Vote on New Design for a N.Y.-N.J. National Park

Help Shape the Future of Gateway National Recreation Area: Many people in the New York City area don't know about it, but Gateway is a 26,600-acre national park that stretches across the New York-New Jersey harbor. Its sites form a patchwork spread over three areas: Jamaica Bay, Staten Island and Sandy Hook.

Created in 1972, the park's facilities have been largely neglected. Now the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) wants to transform Gateway into a world-class urban park.

To do so, NPCA set up a competition to envision a new design for the park. The group chose six designs as finalists and now invites you to vote for the one you like best -- and to submit feedback about all six. The jury will select a "People's Choice" winner, but I'm told the National Park Service will not be building any complete design, but will incorporate elements from them all.

Gateway National Recreation Area contains some notable sites, including the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (on the Atlantic migratory bird flyway and one of the best birding spots in the Northeast); Fort Wadsworth, which has controlled the entrance to New York Harbor since the Revolutionary War; and the Sandy Hook Light, America's oldest operating lighthouse (opened in 1764).

Since Gateway is a national park, it belongs to all of us. So check out the finalists, vote and write your comments in the survey area after the voting screen. If you have time, post your thoughts here.