A big plea for people to help convince Trenton legislators to provide an annual stipend for Greenwood Lake needs has come from New Jersey Greenwood Lake Commission Co-Chair Paul Zarrillo.
Unless Trenton legislators are convinced to pass bill A-3804 and companion bill S-2167, the much needed yearly money to keep Greenwood Lake usable for recreation will not come, Zarrillo said.
After many trips to Trenton by Zarrillo and other volunteers to plead with people currently in office the bill finally was seen.
A lack of action before possible changes in legislators in the fall general election, however, could spell doom for the anticipated funding.
It is no secret that not so long ago weeds in the lake caused the cancellation of boat races, a tourism highlight that brings visitors to town who patronize local businesses while here.
Zarrillo and the others ask the public to contact legislators for needed funding to remove the weeds and take added action to assure the lake waters being pristine in the present and future.
“The bill will provide $500,000 annual funding to the Greenwood Lake Commission for the purpose of protecting the natural, scenic, economic and recreational resources of the lake,” Zarrillo said. “The monies will fund Greenwood Lake Commission projects at the New Jersey end of the lake and benefit the entire lake. A similar effort will be launched in New York State in the coming months.”
Zarrillo asked that people contact New Jersey Assembly members by calling or writing them to say they support passage of the legislation for Greenwood Lake to ensure that the bill is heard and approved by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and sent to the full legislature and favorably acted upon.