Park Renovation Slaying Trees

Renovations have begun at Hamilton Park, just in time to close it for summer. Construction crews have slashed a half dozen large trees with 18 inch diameters, casualties of low bid contracts.

The renovated park will include an expanded playground, two dog runs, and renovated ball courts. In addition, the historic pathways will be reinstalled and Victorian style lighting. About half the park will remain grassy fields.

The dog runs caused a controversy among residents. For several years, dog owners have been illegally allowing their dogs off leash on the grassy areas of the park. Not only did many park goers feel the illegal activity was unsafe, but the dogs also destroyed the grass. As plans for the renovation were drawn up, two dog runs were included in the design, one for large dogs and one for small dogs. Four final plans were drawn up and community residents voted on the plans; the selected plan included a smaller allotted space for the dog runs. Moreover, the selected plan divided the dog run space in half, with two roughly equal sized runs for small and large dogs. Large dog owners pointed out that larger dogs needed more space than smaller dogs.

Part of the controversy stemmed from the way the the park's plans were voted on. The final vote was suppose to only be about the layout of the park renovation, not the amenities. However, one of the designs included a small putting green, while another design did not; both these designs were otherwise identical, and both were the only design where the two dog runs abutted against each other. Proponents of the dog run claim the two virtually identical designs split votes allowing the chosen design to win.

Meanwhile, the park was originally to remain at least partially open during renovation. However, the contractor insisted on closing the entirety of the park during renovations, meaning the park will be closed for much of the summer. However, local developer Exeter Property has volunteered a lot adjacent to the park to serve as a temporary playground. The playground should be open by June.


Hamilton Park was closed in early May for renovations; residents look forward to the park reopening on a cold January day


The informal dog run / unused tennis court has been stripped of fencing


The old playground has been crushed


Exeter Property, developer Hamilton Square, a project adjacent to the park, has promised a temporary playground on land that will one day be a small residential building.

The Exeter Property temporary playground lot with Hamilton Park in the background

Connected Waterfront Park Plan Revealed

The dream of a single contiguous waterfront walkway is a little closer to fulfillment with an ambitious plan to connect Veteran's Park and the Morris Canal Park over the Morris Canal. The plan bi-passes a small stretch of land where developers did not construct the waterfront park.

Veteran's Park, pictured above, is home to the famous Colgate Clock and sits beside the Goldman Sachs tower. The Morris Canal Park is part of Liberty State Park and extends east into the Hudson River from Washington Street. These two parks would be connected by an ambitious plan created by the Jersey City Waterfront Parks Conservancy.

Goldman Sachs provided funds to the city to redevelop Veteran's Park. So far that park remains a pile of rubble and weeds. For the past several years residents have been working to rehabilitate the land and complete the section of waterfront walkway.

The Hudson Reporter has a bit more, and the park merited a mention on Curbed

Automata Chino Provides Music Venue

Automata Chino is a new music venue attached to the Iron Monkey in Paulus Hook. They seem to have a very full schedule of bands. They have a limited food menu, snacks mostly, and a more or less full bar. Hipsters will appreciate the Pabst Blue Ribbon.

ZogSports Starting Jersey City Leagues

ZogSorts, the adult for fun sports, is starting a few Jersey City leagues this spring. The registration deadline is on the 13th. Zog crossed the Hudson to Hoboken a little while back. There was a Jersey City indoor soccer league this past winter, but that was mostly because the facilities were in the downtown. This spring Jersey City will get touch football, rugby and basketball leagues.