DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM• D. W MILLIACDOWELLM D. M OCBSERVATORYDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLAN •D MEAS ENVIRONDOWLANMENTALDS E NVIRONRESEARCMHENTAL INSTITUTE RESEAR • SpORTSCH INSTITUTE COmpLEX • RSpIVERORTS BARGE COmp PARLEXK • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK • DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION 2020 ANNUAL REPORT NEW JERSEY SPORTS AND EXPOSITION AUTHORITY | 1 DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK OVERVIEW The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority At the same time, the agency has cleaned (NJSEA) holds the land lease for and provides up and closed more than 50 orphaned for the ongoing operation of the internationally landfills, protected more than 3,500 acres renowned MetLife Sports Complex and is the of environmentally sensitive wetlands, and regional planning and zoning authority for the contributed to the significant improvement of Meadowlands District, which consists of parts the Hackensack River and the region’s overall of 14 towns in Bergen and Hudson counties. tremendous environmental renaissance. The Meadowlands, once defined by blight and Over the past five decades hundreds of pollution, today is teeming with wildlife and millions of people from around the world have natural beauty and is a nationally recognized experienced world-class sporting matches, birding hotspot. concerts and other events at the Sports Complex, which includes MetLife Stadium, the The NJSEA’s DeKorte Park headquarters in Meadowlands Racetrack, the Meadowlands Lyndhurst houses its Land Use Management Arena, and the American Dream entertainment Department, Solid Waste and Natural and retail complex. The Meadowlands Arena Resources Department, Administrative remained a prime spot for television production. Department and executive offices. It is In 2020, NBC Universal filmed the television also home to the NJSEA’s Meadowlands show, “The Equalizer,” at the site. Environmental Research Institute (MERI). NJSEA operations at the Sports Complex The agency’s Meadowlands Environment include engineering, rail station operations and Center provides environmental education maintenance, and fire and EMS services. programming to students in Grades K-12 through an agreement with Ramapo College of The Authority also owns the Wildwood New Jersey. The Lyndhurst campus also houses Convention Center and holds the land lease for the William D. McDowell Observatory through a the Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, collaboration with Bergen Community College. home of the Haskell Invitational; the Favorites off-track wagering facility in Woodbridge; The Meadowlands District municipalities in and the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Bergen County are Carlstadt, East Rutherford, Florham Park. Little Ferry, Lyndhurst, Moonachie, North Arlington, Ridgefield, Rutherford, South As a regional planning and zoning agency, Hackensack and Teterboro. Hudson County the NJSEA promotes economic growth and municipalities in the District are Jersey City, environmental preservation in the Meadowlands Kearny, North Bergen and Secaucus. District. Through appropriate, smart planning, the agency over the past five decades has attracted billions of dollars in economic development to PHOTO CAPTION: Col. 1—Richard W. DeKorte Park, New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Complex, the District, establishing the area as a major River Barge Park. Col. 2—Meadowlands Environment economic engine. Today the Meadowlands is Center, William D. McDowell Observatory. Col 3— a hub for warehouse and distribution centers, Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute, MetLife data centers and office space due to its Stadium, Center for Environmental and Scientific proximity to New York City, mass transit, and Education major roadways, air and seaports. 2 | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT NEW JERSEY SPORTS AND EXPOSITION AUTHORITY | 3 DEKORTE PARK • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER • CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ScIENTIFIC EdUCATION • WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY • MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE • SpORTS COmpLEX • RIVER BARGE PARK MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS The year 2020 presented challenges The NJSEA persevered in 2020. Board of like no other time in modern history, Commissioner Meetings and Land Use shaking the foundations of every Public Hearings went virtual, land-use aspect of our lives. From our health and applications were made digitally and Land well-being to personal and business Use staff were available to answer public challenges, COVID-19 left no one questions. The majority of Land Use untouched. applications received in 2020 proposed the development of new warehouses and The New Jersey Sports and Exposition renovations to existing industrial sites Authority was impacted by the as the pandemic fueled the burgeoning pandemic on a very personal level. I’m e-commerce development business saddened to report that the NJSEA lost identified in the District’s new Master Plan VINCENT PRIETO JOHN BALLANTYNE JOSEPH BUCKELEW ROBERT J. DOWD ARMANDO B. FONTOURA President and CEO Chairman Vice Chairman five members of our staff in 2020 and adopted in 2020. early 2021 that died after contracting JOHN BALLANTYNE Chairman the coronavirus: Dr. Francis Molinari, Critical field work performed by the EMTs David Pinto and John Ferrarella, Meadowlands Environmental Research Solid Waste Enforcement Officer Institute (MERI) and the NJSEA Natural Bernard Lanham, and Security Guard Resources Department continued to Julian Capron. All were beloved by their take place. Their combined research on families and fellow employees and will the vital wetlands along the Hackensack be missed tremendously. River has taken on new urgency given the future potential for more frequent As a government entity, the NJSEA and severe storms and flooding in the exists to serve the public, through good region brought about by sea level rise. times and bad. The pandemic called for all areas of this agency to come