Activity Report
May 2005

Hudson-Meadowlands Group Initiatives:
• Oppose development on Reservoir #3 in Jersey City and support the use of this site as a public park and nature sanctuary maintaining the integrity of the existing lake and wetlands.

  Support current effort to expand Green Acres status from 9 of 14 acres to all 14 acres.

  The Hudson-Meadowlands Conservation chair will draft letters to the Mayor and City Council, Schools Construction Corp officials and the Jersey City Board of Education explaining the environmental value of this site and the state wetlands regulations that apply to this site. This letter will also suggest constructing the proposed school across the street at the Davies site (former factory).

  The Conservation chair will also draft letters to the local newspapers (Jersey Journal and Hudson Reporter).

  Present this issue to the NJ Sierra State Chapter Level for consideration.

• Oppose residential and commercial development on the Harsimus Stem Embankment (also known as the 6th Street embankment) and support the efforts of the Embankment Preservation Coalition and Jersey City to acquire the site as an elevated linear park similar to the Highline project in Manhattan. The embankment has also been proposed as part of the East Coast Greenway route in Jersey City.

  This will consist of letters of support, when needed, as the EPC applies to various funding sources to obtain the capital needed to acquire this site from Conrail by amicable purchase or eminent domain.

  Present this issue to the NJ Sierra State Chapter Level for consideration.

• Support efforts to extend the main New Jersey East Coast Greenway north into Hudson County across the Meadowlands via the Newark Industrial rail corridor, and through the Bergen Arches and over the Harsimus Stem Embankment to the Jersey City Waterfront. Efforts will consist of writing letters of support, as needed, for future funding applications.

• Support the Hudson River Walkway Conservancy in working toward the completion of the Hudson River Walkway in Hudson and Bergen counties. This walkway will also serve as an alternate East Coast Greenway Route from Liberty State Park to the George Washington Bridge. Since the Conservancy is handling most of the work, our efforts will consist of writing letters of support, as needed.

• Support the Hudson County open space plan and related Green Acres applications.

  Future projects include development of a Hackensack River Walkway and major expansion of Lincoln Park. If the County is successful in obtaining Green Acres funding, some of it could be used to preserve Reservoir #3 or help acquire waterfront parkland such as the sites in Guttenberg, Hoboken and North Bergen currently on our agenda.

• Work to ensure that the Cherokee Golf Course project on the north side of Constable Hook in Bayonne is done properly. There has been minimal containment of soil and dredge materials being used to cap the land fill and build this gold course. Consequently, there has been heavy sedimentation of the cove between the former MOTBY site and Constable Hook. This includes a deterioration and loss of Spartina flats.

  Present this issue to the State Conservation Committee for consideration. Since the club has a number of open issues involving the contractor (Cherokee) regarding other projects.

• Create a tree committee within the Hudson Meadowlands Ex-Com to work as a liaison with the Jersey City Tree Committee. This organization has requested Sierra participation. Current 300 street trees are slated for cutting in Jersey City. Some are valid cuts of dead and diseased trees, but many are healthy trees that are not doing structural damage. Of particular concern is the portion of the list supplied by City DPW list that includes several parks in which 10 trees each are listed.

  Mike Selender and Melissa McCarthy will form this committee and serve as liaisons to the Jersey City Tree Committee.