OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEYLiberty State Park Design Task Force
Continuous public engagement and stakeholder consultation is a touchstone of the Liberty State Park Revitalization Program. The advisory Liberty State Park Design Task Force was established to advise DEP on park improvements that meet the diverse needs of the visiting public.
Interested in providing input on the Liberty State Park Revitalization Program? Public feedback is welcome and can be provided by clicking here.
Early Public Engagement
A longstanding state-federal partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Environmental Protection aimed at cleaning up legacy industrial pollution, restoring natural resources, and implementing flood control measures in the long inaccessible interior area of Liberty State Park led to a restoration proposal for the LSP Interior, first presented to the public in September 2020. Between December 2020 and June 2021, DEP hosted four well-attended public meetings to solicit and respond to concerns of community members and park stakeholders interested in the restoration of the Interior and other parkwide improvements.
Initial Task Force Formation
In August 2021, DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette issued DEP Administrative Order 2021-18 establishing the advisory Liberty State Park Design Task Force comprised of 17 unpaid, volunteer members asked to advise DEP on iterative park planning and design decisions and, most importantly, to support DEP in operationalizing public feedback to ensure that park improvement decisions were responsive to and likely to meet the diverse needs of the public.
The Task Force met six times between September 2021 and June 2022, resulting in a suite of recommendations that had broad consensus among the 17 Task Force members, and which were committed to a written Summary of Advisory Group Considerations & Recommendations.
Task Force Expansion
In July 2022, the Legislature passed P.L. 2022, c. 45, which acknowledged the existing advisory Task Force established by DEP and expanded its membership. The legislation retained the original 17 Task Force members and provided for 6 additional members, with the Governor, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker each making two appointments. These new appointments were complete as of October 10, 2023.
The legislation continued the advisory role of the Task Force, with members asked to provide DEP advice on:
- Short-term action items designed to improve public use and enjoyment of conservation and recreation areas within Liberty State Park; and
- A long-term master plan for Liberty State Park that includes the (a) improvement of park facilities, programs, and amenities, (b) creation of new transportation and mobility services to the park to ensure equal access for all community residents to the park and within the park, and (c) further preservation of the park’s natural resources and wildlife and protection against climate change.
Design Task Force Meetings
Past Meetings
Public Meeting
Liberty State Park – Design Task Force
Tues, May 21, 2024 – 6 p.m.
In-person at 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, NJ
or virtual livestreamed via Zoom
Meeting Overview
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection hosed a public meeting of the Liberty State Park (LSP) Design Task Force to discuss alternatives for potential active recreation, arts, and cultural amenities in LSP-North (Phase 1B), as well as elements for inclusion in the Master Plan for LSP-South (Phase 2). Following the Task Force meeting, an open comment period was held for members of the public to offer comments to the Design Task Force.
Meeting Agenda:
6:00 p.m. – Design Task Force meeting
7:15 p.m. – Break
7:30 p.m. – Public Comment Session
Public Comment:
The May 21 meeting provided an opportunity for the public to give specific feedback on items currently being discussed by the Design Task Force, updates to the conceptual plans for LSP-North (Phase 1B) and comments related to planning for LSP-South (Phase 2).
Meeting Materials
Public Meeting
Liberty State Park – Design Task Force
Tues, April 9, 2024 – 6 p.m.
In-person at 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, NJ
or virtual livestreamed via Zoom
Meeting Overview
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection hosed a public meeting of the Liberty State Park (LSP) Design Task Force to discuss alternatives for potential active recreation, arts, and cultural amenities in LSP-North (Phase 1B), as well as elements for inclusion in the Master Plan for LSP-South (Phase 2). Following the Task Force meeting, an open comment period was held for members of the public to offer comments to the Design Task Force.
Meeting Agenda:
6:00 p.m. – Design Task Force meeting
7:15 p.m. – Break
7:30 p.m. – Public Comment Session
Public Comment:
The April 9 meeting provided an opportunity for the public to give specific feedback on items currently being discussed by the Design Task Force, updates to the conceptual plans for LSP-North (Phase 1B) and comments related to planning for LSP-South (Phase 2).
