On a bitterly cold and wind-swept morning last week, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell announced new waterfront park projects in both West New York and Weehawken. The project, coming on the heels of the beginning of the reconstruction of Weigand Park on 54th Street in West New York, is part of local agendas for refurbished parks in West New York and for more open space in Weehawken.
Also attending last week’s press conference was State Sen. Bernard Kenny (D-Hoboken), Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, West New York Mayor and Assemblyman Albio Sires, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner and students from West New York’s Memorial High School.
According to the New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection, the waterfront project will link the parks to the existing Hudson River Walkway, which will grant greater access to the waterfront by the communities.
In West New York, the park project will develop a new park on Pier 8. The proposal, according to DEP officials, calls for planting lawn and trees and the construction of benches, a gazebo and a walkway for greater citizen access to the Hudson River Waterfront.
The Weehawken project will be placed on Pier D and will create a community space on a restored pier that was destroyed by Hurricane Floyd. Weehawken has proposed to rebuild the pier with areas for fishing and for outdoor concerts. Pier B abuts Lincoln Park and is adjacent to another open space property recently acquired with Green Acres funds.
Said Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner just prior to last week’s press conference, “Historically, Weehawken has used Green Acres funds as all of our parks have been refurbished. This plan is for the pier next to the Chart House. There is 1.5 acres of space. We are going to rebuild the pier for passive public purposes and the performing arts. We’re very excited about this.”
At last week’s gathering, DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell said, “The projects we are announcing today will reconnect residents with their waterfront and their community by providing more places to relax and enjoy the riverscape. In November, citizens will have the opportunity to help more families and communities benefit from similar opportunities to create parks and to revitalize urban areas by voting on Ballot Questions 1 and 2.”
Until recently, according to DEP officials, urban areas were subject to the same rules and regulations concerning open space as were rural areas. This didn’t make much sense to the newly elected speaker of the General Assembly, Albio Sires. And as mayor of West New York, he sought to do something about it.
Said DEP Commissioner Campbell on the subject, “When Mayor Sires became speaker, he helped us realize that there was a problem with open space and parks, particularly in the urban Hudson County area. Urban areas were subject to the same rules as rural areas. Mayor Sires presented legislation to change that. The waterfront in West New York is important to the open space of all of Hudson County.”
State Sen. Bernard Kenny reflected on how the waterfront has changed.
“A lot of us grew up here,” said Kenny. “For the longest time, you couldn’t get to the river. Now, with the development of the waterfront and with projects like this one, the waterfront is accessible to everyone. It makes urban living more exciting and enjoyable. It improves the quality of life and increases property values.”
During his speech, West New York Mayor Albio Sires made mention of the Hoboken waterfront and the amazing transformation that area has undergone, going from a collection of rotting piers to a picturesque destination location. Said Sires, “I always looked at Pier A in Hoboken and thought ‘Why not in West New York?’ So I spoke to Senator Kenny about it. Today is the realization of that idea.”
The two pier projects announced last week are part of the latest round of DEP Green Acres funding that was approved recently by the Garden State Preservation Trust. The GSPT, founded in 1999, is a state-run group that is responsible for guiding New Jersey, over a 10-year period, toward preserving a total of 1 million acres of open space and farmland as well as the states various historic sites.
The proposals must now go before the state legislature for approval before receiving final approval from the governor. And considering that Gov. James McGreevey has been a vocal proponent of the preservation of open space, especially in Hudson County, the approval is sure to be granted.
The West New York project, should approval be granted, will receive $800,000 in funding. The Weehawken project will receive an $800,000 matching grant, according to the DEP.
To date, the Green Acres fund has, according to the DEP, awarded more than $6.6 million to West New York. Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise quipped in his speech, “Mayor Sires, this is some backyard you have here,” gesturing to the sweeping views of the New York City skyline. “When I took office last year, I pledged to double the amount of open space, and that’s pretty ambitious. But when this question comes to a vote, we should make sure that open space laws pass. Now, we don’t resent Sussex or Hunterdon counties for getting Green Acres funds, but we need to use those funds for Hudson County wisely.”