The latest demonstration of the federal government’s commitment to transforming the Great Falls into a premier unit of the national park system took place this week with the arrival of two large modular buildings on Monday that will become the temporary on-site home of the U.S. National Park Service. The facilities are located at the Great Falls Overlook Park off of the McBride Avenue Extension.

“I am very pleased that these buildings have arrived and the National Park Service will set up shop in the heart of the Great Falls Historic District,” said U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8). “Our project director, Bill Bolger, has exhibited great resourcefulness in acquiring these two available temporary buildings. He has also been persistent and committed to the belief that the National Park Service must be on site, full time, in order to draw out all of the Great Falls’ potential to become one of America’s greatest parks. I thank him for what he has done, and I also want to thank Mayor Jones and MUA Chairman Lowe for making the accommodations necessary for these buildings.”  

NPS Project Director Bill Bolger acquired the modular buildings from the Upper Delaware River National Park.

“These are new units that were provided for another park that was unable to use them,” Bolger said. “By acquiring them, we have stepped up our progress by at least a year. If we had order these buildings, we would have added another year to the process.”

The two units’ 1,500 square feet encompass two offices, a meeting room and handicap-accessible rest room facilities. Once all utilities are connected, the rest rooms will be available for public use.

The buildings will remain at the site no more than five years. The City of Paterson has issued an initial permit for two years, giving NPS the ability to apply for three one-year extensions for the buildings’ stay. 

“We welcome the National Park Service to our Paterson, the nation’s first planned industrial city,” said Paterson Mayor Jeffery Jones. “The two buildings that arrived Monday came rolling into a rich heritage bringing renewed hope for a brighter, more vibrant Paterson.  On behalf of the citizens of Paterson, I welcome Bill Bolger and the National Park Service and thank Congressman Pascrell and MUA Chairman Lowe for their continued support of this worthwhile project.” 

“It is a wonderful start of the Great Falls national park,” said Erik Lowe, chairman of the Paterson Municipal Utilities Authority.  “The presence of National Park Service buildings further demonstrates the commitment of President Obama and Secretary Salazar to making the Great Falls national park a reality.”

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