A grassroots campaign to have the heart of Cooper River Park declared a historic district may get a boost from a separate and rather ominous designation.
The private, nonprofit advocacy group Preservation New Jersey announced Thursday that the same portion of the Camden County park -- sometimes called the Cooper Lake -- has been placed on the latest list of the state's "10 most endangered places."
"We're grateful for Preservation NJ's recognition of the threat to the park," said Kevin Cook, who with fellow Cherry Hill resident Robert Shinn wrote
» READ MORE: Along the Cooper River
, a new book about the park's history. "I'm pleased that our effort to create the Cooper River Park Historic District may reach a larger audience."
Shinn said the designation "should be a wake-up call" for Camden County, which has resisted the district proposal at every turn. County officials did not respond to my requests for comment Friday, but have previously said the designation is unnecessary and could complicate ongoing park improvement projects.
In the narrative accompanying the "most endangered" designation, Preservation New Jersey said it "applauds the county's commitment to spend an estimated $23 million in the Cooper Lake area" of the park. "But without any state review of the projects," the narrative continued, "we fear alterations or renovations may be undertaken that will adversely affect the historical integrity of park features."
Of particular concern, the organization noted, is the future of the 1737 Hopkins House, which the county envisions as the centerpiece of a special events complex that would include two new buildings and a sculpture garden.
Shinn said 70 local residents have signed a petition to Robert Martin, commissioner of the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, asking that he allow the historic district approval process to proceed.
Placing Cooper Lake on state and national registries would protect the site and provide "a selling point for marketing the value of the park to local citizens, corporate sponsors, and tourists who look for historic authenticity," Shinn said.