Name    : 
E-Mail  : 
Subject : 

Comments:
: ::Is that the Reservoir is under the  care and the responsibility of the City. No matter what transpired in the past with regards to access. No matter what assurance, insurance yada, yada, yada, the fact remains that the Reservoir is under the care and the responsibility of the City. Since the Reservoir is under the care and the responsibility of the City one would think that they could make the decision whether or not they want to give access to the general public. 

: I personally favour a passive space use for the Reservoir. With 13.64 acres, give or take, there is more than ample space to satisfy and serve the greater recreational good for the City. What we have here is what is becoming an all too familiar scenario, the vocal few dictating what THEY personally want.

: As for the "Hundreds Protest Jersey City's Ban...", that is not exactly so. The use of the word "hundreds" gives the impression of a vast multitude, not the approximately 200 that were there.



: : Steven Latham 
: : Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance 
: : 201 656 5235 
: : 201 705-9219 cel 
: : jcreservoir@juno.com 
: : jcreservoir.org  

: : May 11, 
: : 2006                                                                         
: : *-- For Immediate Release --* 
: : * * 
: : *Locked-Out Rally - **Hundreds Protest Jersey City's Ban on Fishing, 
: : Nature Walks, Bird-Watching, and Other Planned Summer Events At The 
: : Reservoir* 
: :   
: : On Saturday May 6, 2006, four hundred concerned residents from around 
: : Jersey City stood outside the locked entrance to the Reservoir on 
: : Jefferson Avenue with fishing poles, paddles, and giant photographs of 
: : last summer's public activities at the Reservoir, chanting, "Open The 
: : Gates!" The crowd gathered to protest Jersey City's ban on public access 
: : to the green urban oasis and recent rejection of summer activities: a 
: : fishing derby, nature walks, guided tours, bird-watching and free kayak 
: : lessons. 
: :   
: : With a symbolic key, Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance 
: : President Steve Latham attempted to unlock the gate, saying "Mayor Glenn 
: : Cunningham gave us the key to the Reservoir when the site had been 
: : abandoned and no one was taking care of it.  That same day the City came 
: : and fixed the broken gates. Last summer with the City's cooperation, the 
: : Alliance opened the Reservoir to the public and thousands of people 
: : participated in tours and events." 
: :   
: : This year, the Alliance expected to continue its tours and expand the 
: : opportunities the public has to enjoy the Reservoir.  But the City has 
: : refused to give permission, and has indicated that even if it relents, 
: : it will impose severe restrictions, including:  limiting access to just 
: : two days, prohibiting the Alliance from bringing government officials 
: : onto the site, keeping out the press and even banning the public from 
: : taking pictures.  The City's lock-out of the Alliance comes as 
: : Councilman Steve Lipski has publicly called for the Reservoir to be 
: : demolished so more athletic fields can be built next to the ones in 
: : adjoining Pershing Field. 
: :   
: : Sam Pesin, President of the Friends of Liberty State Park, compared this 
: : to the struggle to create Liberty State Park, "This is such an outrage 
: : that this gate is closed.  We shouldn't have to drive an hour to enjoy 
: : nature.  We need this place.  We cannot let our visionless City 
: : officials steal this from us and future generations." 
: :   
: : Steve Krinski, a science teacher at the Learning Community Charter 
: : School at the Boys and Girls Club, remarked "Last year I brought two 
: : groups of students here, a geography class and our environmental club.   
: : This year I want to bring more students. The City needs to recognize the 
: : great teaching resource we have in our own backyard.  This is not a just 
: : a Heights issue, kids all over the City need to come to this beautiful 
: : spot." 
: :   
: : Joshua Parkhurst, President of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, 
: : told the crowd "The Reservoir was a key component of the historic water 
: : works built by Jersey City in the 1870s to ensure a plentiful, safe 
: : supply of water.  It is an important landmark of 19^th century urban 
: : American engineering and public works."  Parkhurst continued "When the 
: : Reservoir was abandoned, something amazing happened - nature took over 
: : and created something beautiful.  We are seeing species of birds and 
: : trees that haven't been seen here in years."   
: :   
: : In a parade around the Reservoir walls, impassioned Reservoir supporters 
: : carried signs and chanted "Open the Gates."  Toward the rally's end, 
: : Steve Latham asked the supporters to give the police escort a round of 
: : applause. 
: :   
: : Landmarks Conservancy founder John Gomez shouted "Where are our elected 
: : officials who claim to be environmentally conscious?  Our officials 
: : turned their backs not only on history, but on the environment too.  We 
: : need to take this rally to City Hall." Gomez told the cheering crowd 
: : "The Reservoir will need you again and again until these gates are open." 

: : For more information, go to jcreservoir.org , or contact Steven Latham 
: : at jcreservoir@juno.com  , (201) 656-5235 
: : or (201) 705-9219. 


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