S 2924 — "Liberty State Park Protection Act"; establishes requirements concerning DEP actions related to Liberty State Park.*

S2924 1R [First Reprint] SENATE, No.

SenatorSenators McKnightMcKnight, Diegnan and Gopal         SYNOPSIS      "Liberty“Liberty State Park Protection Act";Act”;

establishes Liberty State Park Advisory Committee and requirements concerning DEP actions related to Liberty State Park.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe bySenate LegislativeEnvironment Counsel.and Energy Committee on March 16, 2026, with amendments.

       1.    (New section) Sections 1 through 71[7] 51 of P.L.   P.L.    , c.   (C.       ) , c.   (C.       ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be known and may be cited as the “Liberty State Park Protection Act.”             2.  2.    (New section)  The Legislature finds and declares that:            a.  a.     Liberty State Park, located in Jersey City, is a priceless New Jersey and American treasure and an urban oasis in the middle of densely populated metropolitan northern New Jersey;

          b.  b.    With internationally-recognized landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline as a spectacular backdrop, Liberty State Park is one of the nation’s most sacred and inspiring parks;

          c.  c.     Encompassing over 1,200 acres, approximately 600 acres of land and 600 acres of water, of1[of which all but the interior’s 235 acre natural restoration area are open to the public currently,currently,]1 the park contains significant natural, historic, recreational, scenic, and cultural resources;

          d.  d.    The park, a major historic and cultural resource with its transportation and immigration history, includes:

the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal or “CRRNJ Terminal,” the third landmark of America'sAmerica’s Gateway “Historic Trilogy” along with Lady Liberty and Ellis Island;

          e.  e.     The park is also a major natural resource as a sanctuary for over 300 bird species including migratory species that use the park as a stopover while on the Atlantic Flyway, and countless other wildlife species;

          f.   f.     More than six million people from around New Jersey, our nation, and the world visit the park each year to take in the dramatic and meaningful views and enjoy green, free, urban open space for varied passive and unstructured active recreational opportunities, in addition to the dozens of acres of structured active recreation facilities that are in the Department of Environmental Protection’s Master Plan.  Park visitors also enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of nature and wildlife habitats, playgrounds, picnic areas, and fishing in the midst of the most urbanized area on the East Coast;

          g.  g.    Unfortunately, this unique and scarce urban green open space has been the target of repeated privatization and commercialization proposals since the park opened, and the subject of a number of development proposals in recent years, including the Department of Environmental Protection issuing requests for proposals to privatize or commercialize portions of the park, which, if approved, would have seriously jeopardized this beloved public resource and severely harmed the public’s ability to enjoy free and full public access to and enjoyment of the park;

          h.  h.    From the time of its opening on June 14, 1976, Liberty State Park has had sustained overwhelming public support for a “free and green” open space park, and overwhelming opposition to privatization and commercialization proposals, as expressed in public hearings, countless public comments, petitions, and in a series of coalitions of local, regional, and Statewide groups to protect Liberty State Park as a “People’s Park” behind Lady Liberty;

and            i.  In August 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection unveiled a new official Master Plan for Liberty State Park.  The Master Plan states that its “vision is the result of over five years of comprehensive public engagement through interactive open houses, public meetings, and surveys to ensure that all voices were heard.  The Liberty State Park Master Plan outlines a multifaceted approach for a cohesive long-term vision that will define the future and ongoing legacy of Liberty State Park." Park.”  The Master Plan deeply respects and is compatible with the decades of the broad public consensus for Liberty State Park as a Central Park-type park.

          j.  It is fitting, proper, and necessary to recognize and respect this history of overwhelming public opposition and to take action to protect Liberty State Park from any inappropriate development proposals and to preserve Liberty State Park for future generations.

       3.    (New section) As used in sections 1 through 71[7] 51 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

     “Committee”1[“Committee” means the “Liberty State Park Advisory Committee” established pursuant to section 6 of P.L.    ,c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).bill).]1      “Concession” means any rights or privileges granted by the department to a public, non-profit, individual, corporate, private, or other entity to operate on or within Liberty State Park to provide small-scale commercial activities that support or promote the public’s use of Liberty State Park, 1[or any building or facility thereon,]1 or for small-scale commercial activities as provided in section 5 of P.L.    , c.   (C.       ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and shall include, but not be limited to, concession or operation agreements, franchises, licenses, permits, or other similar use agreements, but shall not include a lease, conveyance, or other transfer of property rights.

