The Jersey Journal
Editorial
" You haven't seen our crown jewel? "

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

One always hears about natives of New York City saying they've lived in the Big Apple all their lives but never visited the typical tourist or famous sites of the city, including the Empire State building, the Cloisters, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and more.

Unfortunately, a Jersey Journal/New Jersey City University poll has found that more that a fifth of Hudson County's residents, 22.5 percent, are equally guilty when they admit to never having visited Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

Liberty State is the most visited park in New Jersey. Just travel through the park and one can spot vehicles with license plates from around the nation. In travel guides, the park is a must-stop destination. Last year, 4 million people came to the 1,212-acre park and 800,000 of those stopped at the Liberty Science Center.

Nestled along the marshlands and on the waterfront, the park has a world-class view of Lower Manhattan, Upper New York Bay, the Jersey City skyline, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

There are picnic areas and great lawns reminiscent of those in Central Park in Manhattan, but with a scent of the sea. You can walk along the walkway, with a section that makes you feel as though you are walking out on the bay and within a stone's throw of Lady Liberty.

It is a venue for charitable events, some free concerts, occasional festivals, and it will soon be home to New Jersey's 9/11 memorial. State officials say it is one of the favorite sites in the Garden State for filming commercials. People jog, bike, fish and launch boats in the park. It is all on a grand scale. At lunchtime, there are vehicles in the park's southern section parking lots where drivers eat their sandwiches and take a moment to refresh their spirits before returning to work.

It is a wondrous place for children and adults alike. All Hudson County residents should have an opportunity to visit this green oasis. While it is within reach with a $1.50 light-rail train ride and one bus route out of Jersey City, mass transit to the park is limited.

Perhaps, state and county officials should find ways to provide public transportation to Liberty Park from the county's far corners, particularly during the summer months.

"Park has met all our hopes" (but we have many more hopes for the future. Sam Pesin )Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Letters to the Editor
The Jersey Journal

The Jersey Journal's great May 11 editorial, "You haven't seen our crown jewel?" accurately describes Liberty State Park as a "wondrous place for children and adults alike" where people get their "spirits refreshed." I hope the editorial's important call for more public transportation from around the county, especially during summer months, brings action from elected and appointed officials to enable more people to enjoy this special park. LSP is a sacred public space due to its views of Lady Liberty and Ellis Island, its role on and in the months after 9/11, and also due to the extreme scarcity of urban open space.

An excellent and useful summary of the park's many features were described in the editorial, in combination with Molly Bloom's three terrific Jersey Journal articles (May 9). She highlighted the "United Nations" of LSP visitors, and the history of the citizens' movement, spearheaded by my late father, Morris, the park's "father," and the civic leaders Ted Conrad and Audrey Zapp, to transform the abandoned waterfront wasteland into a green park with 600 acres above water and 600 acres under water. The essence of LSP history is that citizens have worked for a free park and stopped privatization threats.

The park does offer a multitude of opportunities to enjoy recreation, including all types of sports played on its many lawns, walking, biking, jogging, fishing, using the popular public boat launch, and flying kites in a scenic and breezy setting.

LSP has New Jersey's largest playground, its inspiring portion of the "Hudson River Waterfront Walkway," picnic areas, restored CRRNJ Terminal, nature center, and ferry access to Lady Liberty and Ellis Island with their powerful immigration history museums.

The planned restoration of the park's interior natural areas with nature trails and perimeter open space, the expansion of Liberty Science Center, the state's 9/11 Memorial, group picnic pavilions and athletic field will help make LSP a "park for the ages."

We thank all who walked and contributed to the April 30 "Walk," LSP's first fundraising event, which kicked off the countdown year to the park's 30th birthday on June 14, 2006.

We express gratitude for generous sponsorship support by: The Jersey Journal; Liberty House Restaurant (inside LSP) and Senior Spirit, a medical day center, also owned by the Cretella family, Minuteman Press of Jersey City, PSE&G, and the Hard Grove Cafe. Trees and flowers will be planted with the Walk proceeds.

The Friends and LSP Conservancy got strong support for the Walk from park Superintendents Josh Osowski and Jenny Spiegel and their hard-working staff. These dedicated, enthusiastic superintendents are always open for suggestions and can be reached at 201-915-3403.

The park is a community space which strengthens us spiritually. I hope people will come to LSPs terminal (one way is by Light Rail to shuttle bus) for the June 5 Jersey City Cultural Arts Festival, from Noon to 6 p.m., with its ethnic foods, music, dance, art and crafts displays.

God bless Liberty State Park!

SAM PESIN PRESIDENT OF FRIENDS OF LSP JERSEY CITY