Don't sell out Liberty State Park

Liberty State Park is the priceless, free and green park behind Lady Liberty and Ellis Island. LSP is peaceful, scarce urban open space in one of our nation’s most densely populated regions. It sees millions of visitors each year and is jam-packed on warm weekends year-round.
 
But Governor Christie could change all that by leasing parkland to developers for large-scale projects including a hotel, an amusement park, a commercial amphitheater, and more.
 
There's a reason LSP is called "The People's Park" - for forty years, overwhelming public consensus has consistently rejected exactly these kinds of privatization proposals.
 
We’ve won these battles before, and we can win again - but only with your help! Help keep LSP preserved as open space for all to enjoy free of charge!
 
Sign the Petition: Tell the Governor: Don't Sell Out Liberty State Park.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2016/01/online_petition_started_to_save_liberty_state_park.html

By Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal
January 13, 2016 at 11:58 AM, updated January 13, 2016 at 12:42 PM
 
JERSEY CITY -- Local activists are hoping to grab the attention of Gov. Chris Christie and halt potential plans to commercialize Liberty State Park.
 
A petition addressed to Christie, created by Friends of Liberty State Park and NY/NJ Baykeeper, tells Christie the park "serves the public good" because of its "beautiful and peaceful green space and its inspiring views."
 
Christie has been making plans since 2011 to make the park, and other state parks, financially self-sufficient. Last year, the Department of Environmental Protection released a report that was commissioned by the state that suggested a hotel, amusement park and restaurants would be a good fit for the park.
 
No timeline for the plans have been finalized, but the news has not been sitting well with activists.
 
"Your administration's commercialization and privatization proposals would do irreparable harm to Liberty State Park, severely harming public access to this urban sanctuary in one of our most densely populated regions, and LSP's mission as a free park behind Lady Liberty," according to the petition, which ends with the words "Governor Christie, don't sell out Liberty State Park."
 
More than 200 people gathered for a solidarity bike ride in November to express their concerns about privatization and development of the park.
 
Reports have stated the park operates on a $3.5 million budget and only generates $1.5 in revenue.
 
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has also come out strongly against the DEP's report, calling it "a recipe for destroying" the park and said the city would be "fighting back aggressively" against the plans.