Dear Friends of the Water Works Conservancy, 

Perhaps the biggest event in the history of the Hackensack Water Company is 
about to take place. This event will not celebrate the company’s long history 
of groundbreaking developments in water purification.  It will not reflect 
upon the people who worked at the site for a period of 130 years, or the 
effect of the plant on County life.  The event will not pay homage to the 
building’s impressive and beautiful Romanesque Revival architecture.  
Actually, it is quite the opposite.

On Thursday, December 20th there will be a public hearing at which Bergen 
County will formally request permission from the New Jersey State Historic 
Sites Council to destroy the historic Hackensack Water Company site.  The 
most recent proposal from the County calls for demolishing a majority of the 
site, using a portion of one of the buildings for offices and public meeting 
spaces, and maintaining two of the oldest pumps as “sculpture objects.”  The 
remainder of this plan calls for a 300-seat amphitheater in a passive park.  
The cost for this project is over $9.1 million, all at taxpayers' expense.

The Water Works Conservancy’s plan calls for preserving and restoring the 
entire site at Van Buskirk Island, listed on the New Jersey and National 
Registers of Historic Places, to commemorate 100 years of technology from 
steam to electricity and New Jersey's lead in the development of modern water 
treatment techniques.  The WWC's goal is to create New Jersey’s first 
Smithsonian affiliate museum, as well as education/research/ environmental 
resource centers, and a cultural gathering place, while leaving 10 acres out 
of 13 for a restored Hackensack River habitat park.  This project would be 
fully funded by grants from state and federal sources, as well as private 
organizations and donors, at no cost to taxpayers.

The Board of the Directors of the WWC is urging you and a friend to attend 
this extremely important public hearing.  We realize that this is a busy 
holiday season for many of you, but the future of the Hackensack Water 
Company site may very well be determined on that day and your support is 
critical.

Please join us on December 20th by 10:15 am in front of the Municipal 
Building, One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ (see directions below).  If 
you arrive later, please proceed to the fifth floor Freeholder Conference 
Room.

Again, please fit this day into your schedule and help us conserve our past 
and create our future.  Call WWC at 201-967-0133, and let us know if you will 
attend this important public hearing.

Sincerely,
The Board of Directors of the Water Works Conservancy

The Water Works Conservancy, Inc.
Elm Street at New Milford Avenue
P.O. Box 714
Oradell, NJ 07649
Phone: 201-967-0133
Fax: 201-967-7517

DIRECTIONS:
One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack

Parking lot entrance for visitors is between One Bergen County Plaza and the 
Justice Center, off Hudson Street.  The guard at the security booth will 
direct you to the proper area.  Handicapped parking is on the piazza in front 
of the main lobby entrance to One Bergen County Plaza.

FROM ORADELL - Take Kinderkamack Road South through River Edge under Route 4 
and continuing straight south toward Hackensack until the Stop light at 
Johnson St.  Bear the slight left, not sharp left, onto Johnson street, past 
SEARS to barrier which sends you right.  Take first left and continue 
straight, cross RR tracks and continue to ESSEX STREET.  Left onto Essex 
Street, almost immediately get in right lane and when road splits curve to 
right onto Hudson.  Immediately take first left between Justice Center and 
One Bergen Plaza.  Drive up to Security Booth on Right side. Follow parking 
directions.

FROM ROUTE 4 EAST or 4 WEST - Exit at Hackensack Avenue, Business District.  
Hackensack Avenue becomes River Street.  from River Street make a right onto 
Kansas Street then right onto Hudson Street.  Turn right at the corner of One 
Bergen  County Plaza.

FROM ROUTE 17 NORTH - Exit at Polifly Road.  Four lights later, make a right 
onto Essex Street, cross over RR tracks.  See Court House ahead.  (Road 
curves and splits).  Make a right onto Hudson Street and your first left 
between the Justice Center and One Bergen County Plaza.

FROM ROUTE 17 SOUTH -  Exit at Essex Street (Maywood-Paterson).  Make a left 
at the stop sign onto Esex Street.  Stay on Essex Street over Route 17, past 
Hackensack University Medical Center over RR tracks.  Proceed as above from 
Route 17 North.

FROM ROUTE 80 WEST - Exit #66 (Hudson Street, Hackensack, Little Ferry).  Go 
to light.   Make a left onto Hudson Street.  As Hudson Street starts to 
curve, see Court House ahead.   Make a right between Justice Center and One 
Bergen County Plaza.

FROM ROUTE 80 EAST -  Exit #65 (Green Street, South Hackensack).  At end of 
ramp, make right and proceed to light.  Turn right onto Green Street and 
Proceed to end.  Turn right onto Essex Street.  See Court House ahead.  Bear 
right onto Hudson Street and make a left between the Justice Center and One 
Bergen County Plaza.

FROM THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NORTH AND SOUTH - Take the exit for Rou;te 80 
East and follow directions for Route 80 (above).

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