Garden State voters have passed a referendum in 15 of its 21 counties that authorizes New Jersey to borrow $400 million for open space initiatives.

New Jersey voters have backed some form of open-space funding since 1961, in the past eleven voting cycles.

In the past, the funds have been used to buy land for recreation and conservation, to preserve farmland and to pay for historic preservation projects.

The referendum met the most opposition in the more rural parts of New Jersey, including Sussex, Warren and Morris counties.