The fight over space in Liberty State Park in Jersey City raged on Saturday between those who want to preserve the land and others who want to expand Liberty National Golf Course.

Demonstrators urged Gov. Phil Murphy to support the Liberty State Park Protection Act and to save the Caven Point Natural Area – a migratory bird habitat inside the park that is home to hundreds of different birds.

In January of this year, the act to protect Caven Point passed the state Senate but died in the House.

It's not the first time Caven Point has been a point of interest. In 1977, it was purchased by the park to preserve wildlife. In 2006, Liberty National Golf Course moved in next door and course leaders have since made attempts to purchase the land.

A group of counter demonstrators just feet away from the protest supporting the protection act had a different message. Bruce Alston, a community organizer, believes the legislation will eliminate the possibility of Liberty State Park developing more active recreation opportunities for minority communities.

"That means lacrosse fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, football fields – something that urban cities most definitely need that should be available at this park," says Alston.

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop believes selling park land is a slippery slope.

"It's important to every community in New Jersey because if Trenton can sell park property to the highest bidder that means they can sell any park in the state of New Jersey," says the mayor.

The head of the group "Liberty State Park for All" says protesters should be pushing the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a full cleanup, not a cover up, of the contamination in the park.