Many agencies and organizations are beginning to turn to alternative materials like recycled plastic or fiber-reinforced composites. The initial round of projects constructed using non-conventional materials, however, has produced mixed results. These piers in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, have been almost completely consumed by the marine borer. The use of floating structures also shows potential, though environmental issues are still contested. What is lacking is a commitment to solving the infrastructure problem.
Government agencies continue using materials that are arguably obsolete.
Private sector entrepreneurs lack financial resources or access to sites needed for demonstrations. Looking in from the outside are numerous educational institutions in the area that are interested to provide valuable testing and monitoring skills. There are numerous efforts currently underway to help tie the region together with continuous greenway and blueway trails. Projects such as the Liberty State Park to Delaware Water Gap trail are in development, as is the national East Coast Greenway that will connect cities along the east coast of the United States. Advocates for such projects are engaged in community planning and community struggles between those wanting to be included on the route and those seeking to be bypassed completely.