by Annette C. Earling, WCPA Executive Director
A Park in Need of Restoration
Washington Crossing State Park of New Jersey has world-renowned history, miles of trails, and acres of meadows and woodlands. However, much of it fell into a sorry state in the years that followed the bicentennial. A park that once had close to forty employees, including electricians, plumbers and arborists, is now cared for by a handful of overworked maintenance staff and a few dedicated historians.
Major Restoration Projects Underway
We formed the Washington Crossing Park Association (WCPA) in 2014 to raise funds, contact legislators, and otherwise support the park. As part of that work, we created a survey which received 205 responses — many of them remarking that the NJ side of the Delaware should be as well-kept as the PA side, but NJ residents are often embarrassed by the comparison. To view our survey results, visit our website at www.wcpa-nj.com.
The good news is that as 2026 and the nation’s 250th birthday approach, the site is poised to undergo an incredible, once-in-a-generation restoration. At the WCPA’s Annual Meeting on January 18, NJ DEP Director of Historic Sites Mark Texel spoke to our membership about upcoming improvements to the park. Here are a few of those details.
A New $23.8 Million Visitor Museum
The largest project is the construction of a new $23.8 million Visitor Museum, sited in the historic zone of the park by the Johnson Ferry House. This new architectural knockout will be nestled into the landscape and covered by a living green roof. It will house exhibit halls and storage that will finally do justice to its Swan Historical Foundation collection of Revolutionary War artifacts, as well as a reception area, offices, and a fantastic view of the site of the Crossing. Its lobby will feature both a terrazzo tile map of the Delaware River and a stunning mural of Washington Crossing the Delaware painted in 1921 and recently restored by the WCPA (see photo). To further delight park visitors, the Museum will feature “The Crossing Experience:” an immersive experience in which visitors will board a reproduction ferry boat and be surrounded by the sights and sounds of Christmas night, 1776, as they cross the Delaware into New Jersey!
Construction began in the fall and is well underway. The building and its collection, due to be completed in early 2026, will bring tens of thousands of new visitors to the park.
See also: New Visitor Center breaking ground at Washington Crossing State Park
Additional Park-Wide Improvements
Happily, the entire park will be prepared for the rush of visitors, thanks to the rest of the planned work which will include:
- Replaced paving throughout the park at a cost of $840k;
- A restoration of the Johnson Ferry House at a cost of $1.5 million;
- A WCPA project to renovate the George Washington Memorial Arboretum, adjacent to the new Visitors Center. The cost is expected to be $1.3 million, and we recently received a $75k grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust to complete the planning. This funding was provided by the Trust’s Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service (NPS);
- Visitor amenity improvements, including a new entrance booth, renovated restrooms, and new signage throughout the park;
- Extensive tree work, removal of invasive species and the re-introduction of native plants throughout the park;
- A restoration of the Nelson House at the site of the Crossing, thanks to a $110k WCPA appropriation initiated by state reps Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Anthony Verrelli.
Securing the Park’s Historic Status and Future Funding
Less visible work is happening as well, including a Historic Properties plan undertaken by the State of NJ, and a National Historic Landmark update, funded by two $75k Semiquincentennial grants administered by the NPS at the Department of the Interior and awarded to the WCPA and our partner organization across the river — the Friends of Washington Crossing Historic Park. These projects will make Hopewell Valley’s world-renowned historic site eligible for future funding, allowing us all to preserve its legacy for the next generation and beyond.
Looking Beyond 2026: Future Plans for the Park
Current projects are expected to cost about $28 million. When completed, the park will once again reflect the acts of patriotism that took place here, and provide a more beautiful green space for the people of Hopewell Township and beyond.
The WCPA has ideas that go well past 2026. We recently completed our 5-year strategic plan and are contemplating more conservation projects, a gift shop and outdoor café, more opportunities for family recreation, and a dream of restoring the park’s beloved Open Air Theater. The theater was destroyed by vandalism and flooding, and will have to be re-designed to protect it from both — but anything is possible with enough support.
WCPA’s Ongoing Efforts to Support the Park
The WCPA already has strong programs and efforts that sustain the park, including:
- Our Washington’s Landing in NJ event in December;
- Guided History Tours and Table Talk History Events;
- Our Trail Stewards, who clear and repair trails all over the park;
- Tai Chi and Yoga classes on the Delaware;
- Native plant restorations and invasive removal projects;
- Support for Park Historian and Naturalist events, and more.
This work simply cannot happen without a strong membership. We hope that you’ll consider joining the WCPA as we work to make the park even more beautiful, more accessible, and more fun for all. Visit www.wcpa-nj.com to sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, to learn about our projects, and to join the cause!
