change is coming to Liberty State Park the State Department of Environmental Protection today unveiled plans to restore and enhance the Park's natural resources and expand its amenities including indoor and outdoor Community spaces for year-round activities the state park along the Hudson River has long been the subject of a back and forth between environmentalists who want to keep the park free of large-scale construction and others who see it as a ripe for development senior correspondent Joanne gagis has more on what the future holds for this National Treasure because it belongs to everyone that's the story of Liberty and that's what our revitalization program intends to demonstrate the state's plans to revitalize Liberty State Park were released at least in part today during a virtual conference held by Department of Environmental Protection commissioner Sean La Tourette first the cleanup and restoration of the Park's little off limits interior section second the design of active outdoor public Recreation amenities and Arts and Cultural spaces and third plan for the plan was music to the ears of conservationists like Sam peasant director of the group friends of Liberty State Park I'm very excited about the 60 design milestone for the Interiors 165 Acres of diverse nature habitats and miles of paths this will be one of the most spectacular Urban natural areas in the world assemblyman Raj mckergie also applauded the administration's plans over 60 Acres of active Recreation are part of the proposal I think a Bandshell Amphitheater a community center um and you know restoring the railroad terminal so that it could realize its full potential I think it ought to be a priority The People's Park Foundation also cheered the plans but raised some concerns about flooding saying in a statement we're concerned about plans to bring water into the interior of the park which will exacerbate the existing flood risk and endanger nearby communities and residents but many were pleased to see the commissioner affirm that the state's plans will not include the privatization or commercialization of the park with things like large concert venues or massive outdoor theaters this land can never be used for anything other than conservation and Recreation purposes primarily outdoor recreation it must be fully accessible to the party so so facilities that serve the purpose of a surely Revenue generation could never take on this land but a plan was proposed by the Park's neighbor billionaire Paul fireman who owns the Liberty National Golf Course adjacent to Caven Point Beach in Liberty State Park firemen wanted to acquire the beach to expand his golf course La Tourette's response on my watch but Skeptics who've lived in New Jersey long enough to know that political agendas shift like the sand on that beach want the state's legislature to pass a bill that would preserve Caven Point long after the Murphy Administration leaves town this is very urgent and it is essential that the Cavin Point protection act become law it is stalled as you said in the Senate it should be voted on on the senate floor and we urge speaker Coughlin to post the bill I expect this version will move forward mckergie believes it will pass the full legislature this session in the meantime the state will release more detailed plans for the park next week I'm Joanna Gagis NJ Spotlight News [Music]