The Hudson County Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance that would bond over $23.8 million for improvements to county parks this year at last week’s meeting.
By Dan Israel/Hudson County View
The board voted unanimously (9-0) to introduce an ordinance to appropriate $23,811,342 for park improvements: A $750,000 grant from the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund and $21,963,182 to be issued in bonds or notes to finance the cost.
According to Hudson County Administrator Abe Antun, the ordinance had changed since it was added to the agenda at the caucus meeting, requiring a vote to further advance the measure.
“The amount is not changing, it’s still $23,811,342. None of the projects changed, but the amount of bonds and notes and the grant has changed. That’s why it requires a vote,” Antun told the governing body.
According to Antun, the amount to issue bonds and notes has increased from around $19 million to $21 million, under the previous iteration of the ordinance.
“When we get to that part of the ordinances, I’ll put it up for a vote,” said Board Clerk Carol Jean Doyle.
Delving into the ordinance, HCV found that it includes the costs for design, construction management, and other non-construction costs also known as “soft costs.”
According to Director of Finance and Administration Cheryl Fuller, it also includes the costs of issuance to be incurred once the bonds are sold and allocations for Public Arts, Inclusivity, and Minority and/or Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Loans.
In a May 13th letter to Antun, included as part of the ordinance, Fuller said that the measure’s adoption will help the county proceed with a number of park projects.
The total cost for improvements to Lincoln Park in Jersey City total $6,725,000, where $5,675,000 will be covered by the bond.
The aforementioned $750,000 grant will cover the rest and be applied to the cost to re-do the track at Lincoln Park, with the county bonding for the remaining $1,250,000 to complete that renovation.
Other renovations planned for Lincoln Park include: $2,000,000 for turfing inside the track; $1,600,000 for lake and pond dredging; $1,500,000 for Lincoln Park West sports lighting; $1,000,000 to repoint and reseal the fountain pedestal; and $50,000 for additional lake cameras for the concession area.
In addition, $115,000 is included from prior ordinances towards the renovations; $475,000 from other sources including a $300,000 Public Arts loan for the fountain and a $175,000 match from the HCIA for golf course netting; and $125,000 deferred from the fence vendor for the Duncan Avenue playground fencing.
James J. Braddock Park in North Bergen is slated for $4,046,000 in park improvements, all of which are covered by the bond, including: $1,996,000 for picnic area remediation; $1,000,000 for utilities and communications for the nature walk; and $1,000,000 for sports lighting retrofit; among other priorities like $50,000 for pickleball fencing.
Other funds included towards Braddock Park improvements in the ordinance include $200,000 from Public Arts loans and $150,000 deferred for a digital sign.
In Columbus Park in Hoboken, $410,000 in renovations including $350,000 for tennis court resurfacing and $60,000 for garbage container fencing are covered by the bond.
Over at Stephen R. Gregg Park in Bayonne, $1,710,000 in total improvements will be covered by the bond, including: $1,000,000 for sports light retrofitting.
Further, there is $900,000 included in the ordinance for the park with $300,000 from the ADA account for upgrades to the bathrooms by the playgrounds and $600,000 from the Public Art Reserve Account for site work on the granite of one of the war memorials.
Washington Park in Union City will see $3,185,000 in improvements covered by the bond, mostly for the spray parks at the Jake’s Law Playground: $2,500,000.
Also included for Washington Park is $200,000 from an Open Space grant, and $300,000 deferred.
At Mercer Park in Bayonne, $150,000 in improvements are covered by the bond for irrigation on the football field.
Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus will see $450,000 in upgrades covered by the bond for a sanitary force repair and dock repair.
Viaduct Park in Hoboken is set to get $200,000 covered by the bond for renovations there including resurfacing pickleball courts and re-turfing the dog run. There is also $100,000 deferred for the dog run included in the ordinance.
Included under multi-park improvements are $3,325,000 in upgrades covered by the bond, including $1,000,000 for miscellaneous projects including “unforeseen time-sensitive projects” and “environmental issues,” $1,000,000 for lighting detection in every park by Braddock Park, $700,000 for camera upgrades, $500,000 for preliminary expenses like permit fees or engineering services and design fees, and $125,000 for batting cages at Lincoln Park and Washington Park.
There is also $1,196,000 allotted for proposed capital projects including contracts like for tractor loaders, pickup trucks, and other heavy equipment, covered by the cost of the bond as well.
The ordinance will be up for a public hearing and final vote at the next commissioners meeting on May 28th.