NJMC Secures Additional Land for Waterfront Park

 

The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission has allocated funds to purchase land in Carlstadt to expand a proposed park that will host the first public marina on the Hackensack River and provide a gateway to the Richard P. Kane Natural Area.

“This is another measure of how seriously we take the preservation of critical open space and public access to our waterways,” said NJMC Chair Susan Bass Levin, also New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner. “This purchase, and others like it, will be a continuing reminder of the important shift this agency has made toward better protection and planning for the ecological commons. It is also a welcome addition to our plans for turning this spot into the first public marina on the Hackensack River and an asset for all our residents.”

The Board of the NJMC allocated $510,000 for the purchase of the 1-acre parcel of waterfront uplands at its March monthly meeting.

“This is another step in ensuring that the Hackensack River is bounded by proper public access and key waterfront parks,” said NJMC Executive Director Robert Ceberio. “Every bit counts as we work with all of our stakeholders for a more sustainable future.”

Plans for the expanded 4-acre park include a promenade and educational areas to encourage residents and visitors to utilize the Hackensack River for recreation and hike on trails in the adjoining 587-acre Kane Natural Area. As an added service for boaters, the marina will also include an environmentally friendly pump out station to remove septic waste from vessels. The only other nearby pump out stations are at the faraway Englewood Boat Basin, Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City or Great Kills in Staten Island.

In addition, the NJMC entered into an agreement with Bergen County in November to plan for recreational opportunities at this site. The park will be linked to a regional, multi-jurisdictional greenway via the NJMC’s Meadowlands Path and Bergen County’s Hackensack Greenway Trail.