JERSEY CITY AND BEYOND — A festival this weekend at Liberty State Park and Governors Island features free boat tours, fishing, kayaking, paddle-boarding, sailing, food, music and more.
On Saturday, July 16, over 15,000 people will come together in Liberty State Park, on Governors Island and at waterfront locations throughout the region to revitalize the New York-New Jersey Harbor as part of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance’s 4th annual City of Water Day Festival.
Held each year in Liberty State Park and on Governors Island — and this year with seven “City of Water Day in Your Neighborhood” sites throughout the harbor — the City of Water Day Festival is a unique, free, harbor-wide event celebrating the world-class potential of the region’s waterfront. The festival demonstrates everything about the water that is fun and exciting while educating participants about the many critical issues it faces.
Highlights of the 2011 festival will include free narrated harbor boat tours for over 3,000 people on the region’s premier working, historic, and educational vessels, family shows, and a symposia.
“Jersey City takes great pride in our waterfront,” said Mayor Healy. “As we aggressively market Jersey City as a global brand, we always highlight the spectacular waterfront views. From kayaking, to boat tours and bike riding along the waterfront, I urge everyone to partake in these activities and thank the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance for showcasing the great potential that our waterways have to offer.”
“My family had a great time at the City of Water Day Festival last year,” said Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “It’s an important reminder that our waterfront is for more than just enjoying the views of Manhattan — it’s a source of recreation opportunities, green transportation alternatives and so much more.”
“New Jersey and New York share this great harbor and its waterways,” said Sam Pesin, president of the 22-year-old Friends of Liberty State Park, whose goals are to protect and improve the Jersey City waterfront state park. “It’s both terrific and fitting that Liberty State Park will join with Governors Island to host City of Water Day, a festival that’s all about bringing our waterfront to life. I hope thousands of people from all over New Jersey will come embrace and use our harbor.”
The City of Water Day Festival takes place on Governors Island and in Liberty State Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, rain or shine. For all the details visit www.cityofwaterday.org.