I vote ‘yes’ for a 3rd ward park
Tonight I will vote “yes” on the proposed $20 million open space acquisition bond ordinance. I voted against introduction initially because the plan did not contain any commitment to build a new park in the 3rd ward. After a meeting with Mayor Zimmer this week, I’m happy to report that she has given me her personal assurance that acquiring land for a new 3rd ward park will be one of the top priorities of the plan.
Specifically, the mayor and I discussed acquisition of the site at 605 Jackson Street for a new park in the 3rd ward. This site is perfectly sized and perfectly situated to get put on a fast track. The mayor showed a real willingness to work with me on this and I appreciate it.
The bond ordinance, which requires six votes for approval, will be repaid by funds from the Open Space Trust Fund. The Jackson Street site is located near the Jubilee Center, the Hoboken Housing Authority residences, and the Hoboken Catholic Academy. Residents and other stakeholders should have input into what kind of open space they want to see at the site. I think we could be very creative and find a plan that will work for everyone. Once the city acquires the property, we can all decide what the space will eventually look like.
