The City of Hoboken has unveiled three Multi-Service Center renderings that all include locations for a public pool: an amenity the Mile Square City has unsuccessfully sought for many years.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“During my time in public office, one of the most consistent requests I’ve heard from residents has been the need for a public pool. Today, I’m excited to share that our proposed renovation of the Multi-Service Center includes this long sought after amenity, and I look forward to sharing these options with the public,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“After hearing resident and stakeholder feedback about the best place in Hoboken for a pool, the Multi-Service Center became the most logical choice. I am also excited that this new center will become a new, state-of-the-art location that will add additional recreational space, community gathering locations, a new senior center, and much more.”
The three concepts will be presented at a virtual community meeting tonight at 6 p.m. Residents can register for the meeting here.
All three concepts incorporate both indoor and outdoor recreation and community facilities within the current boundary of 124 Grand St.
“I am excited to see this new vision of the Multi-Service Center, which will be updated to better meet the needs of our community in terms of modernized recreational facilities, additional meeting spaces, a new senior center, and more, come to fruition,” noted Council President Emily Jabbour.
The first concept, Stacked Recreation with Rooftop Aquatics, proposes a new Multi-Service Center building with spaces for a day care, senior services, café, library, gymnasium, multi-purpose community rooms, and municipal offices as well as an outdoor rooftop 25-meter swimming pool and children’s play area.
An open-air canopied structure with multiple levels of outdoor recreation, or recreational pavilion, is proposed for the remainder of the site.
The recreational pavilion would contain a multi-purpose hockey rink on the ground floor, a basketball court, and four pickleball courts on the second floor, and the rooftop would feature an aquatics center comprised of a wading pool and splash pad next to the swimming pool, and a turf field.
“I am thrilled to finally announce the plans for a new Multi-Service Center in the First Ward, which includes a community pool and a range of amenities catering to seniors, young families, and adults,” exclaimed 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco.
The second concept, Pavilions in the Park, proposes a new Multi-Service Center building with an indoor 25-meter swimming pool on the ground floor and spaces for a day care, senior services, café, library, performance space, gymnasium, multi-purpose community rooms, and municipal offices as well as a community garden and four pickleball courts on the rooftop of the building.
The western portion of the site would consist of a mix of outdoor public spaces (plazas, natural playground, and splash pad) and two smaller open-air recreational pavilions with space for a wading pool, half basketball court, and up to two pickleball courts.
“ … The new facility will provide for residents’ well-being, foster community engagement, and honor the contributions of our seniors. Working collaboratively with the administration and my fellow colleagues to make this vision come true will be a priority in the years to come!” said 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos, who had advocated for renovations at the Multi-Service Center.
The third concept, Raised Recreation, proposes a new Multi-Service Center building with a covered, open-air multi-purpose hockey rink on the ground-level, space for a day care, senior services, library space, multi-purpose community rooms, performance space, gymnasium, and municipal offices, and recreational spaces for up to three pickleball courts and a community garden on the rooftop.
The western portion of the site would consist of an outdoor wading pool, indoor 25-meter pool, and a rooftop natural playground.
“Finally! Our own community pool! After years of advocating for a pool, we have this amazing opportunity to make it a reality,” stated 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo, also the vice present of the board.
“Many 5th Ward residents have expressed to me the importance of Hoboken’s finally building a municipal pool — for recreation as well as for swim lessons,” said 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen.
The project team will use public feedback gathered from the June 29 virtual meeting, the July 6 in-person meeting at 11 a.m. with senior citizens at the Multi-Service Center, and a future online survey to create a final concept design for the Multi-Service Center in the coming months.
Based on the final concept design, various cost estimates will be provided to the public.
It should be noted that Fourth Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos was the one who spearheaded and pushed the redesign of the Multi-Service Center. Not surprisingly Team Bhalla crew failed to recognize that at the meeting.
You must have dialed in late. The Mayor acknowledge Ramos’ role at the beginning.
Ravi wanted a possible fancy plan to point to for his future political campaigns with no real time line or budget to actually make it happen.
Where will this be located? In the center of town or near 14th st like the now-closed movie theater which is harder for folks downtown to access?
Great project
Bears the city dumping money into that privately run money pit on 13th and Wash that was begging for a public bailout
Hint: Look at the map in the picture or read the text.