News Release

East and West Pond Stewardship Planning Team Invites Public Input for Planning Efforts

Date: May 2, 2022
Contact: Daphne Yun, 917 282 9393

Queens, N.Y. –Queens, N.Y. - The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to announce the inauguration of a Stewardship Plan for the East and West Pond area of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Gateway National Recreation Area. This planning effort will help define the future of this beloved area by identifying and developing strategies to advance management goals related to resource protection, education and interpretation, and the visitor experience. It will also expand upon other guiding documents for the East and West Pond area, including Gateway’s 2014 General Management Plan.

“Building on years of work at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, the Stewardship Plan will provide an actionable plan for resource protection and public use at the popular East and West Pond area, while also providing a framework for managing projects and partnerships at the Refuge,” said Jen Nersesian, Gateway superintendent. “To create a truly impactful plan, we need to understand the priorities of our visitors, partners, and neighbors. With your help, this plan will demonstrate what we can accomplish together.”

NPS is seeking early engagement from visitors and stakeholders on issues to be addressed or evaluated in this plan. Interested members of the public are invited to attend the virtual open house to be held on May 17, 2022, at 7 p.m. Participants are also encouraged to submit questions in advance of the event by emailing [e-mail]. More information about this event, including registration, can be found at https://stewardshipplan.eventbrite.com. Further information on the Stewardship Plan, including how it relates to existing park plans, is available in an FAQ document that will be posted on the park website at www.nps.gov/gate.

Through June 7, 2022, individuals, government agencies, non- profit and for-profit organizations are also welcome to provide feedback through the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/StewardshipPlan), via social media (@gatewaynps on Facebook or Twitter), or in writing to Daphne Yun, Gateway National Recreation Area (ATTN: East and West Pond Stewardship Plan), 210 New York Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10305. After the close of this public comment period, Gateway will carefully integrate public feedback into the draft Stewardship Plan, which will also be made available for public review before being implemented.

About Gateway National Recreation AreaGateway is a large diverse urban park with 27,000 acres in New York City and New Jersey. Gateway combines recreational activities with natural beauty, wildlife preservation, military history and more. Visitors can learn about forts, hike, or camp overnight in the New York metropolitan area. Gateway encourages visitors to be a part of the National Park Service’s next 100 years. For more information about Gateway visit our website at www.nps.gov/gate.