NJDEP’s Interior Restoration Summary
In the center
of the park there remains approximately 251acres, the former railroad yard,
which is undeveloped. Much of the
area has been re-colonized by various plant communities. These communities
represent unique associations of both endemic and non-native species that can be
considered the by-product of the cultural events that have taken place during
the past several centuries. A broad-based, goal-driven approach is being used to
develop the General Management Plan (GMP) for the site. The Division’s LSP
Advisory Planning Committee, formerly called the Interdisciplinary Planning
Committee, has been working on this plan since 2000.
The planning
process stresses the fundamental relationship between resource significance and
visitor experience. The planning process encourages feedback from the local
community. Most importantly, the planning process results in documentation of
planning efforts that build a consensus among participants, assure logic and
consistency in the proposals, and provide a valid rationale in decision-making.
The members of the interdisciplinary planning committee, who represent
various public and private interest groups, have agreed to participate in the
development of the GMP.
Premise I: Inherent Ecological Value
Various plant
communities have re-colonized much of the site. Like the surrounding community
of people these assemblages are diverse and have origins throughout the world.
This diversity is further enhanced by the rapid rate of natural succession
(change inherent within any ecosystem). Hence, there is ecological and aesthetic
value in some of the existing natural association.
Premise II) Soils Condition
The soils of
the area consist of fill brought in by the railroad companies between 1860 and
1919 to stabilize the surface. Much of it is non-consolidated material resulting
from construction projects in Manhattan, or refuse from throughout New York City
and the surrounding area. It is classified as historic fill and has some
limitations. Allowing public access via the creation of a trail system will have
to creatively combine soils mitigation boardwalk construction, plantings and
some fencing to ensure the safety of pedestrians through the site.
Agreement I, Planning Objectives:
1.
Provide public access for interpretive programs allowing visitors to
touch the natural world.
2.
Maintain as much of the site as possible, especially wetlands and special
plant communities, under a conservation mandate while providing public access
3.
The landscape of the interior should reflect the history of the park as
well as the connection to the harbor/estuary. The history of the area now known
as Liberty State
4.
Provide public access to the perimeter of the site for multiple uses.
5.
Improve topography, enhance wetlands and provide open water, and enhance
aesthetic values and sight lines where possible. In those areas that are to be
disturbed, new elevations will be established that enhance the existing
wetlands, possibly creating open water habitat and taking advantage of the
spectacular views of the harbor and New York City skylines.
6.
The planning effort will be conscious of other neighboring redevelopment
efforts.
Agreement III,
Proposed Protection Strategies
Key to accomplishing the committee’s stated
objectives will be the integrated use of the protection of critical areas; the
conservation of woodland and field areas; and the restoration of wetland
habitats and provisions for visitor services according to the following:
moss mat community. Due to its
unique association of species, which is characteristic of
communities at northern
latitudes, this critical area will also be protected.
4.
Saltwater wetland restoration may also be possible.
Agreement IV,
Methodologies
1.
Preservation- The preservation of the wet-thicket and sedge ponds, which
currently occupy approximately 3 acres, is critical. A buffer of 100 feet must
also be included, and the area could be expanded to approximately 10 acres.
In addition, the half-acre moss mat community is found in association
with 2 acres of "common reed", a half-acre of sumac and 1.3 acres of
sedge ponds, which act as a buffer. This complex should remain intact and allow
the "moss mat community" to expand.
2.
Conservation - The pioneer forest comprises a significant section of the
interior. Management strategies in these areas will consist of removing invasive
species and a limited amount of wildlife enhancement plantings. In addition,
those field areas existing between the wooded areas should be allowed to
succeed, creating a more contiguous forest.
Field areas include herbs and grasses that inhabit the dry, gravel soils
of the old railroad beds. Many grass fields are gradually giving way to early
succession woody species. While this transition will be encouraged in those
areas between the forested stands, thereby creating a more contiguous forest,
some grasses will be maintained. The
primary management practice will be to mow the area on an annual/biannual basis
or more frequently depending upon the desired use.
3.
Restoration - Grasses and species of trees typical of early succession
currently dominate the dredge spoil site.
It may be possible within these areas to create a cross section of the
vegetative communities, which existed prior to the development of the area.
The creation of an area representative of the transition from salt marsh
to upland forest would provide for an exceptional study of habitat restoration
in the urban environment while enriching the visitor experience.
The
"common reed" (Phragmites
comminus) dominates the marsh meadow. The "Common Reed" grows as a
nearly impenetrable; dense stands are 10-12 feet in height.
While some of these stands will be involved in the restoration efforts,
which may include the reintroduction of freshwater habitat into the park,
several acres should be left for its inherent wildlife values.
The
restoration of both freshwater and marine wetlands could re-introduce aquatic
habitats to the center of the park and create a network of interconnected
wetland/waterways.
4.
Interpretive Enhancements - Interpretive trails will be developed in
areas already disturbed by former roads to minimize disturbance.
However, several connecting trails will have to be developed.
These should follow the vegetative communities to allow for viewing
wildlife while minimizing disturbance.
5.
Interpretive and Recreational Enhancements - In order to provide open
space non-commercial recreational enhancements, connection between existing
facilities and access for interpretation, several trails and perimeter green
spaces will have to be established. While the perimeter must serve as a buffer
to the more ecologically sensitive areas, its width can vary greatly to create
interesting areas capable of supporting trails, which explore interpretive
themes, picnic areas or other forms of passive recreation.
The amount of area dedicated to the various types of activities would be
determined during the future design phase but should loosely follow the wood lot
edge.
The 18-acre soil
stockpile area, recently disturbed by the storage of soil used for landscaping
purposes throughout the park, will provide for a range of non-commercial passive
recreational activities. Its
location in the extreme southwest corner of the site, next to the industrial
complex and across from the proposed sports complex may lend itself to such use
and is critical as a buffer to the more ecologically sensitive areas within the
site.
By using fill to
increase the elevation of certain areas within the perimeter visual and noise
barriers can be created. They can
be used to obscure the view of the industrial area or decrease the noise from
traffic along Phillips Dr. They can
also be used to create interesting lines of site between the Science Center and
the Interpretive Center or to direct storm water into the wetland areas.
The
conceptual plan presented above has been developed with the intention of
providing the best land use given exiting conditions.
At this point engineering studies that focus on mitigation of historic
fill, hydrology for freshwater wetlands and reintroduction of salt marsh habitat
must be undertaken. It has been determined that the area is of such significance
to the eventual success of other park amenities, and also to the quality of life
for surrounding residents, that a professional international competition for the
actual design should be conducted. Such competitions tend to increase the
visibility of the project and attract more creative designers, giving the
project the attention it deserves.
Liberty State
Park, the cornerstone of the Gold Coast, is already a successful rehabilitation
story. However, with the completion of the interior section the park has the
potential to be an international showcase for the restoration of a former urban
brown field. The tremendous interest in the remaining undeveloped section of the
park is symbolic of a broader struggle that often occurs within New Jersey, and
throughout much of the nation, to balance the protection of natural resources
with the need for continued economic development and recreational opportunities.
This General Management Plan strives to complete the park in a manor that
honors its history while at the same time provides for the residents of the
surrounding community, state, national and international visitors.
The plan must be consistent with the Division's stewardship principle
that "activities must be within the physical and biological capabilities of
the natural/historic resource."