Hudson County Commissioner (D-2) Bill O’Dea, also a Jersey city mayor, is urging the council to approve $900,000 in improvements from Thomas McGovern Park at Wednesday’s meeting.
I had scheduled a community meeting for next week concerning Thomas McGovern Park, but in light of recent events (and the efforts by some to turn a park issue into a personal political issue) I felt it better to give you a written update.
On July 26 I posted the petition you started to get the playground reopened and park improvements initiated and also started to do some research.
As an elected official who represents Jersey City and chairs the COUNTY PARKS COMMITTEE I want to lend my knowledge and experience to move this project forward.
Here’s what I found out:
1) Somebody on the City side did drop the ball-which in my opinion caused an unnecessary delay. Since April though there has been a refocus on the playground, splash pad and park. There has been progress especially related to the playground/splash pad.
2) There are both city and state funding available for the project-On the state side $932,000 is awaiting final sign off by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.
This is part of a $2 million grant secured for the city through the efforts of State Senator Angela McKnight (who I spoke with last Saturday) These funds can cover the cost of redoing the playground and splash pad.
3) The City Council is prepared this coming Wednesday at 6 p.m. to consider a resolution allocating and committing over $900,000 to the overall project and awarding a contract to an approved state vendor to undertake the playground and splash pad portion of the project.
Through this process, work on that component can start quickly. This resolution is sponsored by Councilwoman Denise Ridley. You can call the council office at 201-547-5204 to encourage them to vote yes on this resolution.
You can also call the City Clerk 201-547-5089 or go to jerseycitynj.gov website to sign up to speak at the meeting.
4) It appears the other phase of the project is also moving ahead and hopefully one final round of public input will happen before the work is awarded.
If the city needs additional funding for this project and requests the county re-allocate some open space dollars, I will sponsor that resolution on the county level.
5) Last is just a suggestion that the city and community reach out to the Trust for Public Land 973- 241-5813 and invite them in.
This organization (which may identify additional funds) has a great track record in urban areas to create and reclaim parks and playgrounds working with government, board of educations and the community.
Their involvement cannot only help move this forward but also make sure it remains community-not politically driven.
In closing we all need to work together and be honest and transparent to move this ahead. After all, as taxpayers and rent payers, it is OUR PARK-OUR PLAYGROUND.
