Original Airdate: April 17, 2003

The decisions we make today on land-use will affect generations beyond our own children and grandchildren. New Jersey is in a race that will shape the future of our lives – a race between development and open space preservation.

New housing projects and corporate sites are consuming forest and farmland at an incredible rate. Known as sprawl, this uncontrolled development affects the quality of life on many levels. Sprawl leaves a heavy impact on the land through air and water pollution, habitat destruction for native plants and wildlife, and increased demand on limited resources. Sprawl contributes to the decline of cities and older suburbs and changes the rural landscape forever. The tug of war between preserving open space and providing homes for families and individuals has created a tension between developers and environmentalists that feels insurmountable. How will we in New Jersey handle this problem?

According to research conducted by Rutgers University, based on the current trend, the Garden State will exhaust its supply of buildable land in the next few decades and may become the first state in the nation to be considered 'built out'. The prognosis is alarming, but there is hope and there is time to manage development for the good of all through smart growth and open space preservation.

The Race for Open Space is narrated by Charles Gibson, Co-anchor, ABC News Good Morning America and Primetime Thursday.

The Race for Open Space is made possible by funding from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.