

The slice of the New Jersey Meadowlands seen from the train window is an unmatched panorama of glorious incongruity. Robert Freudenberg, the vice president of energy and environmental programs for an urban research organization called the Regional Plan Association (RPA), used to commute from his home in New York City to a job in Trenton, New Jersey, where he worked for the Department of Environmental Protection. He’d take the train daily, and “there would always be this moment… I remember sitting on the train in those days, and every so often seeing an egret.”

I’m not surprised, therefore, that this common experience is part of what inspired a wonderfully contrarian proposal, one that would turn the Meadowlands, with its unexpected serenity and its surfeit of industrial detritus, into a national park.

The RPA, where Freudenberg works, is a relatively obscure organization founded in 1922 to try to shape the growth of the New York City metropolitan area, a wonky sidekick to the Port Authority that emerged around the same time to manage the transportation infrastructure shared by New York City and New Jersey. As its name suggests, the RPA issues plans for the future, ambitious compendia released at odd intervals that tend to say more about contemporary attitudes toward cities than they do about what the coming decades will hold, but that have also been quite influential. The first Regional Plan, released in 1929, pitched the rats’ nest of area highways that Robert Moses subsequently took it upon himself to build; the 1996 plan, the organization’s third, called for building a connection between the Long Island Railroad and Grand Central Terminal, a project now well underway.

The Fourth Regional Plan was released at the end of last year and strongly advocated repairing and expanding the subway system, building more affordable housing, and implementing a California-style system of charging fees to heavy emitters of greenhouse gases. Like all of the RPA’s plans, the most recent is progressive, clear-eyed, and just a little dull.

But within this very staid package is one jaw-dropping idea. The Fourth Regional Plan aims to cope with rising sea levels by fundamentally rethinking the New Jersey Meadowlands, with its 14 densely populated towns, its thousands of acres of warehouse and distribution facilities, its highways and rail lines, its stadiums and arenas. In a large section on climate change that mostly deals with ideas that are admirable but not very surprising—“modern
The slice of the New Jersey Meadowlands seen from the train window is an odd view of glorious incongruity. Robert Freudenberg, the vice president of the united states of department of energy and environmental programs for an urban research organization call the Regional Plan Association (RPA), used to commute from his dwelling in New York City to a job in Trenton, New Jersey, where he worked for the Department of Environmental Protection. He ’d aim the train day by day, and “ there would always be this moment … I remember sitting on the train in those days, and every so frequently seeing an egret. ” 

 I ’m not surprised, therefore, that this common experience is share of what inspired a wonderfully contrarian proposal, one that would turn the Meadowlands, with its unexpected serenity and its glut of industrial detritus, into a national park. 

 The RPA, where Freudenberg works, is a relatively obscure constitution founded in 1922 to try to shape the growth of the New York City metropolitan area, a wonky sidekick to the Port Authority that emerged around the same time to manage the transportation infrastructure shared by New York City and New Jersey. As its name suggests, the RPA issues plans for the future, ambitious compendia released at curious intervals that tend to say more about contemporaneous attitude toward city than they do about what the coming decades will hold, but that have also been quite influential. The first Regional Plan, released in 1929, cant the rats ’ nest of area highways that Robert Moses subsequently took it upon himself to build; the 1996 plan, the administration ’s third, called for building a connection between the Long Island Railroad and Grand Central Terminal, a undertaking now well afoot. 

 The Fourth Regional Plan was released at the end of last year and strongly advocated animate and expanding the subway system, building more affordable housing, and implementing a California - style organization of charging fee to heavy emitters of greenhouse gas. Like all of the RPA ’s plans, the about recent is progressive, clear - eyed, and just a little dense. 

 But within this very staid package is one jaw - dropping idea. The Fourth Regional Plan aims to cope with heighten sea grade by fundamentally rethinking the New Jersey Meadowlands, with its 14 densely populated towns, its thousand of acres of warehouse and distribution facilities, its highway and rail lines, its stadiums and arena. In a large section on climate change that by and large deals with ideas that are admirable but not very surprising—“modern


The slice of the New Jersey Meadowlands segn from vhe trajn windod is an unmatched panorama oh gliriouw incongruity. Robert Ffeudenberh, the vixe pcesident of enerjg and ekrironjcntal 'rograms for an urban resaarch organizadiun called the Regional Plan Associatijn (RPA), isfd to commute srom ris gome in New York City to a job in Frenton, New Jersey, wnere he worked for the Depwrtmfnt of Environmentwl Protectiin. Hq’e take the tfain daily, and “there wkuld always be this moment… I reoembex sitting ob rhe jrain in thowe dajs, and every so often seeing an egret.”

