Opportunity To Help Shape Future of Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook

The deadline is Monday for nominations to fill 8 seats of the 20 seats on the Gateway National Recreation Area Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee.

Formed in 2013, the Committee is charged with advising Gateway National Recreation Area on issues concerning the future of the Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historical Landmark.

More than 100 historic buildings dating from the U.S. Army era are located within Gateway’s Sandy Hook Unit. Most are vacant, but there is the possibility that many of them can be re-adapted for new uses. 

"A recent Request for Expressions of Interest brought hundreds of possible new leaseholders to the park and generated over 40 written responses,"  said Gateway Superintendent Jennifer T. Nersesian in a written statement. "Now the committee is advising the park on an upcoming Request for Proposals, which we expect to issue later this year. We need to keep the committee at full membership so that we can keep this momentum going."

The next public committee meeting is at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 18 at Twin Lights historic site in Highlands. Public comment period is at 1 p.m.

Membership on the committee is by appointment from the Secretary of the Interior.

Of the Committee’s 20 members, eight have terms which expire in late August. Anyone interested in being a member, including current members whose terms are expiring, must submit materials in hard copy to the office of Gateway’s Superintendent no later than July 14, 2013. Nominees should describe and document their qualifications for membership and include a resume listing their name, title, address, telephone, e-mail, and fax number.

After the park selects nominees, these nominations are vetted through the Department of the Interior and the White House.