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25th Anniversary of Liberty State Park

Happy 25th Birthday Liberty State Park!!! It is an honor to stand here - where my father Morris would be standing, if he were alive. As his son, and as the president of The Friends of LSP, it is heartwarming to share this day with my mother Ethel, my sister Judy, and with all of you who love, volunteer and advocate for our inspiring urban state park.

Today we celebrate the tremendous work and vision of countless people who have kept the park progressing from a desolate wasteland toward its destiny of a free, green, open space for all people to enjoy in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. A few days after my father's 1958 canoe trip launched the crusade for a waterfront park and access from NJ to the Statue, he said to the JC Commissioners, "We have here at our doorstep, America's greatest shrine, the Statue of Liberty, and we have failed to realize its potential". We can say today at this milestone birthday, 25 years after the park opened as America's bicentennial gift to the nation, that our special park is well on its way to realizing that potential - of providing a green urban oasis and of being a worthy neighbor to the world's greatest symbol of democracy.
The park is necessary urban open space and a treasure of history, nature, and harbor views. We have lived up to the challenge and mission of guiding and preserving this sacred land - and we must continue to work at this challenge and mission. In the grassroots crusade to create the park, my father was joined by many community leaders, especially Ted Conrad who made an architectural model of a green park and who formed an association with my father in 1962 to win park support. In the late 1960's, Audrey Zapp. the park's "godmother", began her over 30 years of park advocacy. After 1976, as Commissioners, my Dad and Audrey tenaciously led many battles, with passionate public involvement, against commercialization plans. In the golf course and waterpark battles, there was a statewide coalition of 40 organizations. 

The true essence of park history is that people practiced democracy and fought with 
determination for a free park. All who have spoken out, are the heroes of this park. Your dedication to the park's spirit and purpose have played a decisive role! You deserve tremendous thanks from everyone who now enjoys the park and from future generations.

There is now a clear view of the park's future. The current DEP park Interior Planning 
process will lead to the restoration of the 185 acre natural area with trails, and a 45 acre open space perimeter With the commitment of The Friends, The Conservancy and other caring citizens, elected officials, and the NJDEP, LSP will become one of the world's greatest parks - enriching the souls of all who visit. I thank all the current and past park employees who have worked to make the park clean, safe, educational, and well-run. I also thank the newspaper people who have covered the park from its beginning.

The title of a recent Bruce Springsteen song is "Land of Hope and Dreams". Because Liberty State Park brings people together and inspires reflection on our country and our own lives, we can call this park a "land of hope and dreams".

Speech by Friends president Sam Pesin on June 14, 2001 at a park ceremony   www.folsp.org