Dear Editor:
In Mayor Schundler’s November 26 letter to the editor, “Good ideas for LSP,” he hides and distorts the truth about the very bad idea of a commercial waterpark being pushed by him and the park’s Development Corporation. The Friends, as reported by Jon Miller (JC Reporter, 11/5), supports a free, green open space (45 acre) perimeter of the natural area, for a multitude of informal, unstructured, active recreation uses, plus picnics, relaxation.
Using this parkland as great lawns, with various free features such as trees and possibly other free earth features, demonstration gardens, and historical/nature signs is what the vast majority of people have advocated for, at dozens of public hearings held by the state, going back to those before the park opened in 1976. There is a solid history of support for a free park and opposition to commercialization and privatization.
The outrageous misrepresentation the mayor made in his letter is labeling what he wants as an innocent “swimming pool.” This 13 acre commercial facility would be owned by a private developer who would sublease the land from the Development Corporation, which would get their financial cut in their lease agreement with the state.
During the NJDEP Interior perimeter planning committee process which is leading up to the public meeting, the Development Corporation president Peter Ylvisaker (on whose state-approved committee, Schundler voted for the golf course in 1993) and the mayor have pushed for what they euphemistically call an “aquatic center.” A Wisconsin-based waterpark designer, brought in by the mayor and Ylvisaker, made a committee presentation on minimum economic viability estimates for a developer to make an acceptable profit. The designer’s general estimates (reported in your 11/5 story) were 3500-3700 daily users and $9-$13 admission fees (most probably an under-estimation.)
The mayor unbelievably compares this 13-acre commercial waterpark to a “small wildlife center” in Central park and also to the park’s one acre skating rink and skating house. The mayor avoids mentioning the private Sports Complex (wanting 3 million annual users within 5 years) going to be built across from where he wants the waterpark. That complex, along with an expanded Liberty Science Center, Circle Line ferries, terminal festivals and all the various unstructured park uses, makes it plain common sense that summer weekend traffic jams would ruin our waterfront park. Let’s create a free open space park to make our spirits soar, not one doomed to a slow death from choking traffic.
Sam Pesin, President
The Friends of Liberty State Park