FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Teresa Ruiz

August 10, 2004 973-621-4404

ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCED THE

SALE OF THE FIRST HILLTOP PARCELS

Approximately 15 Acres of Land from the Hilltop Property are Conveyed to both Cedar Grove and North Caldwell for

Parkland and Recreation Purposes.

Cedar Grove, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced on Tuesday, August 10th that Essex County and the Essex County Improvement Authority have conveyed approximately 15 acres of the Hilltop to the municipalities of Cedar Grove and North Caldwell. The two towns will use the land to create additional parkland for active and passive recreation activities.

“Our municipalities have been looking forward to the day when they would be able to take possession of this land, and I am happy to say that day has arrived,” said DiVincenzo. “A strong county and municipal partnership has allowed us to preserve desperately needed recreation and open space that will enhance the quality of life for all,” he added.

Cedar Grove Mayor Joseph Chiusolo, members of the council, the Essex County Improvement Authority, and the Essex County Executive participated in the sale of 10.67 acres to Cedar Grove. The land, acquired for $275,000, was formerly the site of the Essex County sewage treatment plant. Cedar Grove bid for the property in 2002, when it officially was put on the real estate market.

“Today is a great day and it marks the end of a long struggle…nine years,” Chiusolo said, during today’s press conference. “We are elated to be taking over this space. My hat goes off to the County Executive and the Essex County Improvement Authority for all of your hard work to make this day possible,” he added.

Chiusolo also thanked Cedar Grove Councilwoman Ann Mega and Cedar Grove Township Manager Tom Tucci for their commitment and dedication to working with the County Executive and the Essex County Improvement Authority on the sale of the first Hilltop parcels.

In January 2003, DiVincenzo successfully negotiated with the State Green Acres program to pay Essex County $3.85 million to preserve 44 acres of Hilltop for active and passive recreation. Of this acreage 4.045-acre, Magnusson Field in Caldwell/ North Caldwell was conveyed to the town for one dollar and 5.5 acres will be leased for a dollar more. North Caldwell Mayor Mel Levine and members of the town council joined County officials to sign the conveyance and accept the lease. Cedar Grove will lease 31.56 acres of this preserved area for a dollar. Action and adoption was taken by the Freeholder Board on July 14th.

“The residents of North Caldwell will not forget the quality of life you have given us,” Levine said, commending DiVincenzo for making HillTop a priority. “We have never had the kind of attention the County Executive has given us,” he added.

Both Chiusolo and Levine praised the County Executive for taking the lead on the Hilltop project and moving it from the back burner.

“I know how important it is for our citizens to see this project move forward,” said James Paganelli, Executive Director of the Essex County Improvement Authority. “We put a great deal of effort into completing these transactions and the County Executive was a driving force,” he added.

“Our success in obtaining Green Acres money for a portion of the Hilltop gave us the opportunity to preserve open space in a County that has limited land to acquire, and removed the burden of purchase costs from the municipalities,” DiVincenzo noted.

When the concept to sell the Hilltop was introduced in 1995, Essex County promised it would set aside property for municipalities to purchase for recreational use. The deeds conveyed at today’s press conference restrict use of the property to passive or active recreation. Ownership returns to Essex County if the Municipality deviates from this use.

The roadblocks to freeing up the development portion of the Hilltop property were removed when the DiVincenzo administration completed the $416 million dollar correctional facility on Doremus Avenue, Newark and began planning for a new Essex County Hospital Center at an alternate site.

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