In a long-awaited clarification of its position on Liberty State Park in Jersey City, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has described an overhaul of the sprawling Jersey City expanse that it says would not involve a golf course or other giveaways to commercial interests, as has been feared.
The multiphase plan would start with cleanup of a 235-acre interior zone that is contaminated with industrial pollution. This would be converted into parkland with about 6 miles of trails. In addition, certain tidal and non-tidal wetlands would be restored to their natural state. The Caven Point Natural Area, home to one of Northern New Jersey’s few salt marshes, would not be developed.
Other elements of the plan include extensive DEP construction of athletic facilities, including playing fields, basketball courts, and a swimming pool, although the exact mixture of amenities remains under consideration.
The Liberty State Park redevelopment plan is an effort to satisfy environmentalists’ concerns for preservation of natural habitat and open space while providing diverse recreation options for the Jersey City–area population. Fulfillment of this ambitious plan would take many years and require the cooperation and financial support of administrations that come after Gov. Phil Murphy.
“Liberty State Park must be protected from commercial and private interests, including Paul Fireman’s proposal to build a golf course for billionaires—full stop. This area is one of the only open, green spaces for residents in Jersey City, Hudson County, and surrounding environmental justice communities to recreate,” said NJ Sierra Club Director Anjuli Ramos-Busot