“I’m not a fan of limited green space. You can’t build over everything,” said Max Herman, associate professor of sociology at NJCU, of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s plan to privatize Liberty State Park.

In 2011, Christie announced his Sustainable Building Fund of New Jersey State Parks. His efforts are to improve visitor services by developing additional amenities such as a boathouse and to build a casino to attract visitors and revenue to Jersey City.

“The governor’s office says his plans for Liberty State Park are an attempt to bring in more revenue,” said Terrence McDonald, a reporter for “The Jersey Journal.”

Many elected official have spoken out in opposition including to this plan: Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, State Senator President Sweeney, and State Senator Sandra Cunningham.

Along with New Jersey residents who have gone as far as creating a sign that states: “Governor Christie Liberty State Park is NOT FOR SALE.”

“The casino market is already saturated—and there are negative effects,” said Herman.

“They would probably dispute that they are trying to ‘privatize’ it. My bet is that the effort fails— it’s likely a Democrat is going to become the next governor, and two of the three likely Democratic contenders have said they oppose efforts to develop portions of Liberty State Park,” said McDonald.

“It’s a really bad trend assuming that green space is not being used in a proper fashion,” said Herman.