Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy wins court case to open Admiral's Walk Condo waterfront to the public

The Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy (HRWC) has won a major victory in court, with a judge ruling that the Admiral’s Walk condominium in Edgewater, NJ must provide public access to the Hudson River waterfront that adjoins their property. This is the first decision applying the Public Trust Doctrine and the NJ 2019 Public Access legislation to Hudson River Waterfront Communities.

The HRWC brought the legal action against the Admiral’s Walk Condominium Association, Inc. in Bergen County Court in September 2019, arguing that the public has the right to unhindered access to all property bordering a navigable body of water in New Jersey, as specified by the state’s Public Trust Doctrine (PTD). The PTD applies to the Hudson River and the HRWC argued that Admiral’s Walk must allow the public access to the Hudson River waterfront along its property.

Judge Lisa Perez Friscia of the Superior Court of New Jersey – Bergen County Division granted summary judgement in favor of the HRWC, meaning that the Admiral’s Walk condominium can no longer block public access to the Hudson River waterfront. The Conservancy’s President, Don Stitzenberg, said that “We are pleased that the Court reaffirmed the long-standing Public Trust Doctrine and ruled that Admiral’s Walk must allow the public access to the Hudson River waterfront along its property”. He also stated that “The Conservancy plans to use this decision to apply the PTD to remaining gaps in the Hudson River Walkway to gain access for the public to the waterfront.”

The public access, when implemented along Admiral’s Walk’s waterfront, will allow the pedestrian public to travel between the Edgewater Marina and the Edgewater Veteran’s Park without having to detour to the narrow, dangerous sidewalk along River Road. An additional hearing will be held by the court on February 15, 2023, to address the implementation of public access at Admiral’s Walk.

For further information about the activities of the Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy to further the interests of the Waterfront and the Hudson River Walkway, please visit the organization’s website www.hudsonriverwaterfront.org or contact Don Stitzenberg at 201-519-7057 or don.stitzenberg@hudsonriverwaterfront.org if you wish to get involved in the Conservancy’s activities.

hudsonriverwaterfront.org/documents/Admirals%20Walk%20SummaryJudgement-2023- 0114.pdf