About<\/h2>\r\n                                                            <div class=\"fiftycol\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The State Parks, Forests &amp; Historic Sites program, administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, is responsible for the management of more than 450,000 acres of public land across state parks, forests, recreation areas, historic sites and Natural Lands Trust preserves. The program\u2019s responsibilities also include the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, which is charged with responding to all wildland fires on both public and private lands, covering more than three million acres.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/parksandforests\/strategic-plan\/\">Read<\/a> the State Parks, Forests &amp; Historic Sites <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/parksandforests\/strategic-plan\/\">Strategic Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><i>&#8220;The mission of the State Parks, Forests &amp; Historic Sites program is to provide equitable and responsible access for present and future generations to the state\u2019s natural, historic and recreational resources. Through the implementation of best practices in stewardship, education, interpretation, law enforcement and forest protection we ensure the conservation, protection and understanding of these resources.&#8221;<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n       \r\n    <div class=\"custom_contained_text-section nop\">    \r\n        <div class=\"contentholderwide2 containedcolor congrey\">\r\n            <div class=\"contentholder\">\r\n                                    <div>\r\n                                                                            <p><strong>New Jersey State Parks<\/strong><br \/>\nNew Jersey State Parks is organized into four distinct management units, each responsible for providing residents and visitors with safe, quality experiences with New Jersey\u2019s natural and historic resources.<\/p>\r\n                                                <div class=\"fiftycol\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>State Parks &amp; Forests<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:\u00a0 Encompassing 41 state parks, 11 state forests, five recreation areas, six marinas and four golf courses, New Jersey\u2019s state parks and forests offer diverse experiences from High Point to Cape May Point which include swimming, hiking, camping, paddling, educational programs and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Urban State Parks &amp; Initiatives<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Tasked with expanding New Jersey State Parks&#8217; reach into urban areas of New Jersey, increasing access to green space in the nation\u2019s most densely populated state. The program is leading several large scale projects including the development of a nine-mile linear park from Mountain to Jersey City and the revitalization of Liberty State Park, while supporting other urban park priorities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>State Historic Sites<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Coordinating with more than 50 sites and districts, the State Historic Sites program works to preserve and interpret New Jersey\u2019s rich history, from the state\u2019s role in the American Revolution to its industrial and agricultural past.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>State Park Police<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: The law enforcement arm of New Jersey State Parks responsible for patrolling all state park and Natural Lands Trust lands to ensure public safety and the protection of natural resources. State Park Police Dispatch is available 24\/7 at 1-877-WARNDEP (1-877-927-6337).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n       \r\n    <div class=\"custom_contained_text-section nop\">    \r\n        <div class=\"contentholderwide2 containedcolor conwhite\">\r\n            <div class=\"contentholder\">\r\n                                    <div>\r\n                                                                            <p><strong>Forests &amp; Natural Lands <\/strong><br \/>\nThe Office of Forests &amp; Natural Lands is broken down into three sections that work to manage and preserve New Jersey\u2019s natural landscapes.<\/p>\r\n                                                <div class=\"fiftycol\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Forest Fire Service:<\/strong> Responsible for wildland fire suppression across more than three million acres of state, county, municipal, federal and private property, the Forest Fire Service works year-round responding to emergencies, working with communities on wildfire planning, and mitigates threats that could cause or further fuel a future wildfire.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Forest Service<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Not only does the Forest Service implement forest management projects on state lands, but also provides assistance to private landowners, tracks the state\u2019s forest health, supports municipalities through the Urban &amp; Community Forestry program, grows trees at the state tree nursery, among other tasks.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Office of Natural Lands Management:<\/strong> Managing the state\u2019s database of rare plants, the office also oversees the Natural Areas System and recommends management activities to improve rare plants throughout the state.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n       \r\n    <div class=\"custom_contained_text-section nop\">    \r\n        <div class=\"contentholderwide2 containedcolor congrey\">\r\n            <div class=\"contentholder\">\r\n                                    <div>\r\n                                                                        <b>Office of Resource Development:<br \/>\n<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Office of Resource Development deploys funding to maintain and develop new facilities for the State Parks, Forests &amp; Historic Sites, and Fish &amp; Wildlife programs. Funding for many of the projects the office undertakes comes from constitutionally dedicated Corporate Business Tax revenue in accordance with the Preserve New Jersey Act.<\/span>                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n       \r\n    <div class=\"custom_contained_text-section \">    \r\n        <div class=\"contentholderwide2 containedcolor conblue\">\r\n            <div class=\"contentholder\">\r\n                                    <div>\r\n                                                                            <p><strong>Press Requests<\/strong><br \/>\nPress inquiries about the State Parks, Forests and Historic Sites Program should be directed to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection\u2019s press office at 609-984-1795 or by emailing james.douglas@deptest.nj.gov.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Contact<\/strong><\/p>\r\n                                                <div class=\"fiftycol\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">State Park Service:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Phone: +1 (800) 843-6420 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> +1 (609) 984-0370<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Email: <\/span><a href=\"mailto:parks@deptest.nj.gov\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #fff\">parks@deptest.nj.gov<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New Jersey Forest Service:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Phone: +1 (609) 292-2532\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Email: <\/span><a href=\"mailto:askaforester@deptest.nj.gov\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #fff\">askaforester@deptest.nj.gov<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New Jersey Forest Fire Service:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Phone: +1 (609) 292-2977<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Email: <\/span><a href=\"mailto:njwildfire@deptest.nj.gov\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #fff\">njwildfire@deptest.nj.gov<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">State Park Police:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dispatch: 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tip Line: 1-844-PARK-TIP (1-844-727-5847)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Trenton Headquarters: (609) 292-4744<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Email: <a href=\"mailto:stateparkpolice@deptest.nj.gov\"><span style=\"color: #fff\">stateparkpolice@deptest.nj.gov<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221;][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221; 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