For the past 200 million years since its formation by an explosion of molten magma, cooling and solidifying into the magnificent columnar structure of rock that exists today, the Palisades Cliffs has soared above the west bank of the Hudson River.  It has become an icon for nature's environmental beauty in the Northeast.  It was under siege in the late 1890s with quarrying of its cliff face for use as construction material in NYC.  It took a group of determined women, the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs, to stop the pillaging and influencing the formation of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to protect the Palisades Cliffs north of the George Washington Bridge.

The southern portion of the Palisades Cliffs did not receive any such protection and soon became surrounded by developments of all shapes and sizes.  But, now with new construction methods and technology, developers have become more aggressive in attacking the Palisades Cliffs to build their projects.  

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (NJDEP) regulations (N.J.A.C. 7:15-5.3) prohibits development on "steep slopes, i.e.,  the Palisades Cliffs.  These regulations were also adopted and approved by the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders on Oct. 23, 2008. 

We are petitioning our state officials and elected representatives to enforce the regulations and not allow any further damage and destruction to what the NY Times editorial, "Saving a Natural Treasure", dated March 21, 2008, in referring to the Palisades Cliffs, as being "degraded beyond recognition".

The Coalition to Preserve the Palisades Cliffs proposes a moratorium on further developement and enforcement of regulations on those already approved by local authorities.  

Please join us by petitioning the following organizations - and help us get the message to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the Hudson County Freeholder Chairwoman Doreen DiDomenico and the Hudson County Executive, Thomas A. DeGise that a landmark icon cannot be replaced!