From his time as a Boy Scout to his current status as an American Legion member, Kenneth Baird has spent countless days at Weehawken’s Post 18 hall over 32 years.
“Parties and camping,” said Baird as he reminisced during a makeshift celebration thrown by a few members prior to the demolition of the building last week. “Handing out coffee from the lawn on New Year’s Eve.”
Lifelong Weehawken resident and fellow Legion member Danny Decesare recalled delivering bread to the building every Sunday.
Last week, members of the American Legion gathered along with town officials to kick off the demolition of their building on 49th Street and Boulevard East. The building, built in 1918, was determined to be ineligible for renovation due to serious structural problems. However, the land will soon be home to not only a new building for the American Legion, but also a new park for residents.
“It’s a perfect gathering place. This is going to enhance the area.” – Robert Zucconi
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Stan Fuchs was in charge of working the demolition machine last week, a special opportunity as a member of the American Legion. “Gonna miss the old building,” said Fuchs. “Gonna love the new.”
Building for a better future
The American Legion is the nation’s largest veterans’ service organization. Membership is open to veterans, “SALS” (Sons of the American Legion), and it has a Women’s Auxiliary.
The new building is expected to be completed by the end of August, hopefully in time for a Labor Day celebration.
Post 18 Commander Tony Prisco said the plan to rebuild has been about five years in the making. Though sentimental, the members feel pretty good about the plan.
The new building will have many windows, a private entrance for people renting the hall for parties and events, two bars, and kitchen in the back.
Prisco added that increased membership and fundraising will be possible in the new space, which will include a private hall available for party rentals. Rentals are open to the public.
Park will have waterfront views
Once the construction of the building is completed, the city will prepare to open the park. Mayor Richard Turner estimated that the park’s opening could be in either November 2010 or spring of 2011.
The park will sit on approximately a third of an acre, or three building lots, and a fence will separate the park space from the American Legion building.
As a Weehawken resident, Jeff Welz was happy to see the combination of open space preservation with the park and historical preservation in the rebuilding of the legion. “I’m a veteran, so I’m glad they’re preserving the post,” said Jeff Welz.
The property is the largest piece of open land in upper Weehawken and provides an unobstructed view of the Hudson River.
“Just look at this view,” said Councilman Robert Zucconi. “I can see [residents] enjoying a sunny afternoon, looking at the view.”
Zucconi added that the passive park space will be a good spot to watch boats sailing along the river during Fleet Week in May or to enjoy the fireworks on the 4th of July.
“It’s a perfect gathering place,” he said. “This is going to enhance the area.”
Mayor Turner said the township has doubled open space in town over the past 10 years by making it a priority.
“When you have something like this, you want to preserve it,” said Turner. “Fortunately we’re able to preserve open space without putting the burden on the taxpayers.”
The township paid $475,000 for 90 percent of the property through a Green Acres grant, a state grant to acquire open space for outdoor recreational facilities.
The township is funding the construction of the new American Legion building as part of the exchange deal made for the land, made possible by the state grant.
There is no name for the park yet.
Lana Rose Diaz can be reached at ldiaz@hudsonreporter.com.