Chipping away at the Palisades

RELEASE: June 14, 2007 – Volume XXXVII, No. 24

One of the most dramatic geologic features in the New York metropolitan area are the Palisades cliffs. These steep cliffs form a canyon for the lower Hudson River and provide unrivaled views of the New York City skyline and waterfront. Today the Palisade cliffs – so reminiscent of fortress walls – are threatened.

The Palisades stretch for roughly 20 miles, from Jersey City in the south to near Nyack, New York. From near the edge of the river and waterfront, they rise almost straight up 350 to 550 feet.

Before the first tunnels burrowed under the Hudson, the southern Palisades were home to ports and rail terminals for passengers and goods coming in and out of New York City.

The economic boom along the river had a downside, however, when the cliffs began to be quarried. Early preservation efforts were led by John D. Rockefeller who bought and donated a portion of the cliffs north of Fort Lee for permanent preservation. Today this land is a part of the larger Palisades Interstate Park and a haven for outdoors enthusiasts of every stripe.

Once direct rail and auto access into Manhattan was established, most of the ports and rail stations along the Hudson closed. The Palisades region suffered through a long economic decline, which has only recently turned around.

So once again, increased population and economic growth are threatening the Palisades. All along the so-called ‘Gold Coast’ that stretches from Bayonne in Hudson County to Englewood Cliffs in Bergen County, the remaining open spaces – parks and a few natural areas – are feeling intense development pressure.

Hudson County’s master plan recognizes the Palisades as natural resources and notes that the eastern ridges provide beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. But, mirroring the opposite banks of the Hudson, current development trends lean to large, high-rise residential developments and mixed use office and retail centers that destroy the viewshed.

Spectacular views of the New York skyline, once part of the neighborhood fabric of the Palisades, are being cut off by new luxury condominium towers. What was once a joy to many is increasingly reserved for a few. Looking from the east toward the Palisades, the impressive cliffs are being locked away behind large developments, capped with towers and fragmented by access roads.

Several years ago, citizens formed the North Bergen Action Group to defeat a proposed development on the Palisades.

Dave Kronick, one of the group’s leaders said, “It’s amazing to think that the Palisades have been here for almost 200 million years, and man can destroy a part of it in a matter of weeks.” Kronick also sees increased traffic, worsening air quality, higher taxes and lower quality of life for residents of the area if the trend continues.

And, we may also lose the chance for large portions of the Palisades to become part of an urban greenway. The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway and Hackensack RiverWalk envision interconnecting the bodies of water in the region with a series of trails ultimately terminating at Palisades Interstate Park and beyond.

Whether you are looking eastward out over New York City, or looking westward at the face of the Palisades, these cliffs are rich in history and unique scenic beauty. They should be preserved for everyone to enjoy, not appropriated for a few.

I hope you’ll contact me at info@njconservation.org, or visit NJCF’s website at www.njconservation.org, for more information about conserving New Jersey’s precious land and natural resources.

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