Liberty State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Liberty State Park |
|
|---|---|
On the Upper New York Bay at the mouth of the Hudson River.
|
|
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Area | 1,212 acres (4.90 km2) |
| Operated by | New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry |
| Open | 1976 |
Liberty State Park (also called LSP) is a large park in New Jersey, a state in the United States. It is located in Jersey City, right on the Upper New York Bay. From the park, you can see Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
The park first opened in 1976. This was during the bicentennial celebrations, which marked 200 years since the United States was founded. The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry takes care of the park. Liberty State Park is very big, covering about 1,212 acres (490 ha). Water borders most of the park on three sides. The Morris Canal Big Basin is to the north. The Upper New York Bay is to the south and east. The New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension (I-78) is on its western side.
Contents
Exploring Liberty State Park's Geography
Much of Liberty State Park was built on landfill. This land was created by old railroad companies like the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CRRNJ) and the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Their train lines used to end here.
Historic Buildings and Ferries
In the park's northeast corner, you'll find the historic CRRNJ Terminal. This old building was once a busy train station. Today, Statue Cruises offers ferries nearby. These ferries take visitors to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Liberty Island. You can also find a small section of old train track from the Lehigh Valley Railroad in the park.
Different Areas of the Park
The southern part of the park is called Caven Point. It is separated from the main park by the Liberty National Golf Club. You can reach Caven Point by walking along the water on the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. The Peninsula Park is another area, located between the Morris Canal and the Tidewater Basin. The Liberty Landing Marina is also found on the Morris Canal.
Communipaw Cove is a special nature preserve within the park. It covers about 36-acre (15 ha) and is one of the last tidal salt marshes in the Hudson River estuary. The Interpretive Center, designed by architect Michael Graves, is part of this preserve. West of this area is the Interior Natural Area. This part is closed to the public. It is being allowed to recover naturally from past environmental damage. Liberty State Park is the only state park in Essex, Hudson, and Bergen counties. Another section of the park is called Liberty Industrial Park.
History of Liberty State Park
Most of the park sits on land that was once tidal flats. These flats had many oyster banks. The Hackensack Indians lived here and called the area Communipaw. They used it as a summer camp. Later, in the 1600s, it became part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland. The area was known as Jan the Lacher's Hook. For many years, a village existed where the Liberty Science Center is now. This area was a busy ferry port for local towns and for travelers going to Manhattan.
From Island to Shipping Hub
In the late 1800s, a small island called Black Tom was connected to the mainland using landfill. This area became a major center for shipping, manufacturing, and transportation in the Port of New York and New Jersey. This led to the building of the Communipaw Terminal. Many immigrants arriving at Ellis Island passed through this ferry and train station to travel across the USA.
In 1916, a huge explosion happened at Black Tom. This event, known as the Black Tom explosion, killed several people. It also caused $20 million in damage and was felt across the Tri-State Region.
Over time, new ways of transportation, like the North River Tunnels and the Interstate Highway System, made the area less important. Industries declined, and the rail and shipping facilities fell apart. The land became filled with abandoned buildings and polluted sites.
Creating the Park
Audrey Zapp, Theodore Conrad, Morris Pesin, and J. Owen Grundy were important environmentalists and historians. They led the effort to create Liberty State Park. Today, streets and places along the waterfront are named after them to remember their work.
In October 2012, Superstorm Sandy caused about $20 million in damage to the park. The Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal reopened in June 2016 after $20 million in repairs. However, as of December 2019, the Nature Interpretive Center remained closed due to storm damage.
In 2018, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced plans to clean up 240 acres (97.1 ha) of the park's inner area. This part had been closed for decades due to pollution. The plan is to turn it into a marshland and forest. The cleanup will happen in stages, starting with 23 acres (9.3 ha). A new channel will connect the Hudson River to the park's interior to feed the marshland. Funding for this project comes from settlements for natural resource damage. Work was expected to begin in 2021.
Things to See and Do at Liberty State Park
Freedom Way and Liberty Walkway
A road called Freedom Way runs through the middle of the park. It separates the public areas from the parts that are closed off. This area has many bike paths, walkways, and open fields.
The Liberty Walkway is a curved path along the waterfront. It stretches from the CRRNJ Terminal south to the Statue of Liberty overlook. This walkway connects two coves. It is also part of the longer Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. Halfway along the Liberty Walkway, there is a bridge to Ellis Island. However, only special vehicles are allowed to cross it.
The southeastern part of the park has a great view of the Statue of Liberty. It also has picnic areas, a playground, the U.S. Flag Plaza, and the Liberation Monument. There is also a memorial for the Black Tom explosion. Picnic and barbecue spots are available at the park's southern end. This part of the park won an award in 1995.
Liberty Science Center
The Liberty Science Center is located at the park's northwestern entrance. It is an interactive science museum and learning center. It opened in 1993 and was New Jersey's first big state science museum. It has many science exhibits. It also has the world's 5th largest IMAX Dome theater. The center is home to the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. You can also see the original Hoberman sphere here, which is a cool, silver, computer-controlled artwork.
