Citgo is offering to give a conservation easement of 392-acre Petty's Island in the Delaware River for FREE and to clean up ALL contamination to government environmental standards. Citgo is also offering to donate $2 million to a land trust to manage and conserve the island. Taxpayers will not be liable for any environmental clean up costs. Unfortunately the state of NJ has refused Citgo's gift, since a connected developer has plans for a golf course, single-family luxury homes and a high-rise hotel and convention center. The environmental community is working against the clock, to preserve the island as a protected habitat for the threatened and endangered species that live there. Read more about Petty's Island. Take action and respond to our alert.

As a member of the NY/NJ Trail Conference, the NJ Chapter has a responsibility to maintain a section of trail. We are fortunate to have been assigned a portion of the Highlands Trail near Lake Hopatcong. For those who know the area, the Trail is roughly from the Eves Mountain Inlet Sanctuary to the Weldon Quarry. If you are interested in participating in an upcoming service trip, contact Dennis Schvejda, Conservation Director.

When McGreevey's "EZ Pass for Polluters" bill becomes law, the last pockets of green in NJ's already developed areas will be lost to "smart growth." So, we can take solace and enjoy the parks that we have, right? Unfortunately, McGreevey's Urban Parks Initiative is actually an "urbanization of our parks" initiative and threatens what little green space the public thought was protected. Join me to witness the destruction of forest and foot trail in Prospect Park's Hofstra Park by a bicycle "path."

To celebrate the historic Highlands preservation vote, the Sierra Club called for an impromptu hike, June 13, 2004 at Wyanokie High Point at Norvin Green State Forest.

The Highlands Coalition, Adirondack Mountain Club, Appalachian Mountain Club, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Sierra Club and Weis Wyanokie Wanderers invite you to hike the Critical Treasures of the Highlands. These hikes are open to the public and will explore some of the many special places in the Highlands region, the threats they are facing, and opportunities to help protect them. Visit http://www.nynjtc.org/events/2002/highhike.html for more info. [NOTE: This album will eventually contain 4 sub-albums (currently contains two), one for each Highlands Hike. Click on any of the sub-album pictures to see the photos for that particular hike.]