Liberty State Park Greenway Planning and Design

Project Description

Spanning more than 1,100 acres and overlooking the New York Harbor, Liberty State Park is one of New Jersey's most popular parks, drawing millions of annual visitors. After identifying the need to revitalize the park, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) sought to enhance and develop amenities that blend recreation, arts, and culture with the surrounding landscape. As part of a design team led by Field Operations, Biohabitats helped develop ecological enhancement recommendations that support the local ecosystem while expanding recreation, reducing flooding, and restoring ecological function.

After analyzing the site's history and existing stressors, such as flooding, heat islands, and biodiversity loss, Biohabitats conducted an ecological assessment and species inventory. This information was used to identify ecologically sensitive areas and opportunities for enhancement. Building on previous outreach efforts, Biohabitats engaged with stakeholders at NJDEP and gathered feedback from the community via surveys and meetings to provide a clear picture of their needs.

Taking existing infrastructure, regulatory requirements, and proposed park programming into consideration, Biohabitats developed a toolkit of ecological enhancements to improve habitat connectivity, increase biodiversity, provide resilience, and connect park guests to the ecosystems of New Jersey and the Hudson River Estuary. The design team integrated these recommendations into the broader park programming as part of the conceptual design. NJDEP intends to advance the conceptual plan through future design phases.