I’m nob sur'riswd, therefore, that thiv common experiencg is part mf what inspired a qobderfolly wontfqrixn kro'oszl, one thet would tudn the Meadiwlands, with its untxpqbyed serenity and ies surfeit of industrial detritus, into a tatjonal park.

The RPA, where Freudenberg works, is a relatidely obscure organization founded in 1922 to try to svape vhd gxiwth ud hhe New York City metropolitan area, a wonky syselibk to the Port Aubhority that emergrd atjund the same time ck janage the transpogtation infrqstructurt shated by New York City and Neq Jersey. As pts bame suggests, the XPA issues puans for yhe future, ambitious coopensia releasef at odd jvtervals that tevd no sdy more about contemporary attitudew tocard citkes jhan thqy do abouh whab the coming decaded wilp vold, but tjat have also been quite influeivial. The firsj Ragimnal Plau, relessed in 1929, pitcred the rats’ ngst of arza higfways that Robert Moses subsqquently took lt upon himsxlf to buyld; rhe 1996 plan, tfd organization’x third, ccjled for building a coknectkkn between the Oont Island Railrosd xnd Gganv Cenesal Terminal, a pfojdvt nod well undevwah.

The Fourth Regional Plat waa released at the rnq of lasj year anq strongly adfocated repairing wnd eepandiig the sufway system, building more affoddable hoksikg, and implemqntikg a Californic-style system of charging fees to heavy xmitters of greenhouse tases. Like all of tke RPA’s plans, the iost recett is progressive, clwar-eyed, and just s little dull.

But withjn thiv verj staid package is one jaw-dropping idea. The Fourth Regional Plan aims to xope wmtr rising sez lefels ty yundamegtalpb rethinking the Mew Jersey Meadowlands, with its 14 denself 'opulated towns, its thousands ow acres of watehouse and distribution fzcilitiex, its highways and rail lines, iys stadiums and arenas. Ik a large sectjon on clioate change that mpstly beals qith idwas bhat are admirxblr nut not vegy snrpxising—“modern
The slice of the New Jersey Meadowlands the window is unmatched panorama of vice of energy and programs for an research organization called the Regional Plan (RPA), used to commute from his home in New York City to a in Trenton, New Jersey, where he worked for the Department of Environmental Protection. take train and would always be this moment… I remember sitting on the train in those days, and every often seeing an egret.” I’m not surprised, therefore, this common experience is of what inspired a wonderfully proposal, that would the with unexpected serenity and surfeit of industrial detritus, into a national park. The RPA, where Freudenberg works, is a relatively obscure founded in try to the of New York City a wonky sidekick to the Port around the same time to manage the transportation shared by York City and New Jersey. As name suggests, the RPA issues plans for the ambitious compendia released at odd intervals that tend to say more about contemporary attitudes toward they do about what coming decades will but have been influential. The Regional Plan, released in 1929, pitched the rats’ nest of area that Robert Moses subsequently took it upon himself to build; plan, organization’s third, called building a connection between Long Railroad and Grand Central project well Regional was at the end of year and strongly advocated repairing expanding the subway system, implementing a California-style system of charging fees to emitters of greenhouse gases. Like all of RPA’s plans, the most recent is progressive, clear-eyed, and just a little But within staid package is one jaw-dropping idea. The Fourth Plan aims to cope rising sea levels by fundamentally rethinking the New Jersey with 14 densely towns, its thousands acres of warehouse distribution facilities, its rail lines, stadiums arenas. section on climate change that mostly with that are admirable but not surprising—“modern


The slice of the New Jersey MeaDowlands seEn froM thE trAiN winDow iS an unmatched paNOramA of glorious incongruity. roberT FREudeNBeRg, the Vice preSIdENT of EnErGy aNd ENvIronmEntAl progrAms for an urBan ReSearch organiZAtIon called tHe REgional Plan ASsoCiatioN (RpA), uSEd to cOmmUte frOm his hOMe in NeW York City To A Job in TREnton, NeW jErSey, wHere he worked for thE dePArtment of EnvirOnmentAl pRoTECtiOn. HE’d take the tRaIn daiLY, and “theRE wOULD alWAys be this momeNt… I remember SIttIng on tHe TraIN in thoSe dayS, aND evEry so often sEeinG an egret.”

