New Jerseyans are passionate about the future of Liberty State Park, and that passion was on display at a packed committee hearing in Trenton. Supporters and opponents spent hours debating the Liberty State Park Conservation, Recreation and Community Inclusion Act. The bill would allocate $250 million to a task force to fix up New Jersey’s most popular state park. Democratic state Sen. Brian Stack is a co-sponsor. Lawmakers met with concern from advocates but also heard from those who point to potential new athletic facilities as a win for the park and students.
Others are worried that the bill doesn’t ban privatization, possibly leaving vulnerable places like Caven Point — a haven for migratory birds — open to commercial development. Committee chair Sen. Bob Smith, also a Democrat, said on Thursday he will not amend the bill to protect Caven Point, a potential target for golf course expansion.
“You need to take a timeout and to make sure that this bill gets rid of the potential for abuse. Right now in that bill, there’s more holes in it than in a golf course. It’s really up to you to tighten this bill up, so that we protect the uses of this park for all people,” said Jeff Tittel, former director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
