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Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Approving an “Adopt-a-Park” Agreement with the Friends of Herrontown Woods Pursuant to New Jersey’s Adopt-a-Park Law, N.J.S.A. 40:12-20 et seq., for Parkland Known as the Autumn Hill Reservation
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WHEREAS, New Jersey’s “Adopt-a-Park Law”, N.J.S.A. 40:12-20 et seq., authorizes municipalities to enter into agreements with business entities or nonprofit organizations located within or near the municipality to provide for the maintenance, operation, or improvement of the municipality’s parks and open spaces; and
WHEREAS, the nonprofit organization known as the Friends of Herrontown Woods (“FOHW”) has volunteered to “adopt” Princeton’s park known and commonly referred to as the “Autumn Hill Reservation”, as permitted by the Adopt-a-Park Law, and has demonstrated to Princeton that it is amply capable of maintaining, operating and improving said park; and
WHEREAS, Princeton appreciates groups and organizations who volunteer their time and efforts to improve and maintain the parklands located within the municipality; and
WHEREAS, Princeton and FOHW wish to enter into an agreement to reflect their mutual understandings with regard to having FOHW “adopt” the Autumn Hill Reservation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of Princeton, County of Mercer, State of New Jersey, as follows:
1. The preamble to this resolution is hereby incorporated as if restated in full.
2. The Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to sign on Princeton’s behalf an agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of FOHW’s “adoption” of the Autumn Hill Reservation, the form and substance of which shall have been approved by the Municipal Attorney.
3. The term of the Agreement shall be for ten years, and may be renewed thereafter on the same terms or such other terms as may be mutually agreeable between Princeton and FOHW, except that consistent with the Adopt-a-Park law, Princeton shall have the right to terminate the Agreement at any time without prior notice to FOHW for any reason, including, but not limited to, failure of FOHW to comply with any terms or conditions of the Agreement, and FOHW shall have the right to terminate the Agreement upon at least six months’ written notice to Princeton. FOHW shall at all times comply with (a) the requirements of the Adopt-a-Park law, including the provision of the statutorily-required liability waivers and releases and the provision of liability coverage; (b) Princeton’s rules and regulations for parks and recreation areas; and (c) the rules and regulations promulgated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program (N.J.A.C. 7:36-1 et seq.).
4. The Mayor, Clerk, and other appropriate staff and officials are hereby authorized to undertake any and all such actions and execute any all such documents as may be necessary to effectuate the terms hereof.
5. This resolution shall take effect immediately.