For Immediate Release

March 29, 2019

We Celebrate Great Falls 10th Anniversary

Governor Murphy will be at Great Falls National Historical Park in Paterson to celebrate its 10th anniversary. New Jersey Sierra Club was a critical part towards making sure this park was protected and conserved for people to enjoy.

“Today we celebrate the anniversary of Paterson’s Great Falls National Historical Park. This park is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution; it has an abundance of natural resources, historical sites, and cultural aspects all in the middle of a living, breathing city. This park is incredibly unique because it is lived by people on a daily basis. Today’s anniversary would not have happened if it weren’t local residents and the Sierra Club who fought to protect this site 20 years ago. This is an important day to commemorate a beautiful park and our club will make sure that there are many more anniversaries for Great Falls,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We thank Congressman Pascrell, Senator Menendez, and former Senator Lautenberg for all their work at Great Falls and for making this happen.”

Great Falls National Park, which was once proposed for a housing development, is on a ridge 100 feet above the Passaic River. If it weren’t for local and Sierra Club activists, many of the historic structures and ruins would have been destroyed and paved over with 134 vinyl sided 2 story houses. During the past four years, officials completed two major projects at the park – the $1.8 million renovation on the north side that provides visitors closer access to the waterfall and the $3.2 million amphitheater in the overlook area on the south side.

“The Sierra Club had been involved for many years with the citizens of Paterson in protecting these historic features from being knocked down for redevelopment. This is the heart of Paterson Great Falls National would have been lost. The Passaic Coalition and Sierra Club worked tirelessly with Congressman Pascrell and Senator Lautenberg to get this National Park. The Sierra Club also worked with Commissioner Campbell and Jackson to allow state funds to go directly to Paterson,” said Tittel, “Today we celebrate Great Falls but we should not forget the struggles and people who fought for this.”

The Great Falls is a national treasure, part of a 35-acre park housing the second largest waterfall in the East, second to Niagara Falls. In 2011 Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park officially became the 397th National Park in the nation. Congressman Pascrell and Senator Lautenberg grew up there and Pascrell still lives there.

“The Paterson Great Falls park area has a lot of historic buildings. This is an oasis for people and a wonderful spot that keeps getting better,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “The history of Great Falls National Park is a tribute for the people who fought to protect this area and make this park a reality. The people of Paterson have been integral in saving the site not only in Great Falls but to help lead it become a National Park. Today is an important day for Paterson and Great Falls National Park, hopefully we have more parks like this for future generations to enjoy.”