Division of Open Space
The Division of Open Space is a part of the Bergen County Department of Planning and Economic Development. Its mission is to protect and provide additional open spaces, to maintain and enhance the quality and degree of open space throughout the County.
What is Open Space?
Open space is, essentially, land that is not developed with buildings -- an area whose character is dictated by the land itself rather than what is built on the land. Open Space can take many forms, including parks, forests, greenways, wetlands, and farms. Open space provides various functions such as a habitat for various plant and animal life; an environmental filter for bodies of drinking water; and a place for enjoyment of outdoor recreation activities.
Division Programs
The Division makes use of the Bergen County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland & Historic Preservation Trust Fund (“Trust Fund”) to meet land preservation and improvement goals. The Trust Fund has the following program categories:
- County Park and Recreation Improvement
- Farmland Preservation
- Historic Preservation
- Municipal Park Improvement & Land Acquisition Program
- Open Space Land Acquisition
Bergen County Open Space and Recreation Plan
The Division is guided by the Bergen County Open Space and Recreation Plan which describes Bergen County’s open space and recreation needs. As an element of the Bergen County Master Plan, adopted by the Bergen County Planning Board in 2004, the emphasis of the plan is to:
- To provide facilities regional in nature and capable of serving residents of the entire county.
- To protect and preserve natural and scenic values in the county.
- To present current information on the supply, demand and need for recreation and open space in Bergen County.
- To implement open space and recreation planning policies and projects that are consistent with New Jersey’s Development and Redevelopment Plan.
- To encourage coordinated open space and recreation planning, acquisition and development initiatives of state and local governments, and conservation organizations.
- To effectively use funds from the Bergen County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund (the “Bergen County Trust Fund”), New Jersey Green Acres funding, and other sources of funding that may become available.
To view the Bergen County Open Space and Recreation Plan: Bergen County Open Space and Recreation Plan (.PDF/1.01 MB)