Maureen has done so much already, especially as head of the Council on the Outdoors whose report got the ball rolling with its million-acre recommendation. She will lead a group that is loaded with talent and dedication to the cause of preservation. Along with reviewing projects proposed for preservation, the Trust will be an advocate on this issue within New Jersey, on Capitol Hill, and across America. Our state has drawn national attention throughout the process that has led up to this moment. What we accomplish for New Jersey is critically important in its own right, but also for the example we can give other states.
Preservation is a timely issue across the country, and once again, New Jersey leads.
I view the preservation of land and historic sites in urban, suburban, and rural part of New Jersey as a critical part of my vision for revitalizing our cities and older suburbs and promoting smart growth everywhere. It's all part of a vision I hope you share - a vision of a clean and green and prosperous New Jersey that sustains both its economic strength and its environmental and aesthetic integrity. Now that the members of the Garden State Preservation Trust have been sworn in, the real work begins. And not a moment too soon. I made a pledge in my second inaugural address last year to preserve 300,000 acres before I leave office.