The eleven properties that make up the Berry Lane Park Project in Jersey City, set to open in late 2015, are being transformed from a graffiti covered eyesore into something magnificent. Where once were decaying buildings, you will see a baseball field, a soccer field, tennis courts, rain gardens and such.
This project has been on the drawing board for about 15 years.The area was the site of petroleum and heavy metal contamination. As it was also, the site of chromium processing, other pollutants had to be cleared away before work on any of the recreational areas could begin. However, by August, 2012, they were ready to finally begin construction.
It’s always better to retain features that can be channeled into uses other than their original intention. For instance, there are silos left from the former railyard that was there. These will be renovated and used for spray mechanisms in the splash park that is planned. A splash park will give welcome relief from the heat in the summer, but since it is shallow water, the expense of lifeguards and other safety requirements is saved.
When the park is finished, it will be the largest park in Jersey City that is municipally owned and operated. Covering 17.5 acres in the Communipaw-Lafayette Section of Jersey City, it is located between Garfield Avenue and Woodward Street. It is conveniently near the Garfield Avenue Hudson Bergen Light Rail station. In the Canal Crossing area, just south of the park, is the site where a residential development is planned.
The list of funders for the Berry Lane Park Project reads like a Who’s Who of federal, state and local agencies. The EPA, of course is in there,
because of the contamination that had to be cleared. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority is represented, also, as are several county and municipal groups, some of which are funded by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is truly a joint effort.
What do you think of the soon-to-open Berry Lane Park?
Edward