Recommendations of USACE’s Feasibility Study
to implement the approved NJDEP’s General Management Plan for LSP’s Extraordinary Natural Area Interior 200 acres
One of the nation’s largest urban nature restoration projects:

The 250 acres of natural open space that’s now fenced off will become a 200 acre lush natural setting with public access on nature trails, and to a 50 acre open space perimeter.
 
·        A 40 acre salt marsh will be added to the park’s Interior by creating a tidal channel of the Hudson River which will flow into the park from the North Cove. It will go under Freedom Way and go into the NE corner of the Interior diversifying its vegetation.
·        This habitat restoration project will create salt marshes, enhance freshwater wetlands and foster the 100 acre urban forest, and tall grass habitat.
·        Interior natural area will have nature trails which will bring visitors for education and enjoyment of passive recreation of walking and bird watching (ecotourism).
·        Interior will be an excellent and unique outdoor classroom to be used by school children from Hudson County and around the state through programs led by LSP’s Interpretive Center and Liberty Science Center.
·        There will be many “interpretive” signs about the vast variety of vegetation and wildlife. The interpretive signs will interpret natural succession, plant communities, wildlife in the city, bird migration, birds of prey, insects, and other ecological subjects. Also interpretive signs about the cultural, historical, and archeological past.
·        The 50 plus acre open space perimeter of the natural area will be planned with much public input, starting with a public meeting in the Spring.
 
After public feedback on the USACE plan to implement the DEP’s General Management Plan( GMP), the USACE recommendations will become part of a national water bill (Water Resources Development Act) which, if passed by Congress and approved by the president, will allocate $20-25 million dollars of federal funds in two years, to match the state’s $10 million, which is already in the bank as the state’s match to the federal $. Total cost of the restoration is estimated at $35 million, and work will be done in stages.
 
The public's overwhelming defeat of the golf course plan, which was on the table for many years, and waterpark plan, "paved way" for this dramatic urban Nature Restoration. After the USACE Public Meeting, the Interior Restoration Plan will move from the “Feasibility Study” stage to the “Design Phase”.
 

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