Publication Details
Connecting with our waterways: an assessment of public access and stewardship in the New York - New Jersey Harbor Estuary
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Year Published
2016
Publication
New York, NY: NY-NJ Harbor and Estuary Program; and Hudson River Foundation. 36 p.
Abstract
The New York – New Jersey Harbor Estuary is the biggest public space in the nation's largest metropolitan area. Access to its waters – whether for swimming, boating, fishing, or just enjoying the spectacular views – is an amenity that impacts quality of life and drives spending and investments by residents, visitors, and businesses. Park access and use have been positively correlated with physical activity levels and public health. Further, access is critical for fostering a connection with and stewardship of the estuary, especially for young people. For all these reasons, ensuring and improving access is an important goal shared by federal, state, and local governments throughout the estuary. The last twenty years has seen an extraordinary transformation of the waterfront. Cleaner water, the opportunity posed by available industrial sites, and the desire by people for outdoor activities has resulted in new public parks and other public spaces being created or refurbished all along the waters of the Harbor Estuary.
Citation
Boicourt, Kate; Pirani, Robert; Johnson, Michelle; Svendsen, Erika; Campbell, Lindsay K. 2016. Connecting with our waterways: an assessment of public access and stewardship in the New York - New Jersey Harbor Estuary. New York, NY: NY-NJ Harbor and Estuary Program; and Hudson River Foundation. 36 p.