RINGWOOD & the Highlands Act

Protecting Our Water, Our Communities, and Our Future

Ringwood is one of only five municipalities located entirely within the New Jersey Highlands Preservation Zone. This designation reflects the extraordinary environmental value of our town, including critical drinking water sources, forests, and open space that serve not only Ringwood residents, but millions of people across New Jersey.

As development has increased in surrounding areas, the contrast has become clear. The protections of the Highlands Act have preserved the character of our community while safeguarding vital natural resources for future generations.

A Brief History of the Highlands Act

The New Jersey Highlands Act was signed into law in 2004 in response to growing concerns about overdevelopment, water supply shortages, and environmental degradation in the Highlands region. The Act established the Highlands Preservation Area and imposed strict land use protections to safeguard drinking water for more than half of New Jersey’s population.

At the time the Act was passed, Ringwood leadership played an important role in supporting these efforts. Ringwood’s mayor at the time, Democrat Wenke Taule, supported the Highlands Act and recognized both the responsibility and the long-term value of protecting our watershed, even as it placed significant limits on local development and tax ratables.

From the beginning, Ringwood Democrats understood that protecting the Highlands was not just an environmental issue, but a regional and statewide obligation.

The Cost of Preservation and the Need for Fair FundinG

While the Highlands Act has delivered enormous benefits to New Jersey, it has also placed a disproportionate financial burden on towns like Ringwood. Large portions of our land are permanently protected, limiting development and reducing potential local revenue, while the cost of providing municipal services remains.

For many years, local advocates have pushed for the state to recognize this imbalance and provide meaningful financial support to Highlands communities.

A Major Step Forward: State Aid for Highlands Towns

In 2025, Governor Phil Murphy signed Senate Bill S-3466/A-4627 into law. This legislation marked a major victory for Ringwood and other Highlands communities by ensuring that municipalities protecting vital watershed lands are eligible for state aid from the Highlands Protection Fund.

This was a long-overdue acknowledgment of the role Highlands towns play as environmental stewards, and it reflects years of advocacy by local leaders, including the Ringwood Democratic Organization, which has consistently supported funding solutions tied to the Highlands Act.

Building a Coalition for Highlands Impact Aid

Today, Ringwood is part of a growing Coalition of Highlands towns working together to expand this progress. The coalition is advocating for Highlands Impact Aid, dedicated state funding to fairly compensate communities that bear the economic costs of protecting New Jersey’s water supply and natural resources.

This effort is about balance: maintaining the strong environmental protections of the Highlands Act while ensuring that the towns carrying out this mission are financially supported.

Looking AheaD

Continuing the work to secure stable state funding for Highlands communities while upholding the protections of the 2004 Highlands Act is something we can all support. It is an investment in our kids, our schools, our environment, and the future of towns like Ringwood.

Protecting the Highlands protects New Jersey. Supporting Highlands towns ensures that this protection remains strong for generations to come.