Liberty State Park has got to be one of the best kept secrets in the US. I don’t have enough of a fan base to ruin that by writing about it here… so I’d love to safely share with my friends and family….
Considering how beautiful and huge the park is, (1,122 acres) and with it being directly across from lower Manhattan with one of the best views possible, it’s such a mystery why it is so under used.
I’ve spent plenty of summer days hanging out on a beach chair at the park, without seeing another person for 45 minutes at a time. It’s those times in which it’s the most bizarre…. how the hell is this possible? that I can be sitting there, with such an amazing view of NYC, the capital of the world.. and there’s no one in sight!?
This past weekend Danny and I flew some sick kites there, he has those huge wake boarding kites, with a specially made skateboard with big wheels to ride on land. I wasn’t about to try the board, but flying these powerful kites with a water skiing type bar to hold on to was sick! at times pulling me 40 feet across the field in less than a second, what a fucking rush….
Liberty State Park is at the southern tip of Jersey City, with eastward views of Wall Street and southern views of Governor’s Island, the Statue of Liberty, and my favorite bridge, the Verrazano off into the distance.
There are mostly open grass fields beside paved paths with benches facing Lady Liberty. In the way back there is a humongous area to BBQ with many of those permanent grills ready and waiting for folks to throw charcoal on and cook up a rack of ribs.
Years ago as people would immigrate into the country, they would purchase a train ticket on Ellis Island, take a short ferry ride across to Liberty State Park, and hop on the railroad at CRRNJ Terminal to continue their journey into America. As the railroad and industry declined and discontinued service the land was abandoned and became a desolate dump site. The park was revived and reopened in 1976 and has been well maintained ever since. A true gem, and strangely so few know about it. you’ll realize immediately how awesome the park is upon visiting it so put it on your calendar to bop over one Saturday or Sunday morning and enjoy!
* I’m only a few blocks away, so pick me up on the way!! 
