LINDEN, N.J. — The Linden City Council on Sept. 16 adopted a bond ordinance of $793,500 to fund playground improvements at Mokowski Park, saying a 75% Green Acres matching grant will cover most of the cost and leave the city responsible for $193,325.

The action followed public questions about several recent park-related appropriations and requests for clearer timelines. Ed Kaminski, a resident of Maple Avenue, told the council: "I wanna make sure this almost $2,000,000 that I see here isn't another slush fund or money pit, and it goes to something substantial." Business Administrator Natisha Clark replied that the city had "received a Green Acres grant, for 75% of the matching grant of $590,000," and that "the city is only putting up $193,325 for this particular grant." Clark said the work is intended to install inclusive, special-needs playground equipment.

Why it matters: The ordinance is one of several bond measures the council approved that together fund parks and capital improvements across Linden. Residents pressed for details about how prior park allocations were spent and when the Mokowski project would begin.

Councilwoman Leticia Orman, who spoke in support of using grants when available, told the meeting that the city has a multi-year plan to upgrade parks and "if we get a grant and we have to add a little money to it, it's . . . a good thing." John Kayser, a resident who said he is guardian of a child with special needs, asked when work would begin; city staff said construction is expected in spring 2026 to avoid disrupting a special-needs program that now uses on-site facilities.

City staff described the sequence that led to the ordinance: a grant application and award, appropriation of local matching funds in the bond ordinance, then procurement steps including competitive bidding for construction and equipment. City staff and council members said the bid-and-build schedule, procurement thresholds, and the presence of the special-needs program on site determined the later start date. "It will be getting started in spring of 2026," City staff said in response to questions about timing.

Action taken: Councilman Ralph Strano moved to close the public hearing and adopt ordinance 69-44 (appropriation $793,500 for Mokowski Park playground improvements); the motion passed. Recorded votes in the roll call included yes votes from Orman, Javec, Caldwell, Mohammed, Delgado, Strano, Armstead (Mayor Derek Armstead), Hudak (Christopher Hudak), and Yamakaitis; Councilman Kevin Rivas recorded an abstention. The ordinance authorizes bond issuance to finance part of the appropriation.

Discussion and context: Speakers at the meeting said the city is undertaking a multi-year parks study and that some parks will be upgraded as grants become available. Council members described an ongoing capital planning process to audit all park facilities and prioritize work across neighborhoods. Council members and the mayor noted prior and continuing investments in parks across Linden.

What was not resolved: Several residents requested follow-up details on past park expenditures (one speaker asked where previously allocated money for trash receptacles went). Staff did not provide a line-by-line accounting at the meeting and said procurement and implementation steps would follow the appropriation; residents requested continued transparency as projects move to design and construction.

An ongoing sequence: The council also adopted other park and capital bond ordinances at the same meeting to fund a range of projects; the Mokowski Park appropriation is part of that broader capital package.

Closing note: City staff said the project design and bidding will follow the appropriation and that grant terms and the need to avoid disrupting existing special-needs programs shaped the spring 2026 start window.