The Jersey Journal
Environmentalists rally at park
05/13/02
By Jennifer Del Medico
Newhouse News Service
About 150 people held a rally over the weekend at Liberty State Park in Jersey City to urge the state to end its contract with a private corporation that has managed the park for 16 years.
In April, state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley Campbell told the Liberty State Park Development Corporation that it had defaulted on its contract with the state because of management problems.
In a letter sent to the development corporation last month, Campbell cited among the problems the "consistent under-collection of rental fees" from the park's parking facilities.
"...It has become clear that the direction of the corporation does not coincide with the mission of Liberty State Park," Campbell wrote.
The demonstrators gathered at the park's Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, directly across from the development corporation's office, chanting "Free the park!" and waving placards that said, "No Development Corporation in the people's park."
" (The development corporation) has violated the trust we all have as private citizens," Bruce Vanderhoff, of Flemington, said. "The park is not for sale."
Critics of the development corporation, who have opposed its plans to build facilities in the park, said they feared Gov. James E. McGreevey's administration was having second thoughts about the future of the corporation.
"We call on the governor to stand firm and not to back down," said Sam Pesin, president of the Friends of Liberty State Park, the leading critic of the development corporation. "He must listen to the people's voice."
State officials could not be reached for comment Saturday.
The development corporation collects fees from an independent company that operates the park's two parking lots, which were built with state bonds. State officials have said the corporation has been remiss in making bond payments, requiring the state to chip in $833,328 over the past two years.
Peter Ylvisaker, chairman of the development corporation, has said the state is mistaken about the corporation's finances and management. Ylvisaker did not return a phone message left at his home Saturday.
The development corporation has proposed building a golf course and water park in Liberty State Park, but those plans met with opposition from environmentalists and other critics.
The state has told the corporation that it has until June 9 to "show cause" why it should not be shut down.
Alan V. Lowenstein, vice chairman and trustee of the corporation, said it will soon send a response to the state arguing that the corporation should stay in business as long as park development plans continue