Meeting Materials
Public Meeting
Liberty State Park – Design Task Force
Sat, March 2, 2024 – 10 a.m.
In-person at 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, NJ
or virtual livestreamed via Zoom
Meeting Overview
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection hosted a public meeting of the Liberty State Park (LSP) Design Task Force to discuss alternatives for potential active recreation, arts, and cultural amenities in LSP-North (Phase 1B), as well as elements for inclusion in the Master Plan for LSP-South (Phase 2). Following the Task Force meeting, an open comment period was held for members of the public to offer comments to the Design Task Force.
Agenda:
10 a.m. – Design Task Force meeting
12 p.m. – Lunch Break
12:30 p.m. – Open Public Comment
Public Comment:
The March 2 meeting provided an opportunity for the public to give specific feedback on items currently being discussed by the Design Task Force, updates to the conceptual plans for LSP-North (Phase 1B) and comments related to planning for LSP-South (Phase 2).
The Phase 2 Holistic Long-Term Master Plan is in the early stages of development and will be informed by the Summary of Advisory Considerations & Recommendations report, as well as the current Design Task Force and public comments.
Liberty State Park visitors and members of the public provided comments on the Liberty State Park Phase 1B: Northern Area Recreation, Arts & Culture concepts at the Liberty State Park open house held on Oct. 18, 2023, and during a 45-day comment period that followed. Public comments from this prior engagement on Phase 1B have been shared with the Design Task Force
Meeting Materials
Public Meeting
Liberty State Park – Design Task Force
Tues, Nov. 28, 2023 – 6 p.m.
In-person at 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, NJ
or virtual livestreamed via Zoom
Meeting Overview
At this meeting, the Task Force will considered and provided advice to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding design alternatives for potential public active recreation, arts, and cultural amenities in LSP-North (also known as Phase 1B of the LSP Revitalization Program).
The Task Force also considered and provided advice to DEP regarding elements for suggested inclusion in the development of a Master Plan for potential improvements of park facilities, programs, and amenities in LSP-South (also known as Phase 2 of the LSP Revitalization Program).
Meeting Materials
Task Force Membership (as of October 2023)
- John Cecil, Co-Chair
DEP Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites - Maggie McCann-Johns, Co-Chair
DEP Administrator of Urban State Parks & Initiatives - Charles Brian Shankle
Superintendent of Liberty State Park - Stacey MacEwan
DEP Bureau Chief, Office of Natural Resource Restoration - Sam Pesin
President of the Friends of Liberty State Park - Elnardo Webster
President of Liberty State Park For All - Hon. Steven Fulop
Mayor of Jersey City - Lucinda McLaughlin
Jersey City Director of Recreation and Youth Development - Hon. Jerry Walker
Hudson County Commissioner for District 3 - Michael Ascolese
Hudson County Chief of Division of Parks - Norma Fernandez
Jersey City Public Schools Superintendent - Richard T. Smith
NAACP, New Jersey State Conference President - Charles Mainor
NAACP, Jersey City Branch President - Jane Cohen
Public Member appointed by the Governor
Former Director of the NJ Governor’s Office of Climate Action - Paulina Banasiak
Public Member appointed by the Governor
Vice President at the Zita Group - Edward Oatman
Public Member appointed by the Senate President
Union County Manager - David Passante
Public Member appointed by the Senate President
NJ Business Owner, Royal Printing Service - Tonya L. Keyes
Public Member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly
Jersey City Business Owner, Keyes Red Door Realty & Associates - Franklin Walker
Public Member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly
Former Jersey City Public Schools Superintendent - Luz Guzman
Jersey City Resident Appointed by DEP
Jersey City Environmental Commissioner
Friends of Lincoln Park Member - Robert Hurley, Sr.
Jersey City Resident Appointed by DEP
Former Jersey City High School Basketball Coach
President, People’s Park Foundation - Meera Jaffrey
Jersey City Resident Appointed by DEP
Retired Jersey City Public School Teacher
Member of the NJ Sierra Club and Jersey City Reservoir Alliance - Paula Mahayosnand
Jersey City Resident Appointed by DEP
President, Jersey City Parks Coalition