By Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight

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The Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area offers gorgeous views and adventure for millions of visitors every year. While it’s a part of the National Park Service system, it’s not designated as a national park. John Donahue, who worked for the National Park Service for nearly 40 years and spent 14 years in charge of the area, wants to change that. He’s partnering with the Sierra Club on a proposal to make the Delaware Water Gap New Jersey’s first national park.

“The spectacular resources here should be recognized as being nationally and internationally significant on a greater level … It’s a matter of recognition and elevation and prestige for the people and for the resources,” said Donahue.

Some people don’t see it that way. Sandy Hull, who lives in Layton near the Delaware Water Gap, said she has a lot of questions that are not answered by the Sierra Club’s proposal.

“There’s no environmental impact statement. No agricultural, economic impact statement. The visitation — we don’t know how they figured that. As far as economics, I don’t know how they figure how much spending every person’s going to do when they come up here, when basically there’s nothing here to spend their money on,” said Hull.

Opponents are also concerned about the consequences of more visitors and whether private land could be taken by eminent domain.

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5th) has also come out against the proposed redesignation.

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