Hudson County Park Improvement Projects
14th St. Viaduct Park
14th Street Viaduct Park Development (2011 – 2015)
The 14th Street Viaduct, which provides access from Union City to Hoboken, was recently replaced with a new structure because the existing structure was in disrepair and structurally unsound. The new structure is constructed of both concrete decking and multi-steel beam girders. The new structure not only provides vehicular and pedestrian access but underneath the viaduct recreational activities were provided to the residents of Hoboken. Because Hoboken is densely populated, recreation space is a small commodity, so the use of this available space was necessary. Amenities beneath the Viaduct include a dog run, playground, basketball, mini soccer pitch, pickleball and newly constructed workout stations.
Columbus Park
Columbus Spray Park (2017 – 2019)
Columbus Park in Hoboken N.J is in the vicinity of a highly populated residential area. Because of this, there is a need for various types of recreation in this densely urbanized location. A spray head was placed in a location within the park to cool down the children during hot summer days. The amenity was unattractive and did not provide enough area to provide for the volume of users.
The proposed spray-ground was developed to provide for the volume of children as well as keep the historic aesthetic feel of the park intact. The majority of children who utilize the park were toddlers, so the design of this amenity had to accommodate that age group. The proposed mechanical room which operates the spray ground was used as a feature having the look of a castle with a masonry lion head mounted on its exterior where water flows from its mouth at incremented times. All the spray features are up-sprays to maintain a plaza feel as well as having the space be available for other uses.
James J. Braddock Park
Woodcliff Lake Restoration Project
Before the renovation, the existing lake wall was deteriorating at many locations. The wall was originally constructed utilizing stone and mortar and was approximately 6’ in height and around one mile long. Over time water seeped into the mortar joints of the wall which resulted in failures at many locations due to the freeze and thaw during the winter months. Eventually, large areas began to fail making the pathway above the wall a safety issue to the constituents of the Park.
The proposed wall was to be constructed out of cast in place concrete to prevent water percolation into the wall. The wall during the concrete pour had a stone form-liner in place to replicate the look of stone. The concrete after being fully cured was stained to look natural and a paver coping was constructed on top of the newly poured wall. In addition to the wall work, the existing island within Woodcliff Lake was cleared of dead debris and replanted with native woody plants. Wildflowers were hydroseeded in the open areas to add to the diversity of the island.
James Braddock Plaza
James Braddock Plaza – James J. Braddock Park, North Bergen NJ (2016 – 2018) The Braddock Plaza incorporates a 10’ bronze statue commemorating the namesake of the park boxing champion James J. Braddock. The plaza is situated in a highly visible location within the Park utilizing the NYC skyline as a backdrop where the statue designed by renowned sculptor Zeno Frudackas is situated. The plaza incorporates a granite foundation for the statue as well as pre-cast concrete circular steps, pavers and new site amenities which include benches, bollards, decorative lighting and landscaping. The ribbon cutting of the project had notable people in attendance which included the Braddock family, boxers Jerry Cooney, Chuck Wepner and Iran Barkley.
The proposed wall was to be constructed out of cast in place concrete to prevent water percolation into the wall. The wall during the concrete pour had a stone form-liner in place to replicate the look of stone. The concrete after being fully cured was stained to look natural and a paver coping was constructed on top of the newly poured wall. In addition to the wall work, the existing island within Woodcliff Lake was cleared of dead debris and replanted with native woody plants. Wildflowers were hydroseeded in the open areas to add to the diversity of the island.
Laurel Hill Park
Boardwalk Prominade (2015 – 2016)
Along the Hackensack River in Laurel Hill Park a promenade was constructed to allow constituents to have more interaction along the river’s edge and to enjoy the views of the marshlands. The promenade is supported by large piles which was designed by structural engineers and constructed by marine contractors. The structure is constructed of both treated timber and composite material and complies with nautical regulations. The design of the structure accommodates bird watchers and anglers and is also ADA accessible.
Lincoln Park
Fountain Restoration (2015 – 2016)
The main feature in Lincoln Park is the large circular fountain which was constructed during the early 1900’s. The existing fountain was in disrepair with both structural and aesthetic flaws. The mechanical system was antiquated which required extensive maintenance to keep the fountain clean and functioning. The construction of the new fountain entailed the demolition of the entire bowl leaving just the center pedestal. Existing sculptures and features that were mounted on the pedestal as well as in the bowl and perimeter were replicated because they were too far damaged for repair. A new building was built to shelter state of the art mechanical equipment which maintains the water quality and clarity. The new bowl was designed by means of a monolithic pour and the surrounding walls were formed using shotcrete then troweled by hand.