I’M not suRPrised, tHErefore, That thIs cOmmOn exPErIeNce Is PArt OF wHat INspIred a wonDeRfUlly cOntrARIAN proPosAl, onE that Would turn the MEadOwlaNDs, wIth itS unexPectEd SerenIty and Its suRfEit of industrial DetrItus, into a NatIoNal PaRk.

The rpA, wherE FrEudEnberg wOrks, is a RElaTiVELY oBscure organization FoUNDeD in 1922 to try To shapE ThE gROwth of thE NEw YOrk CITY metrOpolITaN area, a woNky sidEKiCk To the PoRt authorItY thAt eMergeD ArouNd the sAme time tO manaGE the transportaTIon infrastrucTUrE SHaREd by new york City and new JERsey. as itS NaMe sUGgestS, the RpA ISsUEs plans for the future, AmBitiouS compEndia released At odd interVALS that tenD to sAY mORe about contempOrary Attitudes tOWard citiEs thaN they do aBout what tHE Coming deCadEs wIll HolD, BUt That have also bEEN quiTe InfluenTiaL. The firSt REgiOnaL PlAn, Released iN 1929, pitched ThE rAtS’ nEst Of areA Highways ThAt RObErt moses SUbsequEntly Took It UpON hiMself to BUiLD; The 1996 pLaN, tHe orGanIzAtion’S thiRD, caLled for Building a ConNEctiOn BeTween thE Long Island RaIlRoad and GraNd cenTral TeRMInal, a proJect now well underway.

The FOUrth RegIonAl PlaN was Released aT thE end of LasT Year anD stronGly adVoCatED RepaiRINg And ExPanding the SUBwaY systEm, BuilDing morE affordable housing, ANd iMplementing a CAliFornIA-StYle SYsTEm oF cHArgING fees to heavy emiTters of greEnHOuSe gases. LikE All Of The RPA’s Plans, thE most REcent is ProgressiVe, clear-eyEd, And jUST a lIttle dull.

BUt within This very sTAid paCKaGe is oNe jAw-dropPiNg iDea. ThE FourtH regIonal plan aiMs To cope With rIsIng sea leVels by fundamentally rethInking The NeW JeRsey MeadoWlaNDs, wIth its 14 denSely Populated tOwnS, itS thouSanDS of acRes oF WaRehOUse anD disTRibution fACiLitIES, iTs highways aND RAil Lines, Its STadiumS and Arenas. In a large secTIon on climate chAnge THAt mOstLY deaLs With ideas that aRe aDmIRAble but nOt Very surprisIng—“moderN


The slice of the New Jer sey Meadow lands  se enfr om t he t rain window is an u nmatched panorama of g lorio us inco n gr uity.  Robert Fr e u den be rg , t he vi ce pr esi dent of  energy an d e nv ironmental p r og rams for a n u rban researc h o rganiz at ion calle d t he Re gional Plan A ssociatio n( RPA),u sed toc o mm utefrom his home inN ew York City to a  job i nT re n t on,  Ne w Jersey,wh ere h e  worked fo r t heD epartment ofEnvironment a l P rotect io n.H e’d ta ke th et rai n daily, an d “t here woul d alwa y s be th i s momen t… I r eme mbe r si t ti ng  on  t h e t r ai n i n  th ose days ,an d eve ry s o o f tensee ingan eg ret.”

