Guest Column
Public access will be assured at Sandy Hook
Russel J. Wilson
Guest Column
Public access will be assured at Sandy Hook
I would like to assure everyone who enjoys the beaches and recreational amenities at Sandy Hook there will be no reduction in the number of parking spaces available as a result of the Fort Hancock rehabilitation project.
Save Sandy Hook – a group opposed to the project – has alleged there will be a loss of recreational beach parking spaces, and an additional 775 spaces would be taken from the beach areas if the additional 42 buildings are added to the leasing program. This is incorrect.
The National Park Service has set a limit on the total number of parking spaces to protect natural resources and to ensure public safety.
On all but eight or nine summer weekend days each year, this limit has adequately met the visitors’ needs.
The 665 spaces from parking area "k" near north beach will be relocated to Fort Hancock to service the needs of the existing park tenants and the leasing program, and will continue to be available on weekends for visitors.
Parking area "k" will be restored as a natural area, providing important grassland habitat to birds migrating along the Atlantic flyway.
As for the misleading statement that 775 spaces will be needed for future leasing, the additional 42 buildings are currently occupied by the National Park Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the New Jersey Marine Science Consortium, the Littoral Society, Clean Ocean Action and other park tenants, who are already using the existing parking facilities.
Save Sandy Hook has also stated the park has closed beach parking lots to protect threatened and endangered shorebirds.
The park has been temporarily closed from time to time for a variety of reasons including storms, pollution incidents, national security and government budget shutdowns.
Through the cooperation we receive from the public, park ranger enforcement, predator control and other management actions, the Park Service has been able to actively manage shorebirds since 1974, and has been able to avoid the closing of any recreational beach parking lots.
Currently, of the seven miles of ocean beach, six areas totaling 2.2 miles comprise the recreational beaches.
The remaining 4.8 miles are considered either natural zones or Coast Guard lands.
The planning of an historic leasing program for the adaptive use of the Fort Hancock buildings has been a long thoughtful process.
The National Park Service appreciates the input we have received from the public and we believe it has helped to develop a better leasing program.
We are excited about our public/private partnership with Sandy Hook Partners to preserve our nation’s heritage by adaptive reuse of these historic buildings to include marine/ environmental research, education, cultural arts, hospitality, corporate learning and leadership, wellness and recreation programs.
For more information about the park and the historic leasing program at Fort Hancock, visit our Web site at www.nps.gov/gate.
Russel J. Wilson is the superintendent at Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook unit