Port Authority of NY&NJ adds $60M to land preservation program

The Port Authority Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an additional $30 million authorization each for the states of New York and New Jersey to preserve open space throughout the Hudson-Raritan Estuary area. The program, which began in 2001, provides the public with additional access to coastal resources, establishes new parkland in coastal and underserved communities, protects important wildlife and provides ecological benefits that help reduce damage to property from major storm events. It serves as a counterweight to the impacts of the Port Authority’s development in the region, the Port Authority press release said.

Under the Hudson-Raritan Estuary Resources Program, the Port Authority provides funds to not-for-profit or public entities for the acquisition of open space within the estuary endangered by development. Port Authority professional staff work with environmental groups to select properties that are in the Port District and on a list of properties that need to be preserved and in danger of development.

The Port Authority’s Office of Environmental and Energy Programs, in concert with the Real Estate Services Department, coordinates the program with outside third parties to help fund the purchase of strategic properties that foster conservation, ecological enhancement, public access, or environmental stewardship.

Since its launch in 2001 with an initial $60 million outlay, the Board has approved property transactions and improvements through funding agreements and reimbursements for approximately 152 acres in New York and 246 acres in New Jersey.

"The Port Authority's commitment to invest an additional $60 million for the Hudson-Raritan Estuary Resources Program will help millions of people enjoy green open spaces, wildlife habitat, and public access," said Robert Pirani, Program Director of the NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP) at the Hudson River Foundation. "This new commitment supports HEP's ongoing comprehensive restoration efforts and the conservation of priority habitat and access sites identified by our partners, including the Port Authority."

Since 2001, the Hudson-Raritan Estuary Resources Program has invested in the following projects in New York and New Jersey to balance the agency’s development impacts across the region.

The Port Authority of NY & NJ builds, operates, and maintains critical transportation and trade assets. Its network of aviation, rail, surface transportation and seaport facilities annually moves millions of people and transports vital cargo throughout the New York/New Jersey region. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center site, home to the iconic One World Trade Center.