Monuments and Memorials
Liberation is a bronze sculpture from 1985. It was designed by Nathan Rapoport to remember the Holocaust. The sculpture shows a U.S. soldier helping a survivor from a Nazi death camp.
The Sail of Columbus is a two-story bronze monument shaped like a sail. It was designed by Gino Gianetti. This monument celebrates 500 years since Christopher Columbus sailed to America in 1492. The "Sail" sits on a stone base shaped like a ship. It shows scenes of Columbus and his travels. The governments of Italy and the City of Genoa gave it to the park in 1998.
Empty Sky is New Jersey's official memorial for the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. It has two parallel walls with the names of the victims carved into them. These walls face where the World Trade Center towers once stood. Architect Frederic Schwartz designed it. It was dedicated on September 10, 2011, marking ten years since the attacks.
Proposed Changes to the Park
The administration of Governor Chris Christie suggested adding different businesses to the park. In 2017, they proposed leasing large parts of the waterfront for private marinas.
Caven Point is a 22 acres (8.9 ha) bird sanctuary in Liberty State Park. It is next to the Liberty National Golf Course. The golf course owners want to lease this land to add more golf holes. This idea would mean using public land for private use. It would also disturb the delicate natural environment. People have suggested laws in the New Jersey Legislature to protect the park from such business developments. These laws would require a very careful review process and public input.
Getting Around Liberty State Park
The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail runs just west of the park. There is a station right at the park's entrance. Hornblower Cruises offers ferries to Ellis Island and Liberty Island. A water taxi also goes to Paulus Hook and the Battery Park City Ferry Terminal.
In 2012, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority set aside $175,000. This money was for studying ways to improve transportation to and within the park.
In 2013, Jersey City received a $500,000 grant. This money was to study extending Jersey Avenue from Downtown directly into the park. This would make it easier to get to the park. In May 2013, a new bridge for walkers and bikers was put over Mill Creek. It replaced an older bridge that was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. In 2014, NJDOT announced it would build a $10 million bridge over the Morris Canal. Construction for a new two-lane road with bike paths began in August 2019.
Festivals and Performances at the Park
Liberty State Park has hosted many exciting events:
- In 1980, Ronald Reagan, who was running for president, started his campaign on Liberty Island. He spoke about the Statue of Liberty.
- On July 4, 1985, Daryl Hall and John Oates played a concert to help raise money for the Statue of Liberty's restoration. About 70,000 people attended.
- Liberty Weekend was a concert event aired on ABC on Independence Day in 1984. Performers included John Denver, Whitney Houston, and Johnny Cash.
- In 2000, Andrea Bocelli gave a concert at the park, which was shown on PBS.
- In 2001, Cirque du Soleil performed a new show.
- Since 2006, the park has hosted the Liberty Jazz Festival. This two-day event usually happens after Labor Day.
- From 2008 to 2009, the park hosted the All Points West Music & Arts Festival. Bands like Jay-Z, Coldplay, and Tool performed.
- In 2012, the Girl Scouts of New Jersey celebrated their 100th anniversary at the park.
- In 2013, Cher, Tim McGraw, Miguel, Mariah Carey, and Selena Gomez performed for Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular.
- The Super Bowl LI Kickoff event was held at the Communipaw Terminal in 2014. It featured performances by the Goo Goo Dolls and Daughtry.
- Jersey City's Freedom and Fireworks Festival started in the park in 2017. It included performances by Fireworks by Grucci and Kool & the Gang.
Liberty State Park in Film and TV
The park has been a filming location for many movies and TV shows:
- In 1968, the movie Funny Girl filmed a scene at the Central Railroad of NJ Terminal.
- In 1971, a famous scene from The Godfather (1972) was filmed at the site before the park was built.
- In 1997, the movie Men in Black filmed a scene on Morris Pesin Drive.
- The 30 Rock episode The Aftermath was filmed in Liberty Harbor.
- In 2014, the movie Annie was filmed at Liberty State Park.
- In the 2018 Netflix series Seven Seconds, a bicycle accident happens at Liberty State Park.
Sports Events at the Park
- Since 2007, the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic is held every Spring at Liberty State Park.
- In 2010, the park hosted the fifth round of the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
Image gallery
-
Twelve out of the 13 American Flags displayed at Liberty State Park (one flag not shown), with the Statue of Liberty in the background
-
Communipaw Terminal, historic building. Dock in foreground serves ferries to Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty
-
Flags at half-staff in Liberty State Park
-
Communipaw Terminal
-
In 1999
-
As seen from One World Trade Center in June 2015
Images for kids
-
View of Ellis Island and the railyards and piers of Central Railroad of New Jersey before development of the park and restoration projects
-
Liberty Harbor
See also
In Spanish: Liberty State Park para niños
