$5m for Capital Park Construction in NJ State Budget FY2025 Celebrated by Advocates

TRENTON, NJ—The State Legislature has introduced the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, with $5 million in funding for the construction of Capital Park. This comes one year after a group of nonprofits (New Jersey Future, NJ Conservation Foundation, NJ League of Conservation Voters, and Isles, Inc.) gathered 800 petition signatures, and the Legislature and Governor funded $3 million for the planning and design of Capital Park.

The group of nonprofit organizations pushing for the conversion of Capital Park released the following statements on NJ’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget:

Pete Kasabach, Executive Director of New Jersey Future comments:

New Jersey Future is proud to call Trenton home. We view Capital Park as a critical improvement to the Statehouse complex and a vital connector between the Statehouse and the local community. In 2026, Capital Park will welcome the fifth governor since the beginning of advocacy behind converting this space into an urban park. We thank the legislature and administration for advancing this project and look forward to securing the final funding amounts soon.

Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, NJ Conservation Foundation Cultural comments: 

Capital Park will create a green public space to connect important state cultural assets like the Old Barracks and State Museum, State Library, Archives and the War Memorial – for residents and visitors alike. As we prepare to honor the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States next year we want to use this opportunity to honor our State Capital building and recognize the incredible role New Jersey has played in the forming of our nation.

Ed Postnak, Executive Director, NJLCV comments:

Urban communities in the state have largely been left out from accessing green spaces and parks within walking distance of their homes. The investment in this important Capital Park project will help provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relief from heat island effects for thousands of New Jerseyans who live in and visit our capital city. We applaud Governor Murphy and the Legislature for providing needed funding for the Capital Park in Trenton. This park will make our capitol city a destination for tourists while creating a one-of-a-kind green infrastructure project along the Delaware River.

Sean Jackson, CEO of Isles, Inc. comments:

Capital Park is more than a new green space; it is also an economic development opportunity vital to the City of Trenton and its current and future residents. Providing an inviting open space amenity should spur new residential developments and commercial spaces long-envisioned for this area of the city.