The update from far north jc heights is that it's rumored the WPA has another private meeting with DeGise and Stack on Tuesday night. Too bad they can't ask their Ward D councilman for help. Why? Because he's also the Chief of Staff for DeGise!

The good news is the furious residents of Union City are organizing! The ones who live right on the park and several blocks deep. They don't want the 80ft trees cut down and they definitely don't need more parking, traffic, light and noise problems.

Does everyone remember what happened in 2005 along the cliff wall? This same wall also runs along the Eastern side of Washington Park. http://hoboken411.com/archives/6533

If what @pickledpark says about each tree absorbing up to 2400 gallons of water per year is true then shouldn't the county and Union City think about this?

Do they think a 1920's blue stone wall can handle the added 170 TONS of water pressure? Or will tax payees have to foot the bill once again for the short sighted political dealings of DeGise and Stack?

What will happen when it falls right into the Doric high-rise? Sounds like a game of dominos. Is this a risk we are willing to take? Next time you stop at the light next to the blue stone wall look closely. The grout is crumbling! The grant money would be better spent repairing the wall. Just saying.

Wow! This is crazy news. I just heard that DeGise and Gaughan both support the destruction of Washington Park! Aren't 4 ball fields in 1 park enough?
Gaughan even sat there and explained why his dual office holding (ward D councilman and Chief of Staff for the County Exec) prevents him from doing either job well! Can you say CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

The truth is the WPA only learned of the grant when it was printed in the Jersey Journal on Sept 22. The WPA had to fill out a request to get a copy of Union City\'s Application for Washington Park. A total redevelopment in the amount of 2 million dollars. Here is a informative letter that should help bring everyone up to speed.

A few things everyone should know about Washington Park. It is a Hudson County Park divided into 4 sections by area streets. Paterson Plank Road divides the park in half among Jersey City and Union City. Union City has a \"dollar\" lease agreement with the County for what\'s known as Park #3, which is where this \"renovation\" is being proposed. Hudson County\'s goal to add more recreational spaces in turn takes away open spaces. Union City uses the word \"park\" to describe everything from a playground to a ball field. Park Number Three is the largest remaining open space inside Union City limits. Union City is the most densely populated city in America. Jersey City and Hudson County do not see anything wrong with this project. They have refused to get involve at this point.

November 8, 2010

Dear Neighbors and Residents,

Union City?s proposal to cram an oversized sports complex on the small parcel of land known as Washington Park Number Three (between Paterson Plank Road and Second Street along Palisade Avenue) is ill-conceived and will result in more harm than real benefit to our community. The proposed location is inappropriate and will unleash limitless traffic and parking chaos within our neighborhood. Further, the development of a sports complex in Washington Park Number Three will neither address Union City?s open space needs nor the recreational needs of the children of Union City and Hudson County.
The Washington Park Association (WPA) has been the sole community advocacy group for the protection of Washington Park, preservation of open space, and the improvement of recreational facilities for the last three (3) years. In this short time, we have been successful in bringing about recent upgrades to the park including a new dog run, two (2) new ball fields, a playground, volleyball court, art installation, and additional basketball courts.

As volunteer stewards of the park, we have successfully spearheaded an agreement with local law enforcement, which has resulted in 24-hour patrols of the park and increased safety for children and their families.

That such a large-scale project would be planned without any input from the community and local residents is shocking. The WPA, like many of you, only just learned of the breadth of this proposal through the Jersey Journal on September 20th. We have been contacted by area residents concerned about how this proposal will impact our neighborhood and have been asked by the community to seek transparency regarding the details of Union City?s plan. We want your concerns to be heard.

Union City wants the community to believe that their proposal is a ?no brainer? and simply about serving the needs of children; however, no plans have been laid out that speak to the myriad new problems that the development of this sports complex will cause ? concerns, including, but not limited to:

1. Lack of sufficient parking and traffic congestion Noise and light pollution from $300,000 in proposed lighting fixtures

2. Destruction of our community\'s character, city views, and historic open space

3. Exclusion of Hudson County?s 93,000 children residing outside of Union City who will NOT be granted use of these facilities.

The WPA, through our many conversations with the community, understands the need for more playing fields; however, the planned location will tamper with the park?s history, legacy, and a community?s identity. The proposed redevelopment is not limited to renovations to the current Cal Ripken field, which are indeed needed.

The proposed ?renovations? will increase the footprint of the current field, taking up a total of 1.3 acres. The existing park would be gutted and expanded, and a new artificial turf field for football, baseball and soccer enclosed by 20- foot-high concrete walls will be erected, thus destroying the only remaining green open space in Union City. Virtually overnight, the historic Washington Park ? a fixture of our community that recently celebrated its 100th anniversary ? would be irretrievably transformed. It is not at all clear that our elected officials have considered these negative consequences. The creation of this sports complex is not inevitable.

A PUBLIC meeting has been set w/ Mayor Stack & The County Executive for Monday, Nov. 22nd , 7:30 pm at the Bruce Walter Center , 507 West Street ( the corner of 5th & West St.), Union City. We hope to see some friendly faces!