The History of Lincoln Park West

The History of Lincoln Park West. . , The Journey... The journey to the construction of the Lincoln Park Wetland Restoration Project has been long and varied throughout the past century. Many different concepts, visions, and plans have been developed for Lincoln Park West, although none were ever implemented. Between 1926 and 1990, various plans were proposed to develop Lincoln Park West into a park, featuring diverse forms of recreation, including fields, pavilions, picnic groves, riverfront promenades, archery and driving ranges, a golf course, ponds, and a concession stand. By 1990, the proposed plan began to include glimpses of what the area has been restored to today, with plans for an interpretive nature center, gardens, and wetlands., In 2005, The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, in association with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Hudson County, began coordination to restore tidal channels and tidal wetlands, in addition to closing and developing the abandoned landfill at the Lincoln Park West site. The project received $2.3 million in oil spill settlement funds from the Harbor Spill Restoration Committee, as well as $10.6 million in NOAA Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Landfill debris was excavated, tidal channels and tidal wetland habitat was created, and the marsh plain was planted with native salt marsh vegetation. The tidal wetland complex is hydrologically connected to the Hackensack River and creates additional fish spawning habitat. The Hackensack River is part of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary, a complex ecosystem in the middle of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. The Lincoln Park Wetland Restoration Project has created a diverse mosaic of habitats where people can interact with the environment and nature has a place to thrive. We believe the journey has been rewarding and fulfilling. We hope you agree.