The Palisades of the Hudson

The Palisades Interstate Park Commission was formed under an interstate compact in 1900 to protect the Palisades from destruction by stone and gravel quarries operating along the western banks of the Lower Hudson River. As the nation’s first bi-state partnership established to protect and conserve natural lands, the Commission’s role expanded through the years to incorporate more state parks and the creation of the Palisades Interstate Parkway.

Today, the Commission manages 30 parks and historic sites in New York and New Jersey spanning over 125,000 acres and nine million annual visitors. The Commission’s early work helped inspire the emerging fields of environmental stewardship and education, pioneered the goal of exposing children to nature through its group campgrounds, and served as a model for the growth of the national park system.The Palisades Interstate Park Commission, formed in 1900, operates the Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey and the State Parks and Historic Sites in New York’s Palisades Region.

PIPC logo
The Commission’s maple and oak leaf logo represents the official state trees of New York and New Jersey.
Left to right: George W. Perkins, first president of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission; J. Franklin Fort, Governor of New Jersey; Charles Evans Hughes, Governor of New York, gathered for the dedication of the Palisades Interstate Park on September 27, 1909. At this event, which took place at “the old Cornwallis Headquarters” (today known as the Kearney House), the governors of the two states officially opened the new Interstate Park to the public.
1909 dedication of the Park
Photos: PIPC archives.

From 1900 to 1937, the Commissioners of the Palisades Interstate Park consisted of two separate bodies, the New York and New Jersey Commissions (though they generally had identical personnel). In 1937, the two states authorized a Compact to create a single Palisades Interstate Park Commission as a joint corporate municipal instrumentality of the States of New Jersey and New York, and the President of the United States approved the joint resolution granting consent of Congress to the Compact. The Compact provided that the Palisades Interstate Park continue to exist and be maintained in the two States as an Interstate Park. The States pledged faithful cooperation in the future planning, improvement, development, maintenance, government, and management of the park.

New York Governor Averell Harriman and New Jersey Governor Robert Meyner at the opening of the NJ Section of the Palisades Interstate Parkway, June 22, 1957.
Photo: PIPC archives.

The Governor of New York and the Governor of New Jersey each appoint five Commissioners to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, who serve staggered five-year terms. The Commissioners serve without pay.

Waterfall in the Palisades
For over a century, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission has preserved priceless natural and cultural treasures — at the heart of one of the most heavily developed places in the world!
Revolutionary re-enactment on the Palisades
Photos: Anthony Taranto.
Citizens Advisory Council

For the Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey

This public interest group usually meets the second Thursday afternoon of the month at New Jersey Park Headquarters. Advisory Council members are appointed by the New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection.

Meetings are open to the public and provide a forum for interested persons to voice their concerns about the Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey.

Because schedules can change due to holidays and the like, and meeting times and places sometimes vary, visitors are advised to call ahead to confirm meetings: 201-768-1360.

Click to download the latest CAC meeting minutes (earlier minutes are available upon request).

CAC Council Members:

Daniel D. Chazin, chairperson

Martha Lieblich

Fred Silber

Tony Martin

Peter Michalos

Alan Zimmerman

Debora Davidson