By Greg Remaud and Sam Pesin

Liberty State Park is an urban oasis located along the Hudson River behind Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. It's in Jersey City, one of the most densely populated and diverse cities in the country. However, people from all over New Jersey and around the world come to visit the park's myriad cultural, historic and natural splendors. In fact, the park hosts 4 million to 5 million visitors each year.

Despite the value and popularity of this national treasure, Gov. Chris Christie, with only a month and a half left in office, is racing to lease away the amenity-filled southside waterfront at Liberty State Park.

He wants it fenced off to the public for an exclusive, private yacht marina.

The governor must really like fences. When he was elected eight years ago, a world-class, 230-acre natural restoration for the interior the park was funded and ready to go. Rather than opening public access to beautiful nature trails in an area fenced from public use for over a generation, Christie courted condo, sportsplex and hotel leases throughout the park. Thankfully, a powerful statewide grass-roots backlash prevented that commercial leasing spree. But, the interior fence remains.

What's at stake this time? Loss of a half-mile of scarce, free, public relaxation and recreational opportunities for the hardworking taxpayer in an irreplaceable setting.

On the park's south side, countless people of all economic classes and cultural backgrounds enjoy no-cost family picnicking, fishing, bicycling, kayaking, birdwatching and panoramic vistas of the New York Harbor, along with use of a public boat launch. A private marina here would block people from both this cherished public space and direct interaction with the water, a rare opportunity along the built-up and congested Hudson River Gold Coast.

The two free southside parking lots would be confiscated for marina operations -- paid parking for yacht owners and their guests, an office building and boat racks like those on Liberty's north side that drastically limit public activities.

Where would the rest of us now park to get to the popular, shaded barbecue picnic area, playfields, concerts and events, Flag Plaza, the 2-mile-long Waterfront Promenade and awe-inspiring closeup views of Lady Liberty from Overlook Lawn?

Green space, distant from the waterfront, would be paved to replace existing public parking. This means less natural land and longer walks for visitors.

And, who would pay for marina slip and channel dredging, and address disturbed contaminated sediment? Likely, your tax dollars.

All this devastation to the park visitor experience, and for what? A second private marina for Christie's pals at Dallas-based Suntex, who already operate Liberty Landing Marina at the park's north end. (Original 1978 plans suggested a small public marina on the park's south side. Instead, a large private marina was built on the commercial north side.)

The trumped-up excuse for leasing prime parkland to this predetermined, no-bid vendor is to fund repairs to damaged bulkheads. However, from Day One, this administration diverted park maintenance funds from that purpose. Other monies are available to fix the bulkhead.

No, this marina is not about bulkheads, boats or saving tax dollars. It is about restricting enjoyment of this peaceful, noncommercial southern waterfront to only the wealthiest among us. Imagine, this travesty would be only a torchlight's shine from our nation's greatest symbol of freedom and democracy. It is clear, this marina scheme is a last-minute sweetheart deal, and a first-rate social injustice that must be stopped.

We trust that, again, people and elected leaders throughout New Jersey, including our new governor-elect, Phil Murphy, and Lt. Gov.-elect Sheila Oliver, will fight to protect public-trust amenities for all at Liberty State Park.

Christie's private-marina threat should be dropped immediately. If not, public hearings must be held, and they should take place after the holiday season on a Saturday to ensure full public engagement.

Greg Remaud is deputy director at NY/NJ Baykeeper (nynjbaykeeper.org).

Sam Pesin is president of the Friends of Liberty State Park.

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