On November 3, 1998, 65% of Bergen County voters voiced their support for creating the "Bergen County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund" to preserve open space and historic areas throughout Bergen County. This proposal accomplishes that voter mandate.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Water Works Conservancy, Inc. (WWC) is to tell the story of water as a vital resource, and the interaction between the river, its ecosystem and the humans who depend upon it. WWC will establish a Museum, Educational and Cultural Centers, and a Hackensack River Research Center. The Water Works Conservancy will restore and preserve the historic and architecturally significant site, which includes the pump house, water filtration and purification plant, and the unique steam-powered pumping equipment. Further, WWC will support the restoration and protection of the river ecosystem.

The Proposal Summary

The Water Works Conservancy, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, in cooperation with Bergen County, plans to transform the Historic Hackensack Water Company site, the 13.3 acre cement and red brick Romanesque Revival industrial site on Van Buskirk Island in Oradell, into a self-sustaining site that includes:

· A 10 acre Environmental Park (5/6 of the site) ;

· An Historic Science and Technology Museum
  (1/6 of the site);

· A Hackensack River Research Center;

· And Environmental, Educational and Cultural Centers.

Transfer of Ownership

· Bergen County will lease 3.5 acres of the Historic Site which includes the buildings to WWC, Inc.

Funding: Development of the site will cost $10,000,000 and proceed in three phases over five years; an additional $5,225,000 will be raised to establish an endowment.

Phase
Purpose
Cost
One(2 Yrs.) Stabilization of the buildings, planning the Museum and creation of the Museum (the Pump House)
$6,500,000
Two(2 Yrs.) Creation of the Science and Education Center (the Filtration Plant) & Hackensack River Research Center
$3,500,000
Three(1 Yr.) Creation of a $5,000,000 Endowment Fund to ensure the site is self-sustaining
$5,225,000
FIVE-YEAR TOTAL(includes $5 Million Endowment)
$15,225,000

Conclusion: The Conservancy's Proposal, in cooperation with Bergen County, accomplishes these goals: creating open space, providing historical preservation of the National Landmark eligible site, and serving the environmental, historical and cultural needs of the citizens of Bergen County without any new taxes or further costs to the County Taxpayer.

Short-term Goals and Objectives

WWC has completed preliminary planning for a three-phase development of The Water Works site. It could be partially open to the public within three years and be fully developed in five years, as funding becomes available.

To accomplish its Mission and Goals, WWC will achieve the following Specific Objectives during the first 18 months of operation.

  • Support Bergen County’s detailed plan for re-creating the Hackensack River habitat on the island providing re-forestation, transitional areas and wetlands restoration, walking trails, environmental overlooks, and bird watching locations.

  • Develop detailed plans to restore and preserve the Pump House, creating a Museum facility, and the Filtration Plant as an Education Center.

  • Restore the Allis-Chalmers and Corliss steam engines to feature as the grand exhibit. This display will aptly demonstrate the human aspect and historical importance of the technology of the Industrial Revolution.

  • Design its programs, exhibits and facilities to fulfill its mission and goals.

  • Create educational programming that enhances visitor experience, and promotes understanding of the environment, history, science, technology, and the arts through walking tours, on-the-floor demonstrations, symposiums and lectures, mini-labs, water research projects, workshops and major public events.

  • Establish a volunteer corps consisting of 100 adults and 100 students.

  • Operate within budgetary restrictions set forth in the Business Plan.

  • Develop cooperative ventures with other organizations that are already addressing issues concerning the environment, County history, science, technology, and the arts.

Long Term Objectives

WWC plans to achieve the following Long Term Objectives:

  • To provide the people of Bergen County, the State of New Jersey, and the wider metropolitan area an environmental park, a science, technology and history museum, a Hackensack River research center, an education center and a cultural wing that will be open for enjoyment and learning throughout the year and offer pertinent, entertaining and often interactive exhibitions and programming for visitors of all age groups, levels of education, and cultural and social backgrounds.

  • To restore the historic Van Buskirk Island and Hackensack Water Company site and plan, build, develop, operate and maintain said site in cooperation with Bergen County and the Borough of Oradell as an environmental park and science, technology and history museum.

  • To aid the County in propogating living plants, trees and flowers that are indigenous to the ecology of the Van Buskirk Island site in the Hackensack River; and to provide interpretive exhibits, landscapes, paths, natural overlooks, bird watching sites, and natural evolutionary settings that offer environmentally restored aesthetic and sensory appeal, information, and informative experiences about the life, ecology and environment of this site.

  • To serve as a major resource and education center and provide training and workshops in environmental, scientific, technological, academic, historic and artistic fields and related topics; and, further, to bring educational outreach programs to schools and communities.

  • To promote public understanding of the relationships between people and their natural surroundings, development and the needs of an industrialized society, and build support for preservation of open spaces, environmental beautification, conservation and ecological interests, and sustainable development.

  • To build pride in and appreciation for the Hackensack River’s rich plant diversity, wildlife and medley of natural habitats.

  • To foster the understanding of the technology from the Industrial Revolution to the present and its importance to the development of Bergen County; as well as explore ways of providing a continuing sustainable development which will preserve the environment while supporting the needs of the human community in balance with the natural habitat.

  • To support research and function as a research facility for the study of the Hackensack River and its ecosystems as well as people-plant-technology interactions.

  • To provide a center for historic records of the Hackensack River and particularly Bergen County, where citizens may research or experience through interactive exhibits the history of this area and Van Buskirk Island and the Hackensack River in particular.

  • To provide a central location in its cultural wing where local groups and artists may share their art forms and present exhibits, exchanges of ideas, performances, classes, workshops or lecture/demonstrations to enhance and enrich the community’s understanding, appreciation, and support of the rich artistic, cultural, emotional and intellectual life of Bergen County.