Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee

Consistent with Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, the Fort Hancock 21st Century Federal Advisory Committe was terminated by Secretary Burgum on February 27, 2025.

 

A view of "Officers Row"---just a few of the historic buildings the park hopes to lease. The Fort Hancock 21st Century Federal Advisory Committee advises the park on the best ways to save these buildings through adaptive reuse.

NPS photo by John Harlan Warren

Building a new community at historic Fort Hancock

The National Park Service intends to create a viable, vital community and save historic buildings at Fort Hancock by leasing them to organizations and individuals, who will restore them through adaptive reuse.

The National Park Service can do this, but not alone. Since its first meeting in January 2013, the Fort Hancock 21st Century Federal Advisory Committee has advised the park how to preserve the historic buildings of the Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historic Landmark through adaptive reuse. Members are from Natural Resources, Business, Cultural Resources, Real Estate, Recreation, Education, Science, and Hospitality communities serve on the Committee as do Representatives of the Borough of Highlands, the Borough of Sea Bright, Middletown Township, the Borough of Rumson, and the Monmouth County Freeholders. Find out more about our members here.

Meetings are open to the public and include a time set aside for public comment.

At this point 40 meetings have been held. Meeting notes, agendas and more can be found on our meeting page.

 

Two former officers' residences at Fort Hancock Historic Post frame the Sandy Hook Lighthouse at sunrise.

NPS PHOTO by Volunteer-in-Parks Stanley Kosinski

What is the Fort Hancock 21st Century Federal Advisory Committee?

In September 2012, the Department of the Interior announced the formation of the Fort Hancock 21st Century Federal Advisory Committee. Members were chosen from applications reviewed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972. As stated in the Advisory Committee Charter, the purpose of this group is to provide advice "on the development of a reuse plan and on matters relating to future uses of the Fort Hancock Historic District of Gateway National Recreation Area."

The Committee brings together experts from several disciplines and occupations, drawn mainly from the communities surrounding Sandy Hook, to study the historic district and make recommendations for its possible reuse. Members were drawn from the scientific, education, recreational, business, real estate and hospitality communities as well as local elected officials. They serve three-year terms. When terms expire, a call for nominations is placed in the Federal Register and announced by the park via press release. Anyone interested in membership may nominate themselves. (You may not nominate someone else.)

The Committee meets regularly. These meetings are open to the public, with specific times scheduled for public comment. Written comments may be submitted to the Designated Federal Officer or emailed to [e-mail]. Comments can be found here.