Bayonne officials asked the Municipal Council Wednesday to approve two Green Acres grant applications totaling roughly $3.3 million for park improvements along the city's waterfront and neighborhood parks.

Council members adopted two enabling resolutions that will allow the city to apply for: (1) Jake's Law funding for an inclusive playground at the North Street Mini Park in an application totaling about $727,000, with a local match of roughly $172,000 expected from Hudson County Open Space funds; and (2) an Urban Parks Initiative grant of approximately $2,689,000 to fund shoreline stabilization, a reinforced concrete wall, a replacement timber pier and extensions to the waterfront walkway at Veterans Park.

Director of Parks and Recreation staff and the planning team told the council the North Street proposal emphasizes ADA-accessible play structures, ramps, shaded and quiet areas, and new sidewalks. The North Street project budget is structured with Green Acres providing about 75% of the cost and the county match the remaining 25%. Park designers said existing mature trees would be preserved and incorporated into shading.

Regarding Veterans Park, staff described shoreline stabilization and resiliency work intended to protect and extend the waterfront promenade. That project would fund a reinforced concrete wall, new boardwalk sections where needed and solar lighting; the council packet noted the city already has completed prior phases in the same waterfront corridor and has other DEP-funded waterfront projects in design or construction.

Both resolutions passed on unanimous voice votes. Council members and staff said they had performed public outreach; staff noted a public survey had collected comments and the design team had incorporated suggestions such as shade and additional seating.

The applications require separate follow-up agreements if Green Acres approves the awards, and council members said they expect additional design and environmental review steps before construction. Funding commitments from Hudson County for the North Street match were described as forthcoming and would be required before final grant acceptance.

Council members lauded staff for coordinating county, DEP and other partners on waterfront and park projects; at least one council member singled out staff leadership for persistently pursuing the North Street grant after earlier attempts failed to secure a local match.

If approved by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the projects would add an inclusive play facility and shoreline protections to parts of Bayonne that have seen phased waterfront improvements in recent years.