October 21, 2010  Conservancy honors Walkway Accomplishments at Awards Ceremony

On Thursday, October 21, 2010 the Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy of NJ , Inc. presented awards to nine people who have furthered the planning and development of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. The awards were presented at a reception held at Liberty House Restaurant in Liberty State Park. The Walkway runs through a total of nine waterfront communities, seven in Hudson County and two in Bergen County. The Conservancy works for the completion of a continuous Walkway from the tip of Bayonne to the George Washington Bridge, a length of 18.5 linear miles.

The awards were presented as follows:

On Monday, September 21, 2009, people gathered on a bright, warm afternoon to hear what they thought would be an announcement that the new stretch of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway from the Erie Terminal in  Hoboken south into Newport in Jersey City would be completely open to the general public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Up to that point the section just below the bridge constructed south of the Light Rail station in Hoboken had been closed down, more often than not¸ at 10 p.m. every evening not to reopen until 6 the following morning. The Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy¸ which works with the NJ Department of  Environmental Protection to uphold the rights of the public to 24 hour access to the WW, had been informed that the stretch would be proclaimed open 24/7. The Conservancy had been working with the DEP for the previous six weeks to get the gates permanently unlocked.

The event that day was for the ribbon cutting by Governor Jon Corzine celebrating the opening of the new bridge and the on-land segment of the WW. The event began at 1:15 p.m. At least five elected officials ranging from U.S. Senator Robert Mendez to the mayors of Jersey City and Hoboken spoke.  Not one official mentioned that the segment would be open 24/7. The ceremony ended with an invitation from the developer of the southern section of the new WW inviting everyone to walk with him into Jersey City and everyone, including the Governor,started to walk.

Fortunately, a member of the Conservancy board took the opportunity to catch up with the Governor, tap him on the arm and tell him that the most important comment he could make that day was to officially open the closed-off segment to the public 24/7. The governor, after noting the safety issues, promised that this would be done. He walked on but called over a DEP official; he then beckoned to the conservancy representative to join them. Again the conservancy board member made the case for the importance of officially proclaiming the opening perpetually as required by law to be 24/7. As the conservancy rep walked away, the governor with a flourish of his hands and in a loud voice proclaimed, “Let the word go out, this Walkway is now open 24/7. Spread the word; open 24/7.” As he walked back toward Hoboken, he repeated this edict several times.

That is how the Walkway got its perpetual public access back on track. Enjoy it.

June 17, 2009 - Opening of New WW Segment Between Hoboken and Jersey City

From Liberty National Park through a protected natural area and past luxury housing

SOURCE: Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance 6-17-09

Stroll along the new half-mile section of the Hudson River Walkway that links Liberty State Park with Caven Point and you'll pass through four distinct areas: the wide open space of the park, a preserved area where the pathway rises up on stilts above swampland, the luxury housing of Port Liberte and, finally, the green grounds of the Liberty National Golf Club. "It's a wonderful blend of nature and urban use," said Helen Manogue, president of the Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy of New Jersey.

March 24, 2009 - Conservancy President Honored

Helen Manogue, President of the Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy received a Citation from Hudson County Executive, Thomas Degise as well as the Hudson County Medal Award for Public Service on March 24, 2009. The same evening the Board of Chosen Freeholders¿ President Doreen DiDomenico presented Helen with a Certificate of Recognition as one of the Hudson County women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet. Nineteen other women including Ruth Elsasser, Ellen Gaulkin and Marie Alberion, all from Weehawken also received a Certificate of Recognition. These women were other vital participants in securing the waterfront for use by the general public, in other words the Hudson River Walkway.

The awards event was held at the magnificently restored Justice William Brennan Court House in Jersey City with a reception that followed.