Buddy Building (2016 – 2018)
Lincoln Park in Jersey City needed a structure to house maintenance equipment as well as providing a modernized greenhouse to replace the existing greenhouse in the compound. The structure was also needed to provide storage for materials used to maintain the parks as well as provide shelter to the maintenance employees.
The building is a state-of-the-art facility utilizing geothermal heating and cooling. The structure utilizes greywater and has a green roof composed of various types of Sedum. A standby generator is on the premises to provide emergency power. The greenhouse has two recirculating systems to keep the temperature cool in the summer months. The building was named after the late Harold “Buddy” Demellier who was instrumental in running the County.
Lake Rehabilitation (2016 – 2017)
The areas adjacent to the lake were in disrepair in which cracked asphalt paths, damaged concrete and the lack of landscaping encompassed the lake’s perimeter. Upgrades to the lake area included a new concrete pedestrian path, sitting areas, and informational signage. Landscaping and decorative walls were designed to create pedestrian spaces and provide aesthetics along the pathways. Sitting areas were designed to encourage social interaction by including chess and seating near the water’s edge.
Mercer Park
Mercer Spray Park (2017 – 2019)
Mercer Park in Bayonne is a heavily used park for its size. The park was small and lacked a variety of amenities. To accommodate the constituents a spray park was constructed using high grade spray features as well as state of the art mechanical equipment to operate the system efficiently.
Stephen R. Gregg Park
Cherie LaPelusa Gardens (2021)
The gardens are located on the lower level of Stephen R Gregg Park in Bayonne NJ. There are 6 gardens, each one has dimensions of 29 feet wide by 63 feet long. There are over 3,000 plants in total. The gardens were designed by The Hudson County Manager of Parks & grounds, Gary La Pelusa Sr. It took 4 ½ months to complete in the summer and fall of 2021. The gardens are named after Cherie La Pelusa and are dedicated to her and all those who lost their lives to COVID-19. There was a formal dedication on Thursday, June 16th, 2022. The dedication was sponsored by the City of Bayonne, The Hudson County Executive and County Commissioners, and The Hudson County Cultural Affairs Dept. There are plants in bloom from April through November.
Athletic Turf Field (2016 – 2017)
There was a great demand for additional soccer fields in the Bayonne community. To accommodate, these turf fields were developed where existing fields were located incorporating four additional soccer pitches for various levels of play. Two baseball fields were also included in this development. The new Athletic fields were all constructed with artificial turf in which dugouts, soccer goals, and bleachers were included. The existing sports lighting poles remained but the fixtures were replaced with new state of the art LED lights which illuminate the fields to IES standards for optimal play.
Pond Rehabilitation (2016 – 2017)
The existing pond at Stephen R. Gregg Park was filled with sediment inundated with algae and was not aesthetically pleasing. During the warmer months, foul odors and mosquitos emerged from the pond. The upgrades to the pond required several objectives to be followed. The existing wildlife in the pond which included fish, frogs, and turtles had to be temporarily relocated. The pond was dredged to provide a more suited environment when the wildlife is returned. Aerators were incorporated to cleanse the water and prevent algae build-up and the perimeter of the pond was designed to create more interaction between constituents and nature.
Stephen R. Gregg Statue Plaza (2019 – 2021)
The Stephen R. Gregg Statue Plaza incorporates a 7’ bronze statue commemorating the namesake of the park who is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for his heroics during World War II. The plaza is located along JFK boulevard in which the statue is highly visible from the roadway as well as the adjacent properties. The statue designed by renowned sculptor Brett Grill who worked meticulously on the bronze sculpture paying great attention to detail to the character of Stephen Gregg, the clothing of the period and event which occurred that awarded him the Medal of Honor. The plaza incorporates a granite foundation for the statue as well as new site amenities which include benches, bollards, decorative lighting and landscaping. The ribbon cutting of the project had notable people in attendance which included the Gregg family which had Stephen Greggs offspring Stephen Gregg Jr and Susan Gregg.
Washington Park
Playground Restoration (2017 – 2019)
The existing playground in Washington Park was in need of upgrades due to the heavy use of the Park constituents. The existing equipment was damaged from overuse and the safety surface lost its structural integrity. The restoration of this facility included new equipment and turf surfacing to replace the old surface. The new equipment installed were IPEMA and CPSC certified which included both Inclusive and ADA accessibility.
West Hudson Park
Playground Restoration (2017 – 2019)
West Hudson Park has a very active sports community in which the soccer and baseball field amenities are extensively used. Because of this, there was a need to upgrade the facilities to accommodate this use. There was also a lack of passive recreation in the park, so a picnic area was incorporated into the project scope. The new Athletic fields were all constructed with premium artificial turf in which dugouts, soccer goals, sports lighting, and bleachers were also included. A new bathroom was constructed near the fields and the existing bathroom near the picnic area was upgraded to match the veneer of the new restroom.
