Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Open Space topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board holds public hearing on $12.42M in open‑space allocations amid opposition to North Bergen project
Summary
The Hudson County Board opened a public hearing on proposed allocations from its Open Space Trust Fund totaling $12,419,895, listing municipal park and acquisition awards; public commenters urged removal of a $650,000 award for North Bergen's Stan Newman Field over restricted public access and perceived wasteful line items; staff said awards will be considered at a future meeting (anticipated September).
The Hudson County Board of County Commissioners opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026 allocations from the Hudson County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, a package totaling $12,419,895 that includes $10,310,895 for parks and recreation projects, $1,350,000 for land acquisition and $750,000 for historic preservation projects.
The clerk read the list of proposed awards to municipalities and county parks, including West 24th Street Playground (Bayonne), veterans playground/water park (East Newark), Church Square Park phase 2 (Hoboken), multiple Jersey City park improvements (LaPonte, Leonard Gordon, Mark Marinac/Enright, Terrace Avenue), Stan Newman Field improvements (North Bergen, $650,000), Lincoln Park track/turf (Hudson County Park, $750,000), and a land acquisition in Sea Cacus (sic) for $1,350,000. The clerk stated anticipated project commencement around Sept. 3, 2026 and anticipated completion around Sept. 2, 2028.
During public comment, resident Mark Bloomberg urged the board to remove the $650,000 allocation for North Bergen's Stan Newman Field. Bloomberg argued the field would be "a public park in name only," saying North Bergen presented plans to prioritize high‑school and organized‑sports access rather than unpermitted daily public use, called some line items excessive (for example, scoreboard installation and press boxes) and noted that North Bergen reportedly still owed the county at least $120,000 to the open‑space fund. He urged the board to withhold funding or reevaluate the award.
Deputy planning director Francesca Gerritana clarified that the Stan Newman Green Acres application was not granted, but that properties listed on the RASI must nonetheless adhere to Green Acres rules and that recreation fields commonly require permitting that could impose public‑access constraints. Commissioners said the awards would appear individually on a future resolution (anticipated in September) so a member could vote separately on each lettered award.
Why it matters: the Open Space Trust Fund allocates county funds to municipal parks and conservation projects; public scrutiny over access and procurement can influence whether specific awards proceed.
What's next: the board closed the public hearing; staff noted written comments were submitted and said the awards will be returned to the board as a resolution at a future meeting (the clerk said September).