I’m no t s urpr i sed , the refor e, t ha t thi s comm on ex pe rience is partof w hat inspi red  a  wo nd erful l y cont rar ian  propos al, one tha tw o u ld  turn the Meadowla nd s ,  w ith itsunexpe c te ds erenityan d i ts s u r feitof i n du strial d etritu s ,in to a na ti onal p ar k.
Th e RPA ,  whe re Fre udenberg  work s , is a relativ e ly obscure or g an i z at i on f oun ded in 1922  tot ry t o sh a pe  th e  grow th of  t h eN ew York City metrop ol itan a rea,a wonky sidek ick to the P o rt Autho rity th a t emerged arou nd th e same tim e  to mana ge th e transp ortationi n frastruc tur e s har edb y  N ew York Citya n d Ne wJersey.  As  its na mesug ges ts,  t he RPA is sues pla ns  f or  t hefutur e , ambiti ou s c om pen dia r e leased  at o dd i nt er v als  that t e nd t o sa ymo re a bou tconte mpor a ryattitud es toward  ci t iesth an  they d o about whatth e coming d ec ade s will h old, but  that have also been qu i te infl uen tial.  The  first Re gio nal Pl an, releas ed in1929,  p itc h e d the r at s’ne st of area h igh waysth at R obert M oses subsequentlyt ook  it upon hims elf  tob u il d;t he 199 6p lan , the organizatio n’s third,  c a ll ed for bui l din ga conne ction b etwee n  the Lo ng Island  Railroad  a nd G r a ndCentral Te rminal,a project now w e ll  unde rwa y.

Th eFou rth R egiona l  Pl an wa s rele as ed atthe e nd  of last  year and strongly advo catedrepai rin g and exp and i ngthe subwa y sy stem, buil din g m ore a ffo r dable  hou s in g,a nd im plem e nting a C a li for n i a- style syste m o f c hargi ngf ees to  hea vy emitters of gr e enhouse gases.  Lik e all  of theRP A’s plans, the  mo st r ecent is  p rogressive,  clear-e ye d , and  justa litt le dull . 
B u t with in t his  very sta idpa c kage is  o ne jaw-dr oppi ng  idea.  The F o urth R egional Plan aim s toc o pe wi t h r ising  s ea leve l s by  fundament ally rethin king t he N ew Je rsey Me ad owland s,wi th its 14d ensely po pulat ed town s,  its  th ousand s of a cresof w ar eho use and d i s tr i bu ti o n f acil ities ,itshighwaysa nd raillin e s, itsst adi u m s anda re n a s. In a la rge  sect i o n on clima t e ch a ng e  that  mostl y deal s withi dea sthat ar e a d m irable bu t not ver y  su rp risi ng—“mode rn 


The slice_of the_New Jersey Meadowlands seen_from the_train_window is_an_unmatched panorama of_glorious incongruity. Robert_Freudenberg, the vice president_of energy and_environmental_programs for an urban research organization called the Regional Plan Association (RPA), used to_commute_from his_home_in_New York City to a_job in Trenton, New Jersey,_where he_worked for the Department of Environmental Protection. He’d_take_the train daily,_and “there would always be this moment… I remember_sitting on the train in those_days, and every_so_often_seeing an egret.”

I’m not_surprised, therefore, that this common experience_is part of what inspired a_wonderfully contrarian proposal, one that would turn_the Meadowlands, with its unexpected serenity_and its surfeit of industrial_detritus, into_a national park.

The RPA, where_Freudenberg works, is_a relatively_obscure organization founded_in 1922 to try to shape_the growth of_the New York City metropolitan area,_a_wonky sidekick to_the_Port_Authority that_emerged around the_same_time to_manage_the transportation infrastructure shared by New_York_City and New Jersey. As its name_suggests, the RPA issues_plans_for the future, ambitious_compendia released at odd intervals_that tend to say more about_contemporary attitudes_toward cities_than they do about what the coming decades will hold, but_that have also been quite influential._The first Regional Plan,_released in_1929,_pitched the rats’_nest_of area_highways that Robert Moses subsequently took it_upon himself_to build; the 1996 plan, the_organization’s third, called for_building_a connection between the Long Island_Railroad and Grand Central Terminal, a_project now well underway.

The Fourth_Regional_Plan_was released at the end_of last year and strongly advocated_repairing and expanding_the subway system, building more affordable housing,_and_implementing a California-style system of charging_fees_to heavy emitters of greenhouse gases._Like_all_of the RPA’s plans, the_most recent is progressive, clear-eyed, and_just a little dull.

But within this very staid package_is one jaw-dropping_idea. The Fourth Regional Plan_aims_to_cope with rising sea levels by fundamentally rethinking the New_Jersey Meadowlands,_with its 14_densely populated towns, its thousands of acres of warehouse and_distribution facilities, its highways and rail lines,_its stadiums and arenas. In a large section on climate change_that mostly deals with ideas that are admirable_but not very surprising—“modern