     “Concession” means any rights or privileges granted by the department to a public, non-profit, individual, corporate, private, or other entity to operate on or within Liberty State Park to provide small-scale commercial activities that support or promote the public’s use of Liberty State Park, or any building or facility thereon, or for small-scale commercial activities as provided in section 5 of P.L.    , c.   (C.       ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and shall include, but not be limited to, concession or operation agreements, franchises, licenses, permits, or other similar use agreements, but shall not include a lease, conveyance, or other transfer of property rights.

            4.  4.    (New section)  The Department of Environmental Protection shall:

          a.  a.     not consider any proposal to commercialize, develop, or privatize Liberty State Park, except as provided in accordance with the provisions of P.L.    , c.   (C.       ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);

          b.  b.    not convey, lease, or otherwise transfer any property rights within:

          (1) the 215-acre area in the interior of Liberty State Park, which shall include, pursuant to the Liberty State Park Master Plan, 165 acres of natural area restoration with science-based flood resiliency habitats, 1trails,1 and 50 acres of active recreation sports facilities, and which is identified on the tax maps of Jersey City as Block Number 21506, Lot Number 2;

or           (2) (2)   the 21.5-acre Caven Point Peninsula, the estuarine ecosystem for plants and animals, critical bird breeding habitat, and urban environmental education resource, which stretches into the Upper New York Bay and is identified on the tax maps of Jersey City as:

          c.  consult1[consult the committee for review and recommendations:            (1) (1)   prior to entering into an agreement for a concession, conveyance, lease, or other transfer of property rights of any portion of Liberty State Park;

          (2) (2)   prior to the extension or renewal for a term of one year or longer of any lease in effect on the date of enactment of P.L.    , c.   (C.       ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);

and           d.d.]1 develop and implement 1[, in conjunction with the committee,]1 a public participation process to allow public citizens and civic organizations to provide public input on any proposed changes in land use at Liberty State Park 1that are not envisioned or recommended in the Liberty State Park Master Plan1 ;

develop     and1[e.] implement,d.1 inat conjunctionleast with1[once] thetwice1 committee,each year, hold a public participationforum process1and a two-week public comment period1 to allowreceive input from the public citizensconcerning plans, improvements, preservation, conservation, and civicmanagement organizationsof toLiberty provideState publicPark, inputin onaddition to any proposedpublic changeshearings inthat landmay usebe atrequired Libertypursuant Stateto Park;law;

     and e.     1[f.] e.1 post 1,1 in a prominent location on the department’s website 1[:       (1)] ,1 any proposed agreement for a concession, conveyance, lease, or other transfer of property rights, including an extension or renewal, of any portion of Liberty State Park 1[;

at     least(2)   once each year, hold a public forum to receive input from the publicminutes concerning plans, improvements, preservation, conservation, and management of Libertythe Statecommittee Park, in addition to any public hearings that may be required pursuant to law;subsection k.

and       f.

post in a prominent location on the department’s website:        (1)  any proposed agreement for a concession, conveyance, lease, or other transfer of property rights, including an extension or renewal, of any portion of Liberty State Park;

      (2)  the minutes of the committee pursuant to subsection k.

and           (3) (3)   copies of any reports received by the commissioner pursuant to subsection b.

of section 7 of P.L.    , c.   (C.       ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).bill)]1 .

            5.  5.    (New section)  a.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, or rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto to the contrary:contrary 1[:

          (1)(1)] ,1 the Department of Environmental Protection shall only approve an agreement for a concession, conveyance, lease, or other agreement transferring the property rights of Liberty State Park, including an extension or renewal with a private entity to provide small-scale commercial activities, if the agreement enhances the ability of a visitor to enjoy the natural, historic, cultural, recreational, and scenic resources of Liberty State Park for recreation and conservation purposes as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-3), such as a bicycle or kayak rental concession, food concession, temporary winter skating rink, commercial boat tour operating from an1[an existingexisting] a1 boat slip, and use of the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal;Terminal 1[;

          (2) prior to entering into an agreement for a  lease including an extension or a renewal, conveyance, or other transfer of property rights of any portion of Liberty State Park with a term of one year or longer, the department shall:

          (a) present the proposal to the committee for review and recommendations;

and           (b) provide a 30-day public comment period and hold at least two public hearings at Liberty State Park, with one hearing being held on a weekday evening and one on the weekend;

          (3) whenever the department intends to convey, pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1993, c.38 (C.13:1D-51 et seq.), lands acquired or developed by the State with Green Acres funds, or acquired or developed by the State in any other manner and administered by the department, located within or adjacent to Liberty State Park, the department shall: