{"id":936,"date":"2023-10-18T16:15:57","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T20:15:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/revitalizelsp\/?page_id=936"},"modified":"2024-08-06T19:37:48","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T23:37:48","slug":"design-task-force","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/revitalizelsp\/design-task-force\/","title":{"rendered":"Design Task Force"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Liberty State Park Design Task Force<\/h1>\n

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.<\/span><\/h5>\n
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Interested in providing input on the Liberty State Park Revitalization Program? Public feedback is welcome and can be provided by clicking here<\/a>.<\/h5>\n

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Early Public Engagement<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

A longstanding state-federal partnership between the\u00a0<\/span>U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and\u00a0<\/span>the Department of Environmental Protection aimed at cleaning up legacy industrial pollution, restoring natural resources, and implementing flood control measures in the\u00a0<\/span>long inaccessible interior area\u00a0<\/span>of Liberty State Park\u00a0<\/span>led to a\u00a0<\/span>restoration proposal for the\u00a0<\/span>LSP Interior, first presented to the public<\/span>\u00a0in 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.\u00a0<\/span>[\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fas fa-user-friends”]<\/p>\n

Initial Task Force Formation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In August 2021, DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette issued\u00a0<\/span>DEP Administrative Order 2021-18<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0establishing the advisory Liberty State Park Design Task Force\u00a0comprised of 17 unpaid, volunteer members asked to advise\u00a0DEP 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.<\/p>\n

The Task Force met six times between September 2021 and June 2022,\u00a0resulting in\u00a0a suite of recommendations that had broad consensus\u00a0among the 17 Task Force members, and which were committed to a written\u00a0<\/span>Summary of Advisory Group Considerations\u00a0& Recommendations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Task Force Expansion\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

In July 2022, the Legislature passed\u00a0<\/span>P.L. 2022, c. 45<\/a>,\u00a0which acknowledged\u00a0the existing advisory Task Force established by DEP\u00a0and expanded its membership. The legislation retained the original 17 Task Force members\u00a0and provided for 6 additional\u00a0members, with\u00a0the Governor, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker\u00a0each making two appointments.\u00a0These\u00a0new\u00a0appointments were complete as of October 10, 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The legislation continued\u00a0the advisory role of the\u00a0Task Force, with members asked to provide DEP advice on:<\/p>\n

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  1. Short-term action items designed to improve public use and enjoyment of conservation and recreation areas within Liberty State Park; and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    1. 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\u2019s natural resources and wildlife and protection against climate change.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      Design Task Force Meetings<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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      Past Meetings<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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      Public Meeting
      \n<\/strong>Liberty State Park \u2013 Design Task Force<\/strong><\/h5>\n

      Tues, May 21, 2024 – 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

      In-person at 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, NJ
      \nor virtual livestreamed via Zoom<\/p>\n

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      Meeting Overview<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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      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.<\/p>\n

      Meeting Agenda:<\/strong>
      \n6:00 p.m. \u2013 Design Task Force meeting
      \n7:15 p.m. \u2013 Break
      \n7:30 p.m. \u2013 Public Comment Session<\/p>\n

      Public Comment:<\/strong>
      \nThe 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).<\/p>\n

      Meeting Materials<\/h5>\n
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