Has Anyone Ever Explored the Closed-Off Interior of Liberty State Park?

Submitted by ReeseCommaBill t3_121pnul in jerseycity

With the interior of the park set to be converted into… something… I have a strong desire to go into the mess of contaminated woods and do a little exploring before it's turned into a hockey rink or some other bullshit.

Has anybody ever gone in there to explore before? I'm sure it's not legal, but I can't imagine they patrol it that often. Any cool things to look around for? Also, what's the best way in?

I'll be sure to take some pics if/when I go exploring.

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tvremote84 t1_jdms9z6 wrote

That area was historically just rail yards and factories built on fill. It’s just low lying scrub brush and probably some homeless camps. I kinda doubt it’s very interesting but hey let us know what you find. Just don’t inhale too much dust/dirt

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nuncio_populi t1_jdmu0og wrote

Part of the high price tag (and reason why it hasn’t been done sooner) is finishing soil remediation to clean up chromium and arsenic contamination from years of heavy industrial use.

The DEP was about to undertake that costly effort to restore wildlife habitat and build community rec fields UNTIL the People’s Park derailed that effort at the last minute to try and get their private development efforts through.

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lastinglovehandles t1_jdmwdbk wrote

I’ve gone in and was chased out by rangers. I did it during summer few years back so they had pow pow on bikes patrolling. Make sure wear long sleeves there are thick brush but not much to see. There’s also blown plastics everywhere. Probably too mushy right now. Watch out for ticks. Exploring the coves I recommend (trespassing?)

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njspplsp t1_jdn0zqm wrote

Please do not enter any area of state property designated No Trespassing. This area is fenced off for a reason. We would love to share this space once it is completed and open for public use. Noncompliance with this will be addressed via fines or arrests, Thanks!

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No-Practice-8038 t1_jdnhoe8 wrote

It’s not worth it. It’s fenced off because it’s toxic.

PSA: New Jersey has more superfund cites than just about any other state. Our motto can easily be “the garbage state”.

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mookybelltolls t1_jdob93x wrote

Very very contaminated. Your shoes will get hot. You might have to be taken out.

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nuncio_populi t1_jdoist4 wrote

Replying to negativeandannoying (#2,360,883)

Thanks for the questions. I know many have not been following this as closely as others in this subreddit.

There has been a long-standing plan to remediate the interior 160+ acre portion of Liberty State Park that was contaminated with chromium and other industrial waste following decades of heavy use by railroads and manufacturers. That area has been fenced off for a long time, largely due to a lack of funding for the environmental remediation.

Last year, the state legislature passed a $50 million act to fund Liberty State Park. There are two competing visions for the land:

The original plan (which almost everyone in this sub supports) calls for wetland, woodland, and grassland restoration to create wildlife habitat and scenic, passive recreation for all visitors to the park plus an additional sixty acres of sporting facilities, active recreational fields open, and a cultural center – all open to the public. The park also lies in a flood plain so habitat restoration will actually add a buffer to protect low-lying neighboring communities, particularly parts of Jersey City — Greenville, Bergen-Lafayette, and Downtown. You can see an older version of the state's plan here.

The alternative plan (which is the one everyone is upset about) is promoted by the People's Park Foundation, which is funded by billionaire golf course owner Paul Fireman. This plan calls for the park to be turned into concert venues with multiple stadiums to be built and concession vendors spread throughout to "generate revenue." Predecessors to the overdevelopment plan have called for a new marina for yachts (conveniently located by Fireman's golf course) and, in the past, an outlandish formula-1 racetrack.

For context, Fireman has long coveted an environmentally sensitive portion of Liberty State Park called Caven Point to expand his golf course. His People's Park Foundation has been running a campaign in the op.ed section of NJ.com for the last year either claiming that the first plan does not exist or grossly underselling the state's vision for the park. They try and conflate opposition to their plan with the false idea that the state wants to abandon Liberty State Park. This is an out-right lie.

So, the development activities that people are opposed to are the People's Park Foundation plans.

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negativeandannoying t1_jdoko1k wrote

Replying to nuncio_populi (#2,360,999)

Wow!! Thank you for filling me in. I'm moving into JSQ after being priced out of my old spot. I really want to be a part of helping in any way that I can. The original plan sounds perfectly thought out and actually beneficial for all in both the short and long term. Do you know any steps that can be taken to possibly halt the Fireman plan (sorry, but that's his real name??)

This actually depresses me on a whole other level.... there's so much potential to do some good both environmentally and for residents. It would be a shame to lose it to more cheesy money making BS. I'm sure taxpayers will be funding it somehow as well.

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nuncio_populi t1_jdoy5n6 wrote

Replying to negativeandannoying (#2,361,181)

Send emails to your local reps like Mukherji and Stack. Send an email to the Governor.

It might not hurt to email Fulop too given his ambitions for statewide office.

Consider signing up for the Friends of Liberty State Park listserv.

We also have a protest petition floating around this subreddit that I started based on the latest news.

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negativeandannoying t1_jdp9ijg wrote

Replying to nuncio_populi (#2,362,623)

Ok. I'll search for the petition or you link me. Either way is fine. I can do all of these things for sure. I also read somewhere that the website for friends of liberty needs an update and my spouse is a web developer that would love to help with this if needed.

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robin_tern t1_jdpmcui wrote

There is an interesting hidden castle to find.

Also a geocache.

Robin.

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jerseyvinnie t1_jdq5d4e wrote

Ive went to the mini castles like four times and with every precaution would get ticks on me. I cant imagine how bad itll be jumping that fence

Side question. Has anyone been recently? Last time i tried during april 2020 it was razed and nothing like i remembered.

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edgertor t1_jdssvp6 wrote

went in only once while on a dog walk. i knew it was pretty toxic so the dog and i kept to areas where you could just step on umpteen layers of fallen-over weeds, not in the wetter areas or areas where there is exposed dirt. (western/southern corner). there's scrub and weeds and some rusting trash and blown plastic trash.

(mini castles? what?)

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