City residents will have to wait a lot longer for the opening of 1600 Park, the recreation field under construction at the city’s northern border between the Park Avenue and Willow Avenue bridges.
Mayor Dawn Zimmer said last week that because of traffic safety concerns, she will not open the park until Hudson County installs a traffic light at the intersection of 16th Street and Park Avenue near the southeast end of the proposed park. Zimmer said the park, which will include a soccer field, will not open until at least next spring.
‘I can’t risk having a child or an adult injured.’ – Mayor Dawn Zimmer
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“At this point I’m not sure of the timeframe, but it will not be finished by this fall,” Zimmer said.
In May, the City Council unanimously called on the administration to complete 1600 Park by the fall of this year. At that meeting, a resident, Hany Ahmed, called on the city to take a look at the speeding situation near the park.
“A child has a better chance of crossing the Turnpike on some days,” Ahmed said at the meeting.
“I can’t risk having a child or an adult injured,” Zimmer said. “Looking at the number of people speeding, and from experiencing [the area] firsthand, I don’t feel comfortable opening the park without a signal.”
Because the city will hold off on construction until the signal is in place, the mayor said she will look at possibly continuing to modify the park to improve its design, including lowering the retaining walls around the park’s exterior.
The park, like many areas of Hoboken, has limited on-street parking. Based on recommendations from professionals, Zimmer said the city may implement a drop off/pick up area on 16th Street between Park and Willow avenues.
“We’re also looking to possibly negotiate an agreement with the parking garages in the area,” Zimmer said about the parking shortage. She said when a nearby park along the waterfront is completed, it would be possible for residents to avoid crossing the street by walking underneath the Park Avenue Bridge.
Councilwoman Beth Mason, a political opponent of the mayor who represents the northwest area of the city, was not happy about the news.
“The council actively said they wanted it open in the fall,” Mason said. “You can come up with all the plans you want long term, but we need to be able to use the space now…there is nowhere for our kids to play.”
Mason said she believes the city should move forward without the light, and explore other alternatives.
“There has to be other options, like a stop sign, but to just come out and say we need a light and we can’t open the park, it sounds ridiculous,” Mason said. “The administration has excuses over and over about why things can’t get done.”
Because youth soccer won’t be played at 1600 Park this year, other fields will be available for the games. The city is working on Mama Johnson Field, located near Fourth and Jackson streets, so that two games can be played on the field at the same time instead of one. Hoboken High School field, the Hoboken Little League, and fields in Weehawken will also be home to Hoboken youth soccer games this fall.
Progress on Sinatra Field
The city is continuing work with the Department of Environmental Protection to obtain permits and complete work on Sinatra Field, which partially collapsed into the Hudson River in 2009.
“We’re hopeful that we’ve now revised the plan to fully meet the DEP’s concerns,” Zimmer said. The park will be built out over water, although Zimmer had previously entertained the idea of bringing the park inland.
“As part of the remediation we’re also going to be adding more trees along the waterfront,” Zimmer said.
She also said the city hopes to construct an osprey nest near Sinatra Field for the endangered bird species that is common to New Jersey.
However, in order to build the osprey nest, the city needs approvals from various agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Southwest Park
The city is still negotiating with property owners for the purchase of parkland in the southwest.
The mayor and two members of the City Council live in the southwest 4th Ward, a place where politicians have promised a park for years.
On July 20, five out of nine council members voted to support the mayor if she decides to use eminent domain to purchase an area for park space “at fair market value.”
Zimmer hasn’t publicly identified any properties for the use of eminent domain, but is now able to negotiate with property owners with the council’s support to use the tool if necessary.
“I do appreciate that the council has given me the tools that we need to negotiate,” Zimmer said last week. “The plan is to offer a fair market price and try to negotiate an agreement. It’s important that I have all the tools available for negotiations.”
The city has also asked the county to re-allocate $3 million from work on a midtown park space known as the Henkel site for the acquisition of a southwest park.
The council is expected to address some of the park issues at their next meeting on Aug. 24.
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com