Petty's Island - there IS such a thing as a free lunch!

RELEASE: June 29, 2007 – Volume XXXVII, No. 26

If the State of New Jersey was offered a 400-acre island free of cost amidst urban communities with little prospect for open space, accepting it would be a no-brainer, right? Especially when funds for land preservation are dwindling. The answer should be a resounding ‘Yes!’ but so far New Jersey has declined this unprecedented gift.

The 400-acre Petty’s Island sits in the Delaware River roughly situated between Camden and Philadelphia. Sixty percent of it is forested and the remainder currently includes an oil tank farm and shipping port. CITGO Petroleum Corp. has offered to donate the island to the state for free. And they aren’t looking to duck environmental cleanup costs – they offered to fund a complete, independent environmental restoration, and provide over $2 million to endow the property’s management as a wildlife refuge and park.

New Jerseyans could be the lucky recipients of an urban wilderness park, with nature trails and unsurpassed opportunities for “watchable wildlife” on the Delaware River. It would be one of the only accessible natural open spaces in the Delaware River area of Camden County – an asset to citizens of the entire metropolitan area. All delivered at no cost to taxpayers.

This is as good as land donations get!

While state and local officials have been supporting plans to include Petty’s Island in a ‘standard’ redevelopment project, including luxury homes, a hotel and a golf course – their plan does not have to become the fate of the island. It is still possible to accept the donation and preserve the island for public open space.

Every great city is defined, in part, by its parks. What would New York City be without Central Park? Or Hudson County if Liberty State Park was covered in condos?

Petty’s Island could be that kind of signature park for the Camden metropolitan area. It takes vision and a healthy dose of political courage. Namely the same ingredients always found at the base of really inspirational and great acts. Imagine a place where people could fish for shad in a mighty river, spy bald eagles and herons, catch the orange glow of a sunset on swarms of roosting monarch butterflies, and find peace from the hustle-and-bustle of the surrounding urban sea.

Simple economics will take care of redeveloping valuable waterfront land in the region; but here is a unique and unprecedented opportunity to embrace a natural oasis on Petty’s Island. “Ironically, a preserved Petty’s Island could be the thing that sets this area apart from other redevelopment projects and makes it a destination attraction,” observes Delaware Riverkeeper Maya Van Rossum.

We will have the chance to reshape the Camden/Philadelphia metro area by establishing Petty’s Island as a world class park centerpiece. The State should change its mind and accept the island donation. We encourage all New Jerseyans to contact Governor Jon Corzine, U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, as well as other key state legislators. Let them know Petty’s Island is an opportunity that cannot be missed.

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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