For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeff Tittel, NJ Sierra Club, 609-558-9100
Today, the Department of Environmental Protection rejected Liberty National Golf Club’s ultra-exclusive golf course expansion onto the Caven Point area of Liberty State Park.The DEP rejected the golf course's bid as "nonresponsive", meaning the application did not include a number of required items. This includes Liberty National failing to show how their proposed rent was equal value to market use. They also were unable to identify tangible benefits to the public. There is also a clause at the end of the letter that allows them come back and re-apply. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement:
“This is a victory for open space and environmental preservation over a millionaire’s golf course. Once again, we’re putting the Public back into the Public Trust Doctrine. Liberty National Golf Club tried to take public land for their private golf course. It’s good that the DEP rejected LibertyNational Golf Club’s proposal however we should not have had to go to court with them to release public records of this proposal. This land is held in the public trust and belongs to all of us, not just to be for a private club. Today is an important win but we must remain vigilant. They could reapply so we will continue to fight any privatization of Liberty State Park.
“It seems that every few years there’s an attempt to privatize land in Liberty State Park and this has to end. Between the revitalization plan, the proposed marine, and now this golf course. Caven’s Point is a critical area because it is the buffer between Liberty Golf Course and Caven’s Point. It is in an environmentally sensitive area that needs to be preserved. Caven’s Point area is comprised of sandy beach, saltwater marshland, tidal pools, mud flats and upland forest remain as it is for birds such as the snowy owl. Thousands of people use Caven’s Point for environmental programs and recreational uses such as fishing and bird watching.
“This win is because of the people who come out every year and fight to keep Liberty State Park in the public trust. This is a victory of the people and for the park that belongs to all of us. We should not be privatizing our park to take care of golfers at an ultra-exclusive golf club. Liberty State Park belongs to all of us and we should stop trying to privatize the park.”