Washington Park Association of Hudson County, Inc. (WPA)

Stay informed people and read the facts. The WPA has asked our newly redistricted State Senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack back to the table over growing concerns for more community input as to what should be built in the park. Does a park with so many recreational facilities really need a bigger and better ballfield?

Help them get the word out and lend the WPA support in doing what is right.

Sign the online petition! [url=http://www.thepetitionsite][url=http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-vote-for-a-football-field-in-washington-park/]http://www.thepetitionsite


The WPA met with the County where DeGise and Gaughan told the WPA by opposing the Union City grant the WPA stands to lose their own grant recommendation for 100K.

The WPA told them they couldn't lose what they didn't have and that they are willing to lose the entire organization in the effort to be bring the publics concerns into the light of day.

Most Hudson Co residents throw their hands up in the air and says "oh well it's a done deal and we can't do anything about it" then they pack up their home and more to Maplewood or Montclair.

Why are all the people who try to improve quality of life issues in this place we call home discouraged?

Sign the petition! Enough is enough. Let's support an organization which has a solid track record as volunteer park stewards.

One 70+ year-old tree absorbs over 2,400 gallons of water per year. Look at your annual water bill and do the math. A wonderful new field will drain several tons of water into some of the oldest sewage systems in Hudson County. (And they are taking down 17 of them for this ball field, in case you missed that in previous threads.

Heck trees don\'t teach us nothing. Tear\'em down, arrgh, and put in a nice green artificial turf field. It\'s green all the time, right? We\'ll plant more trees, no problem, right?

Well no actually. It will take 10+ years for the increased number of trees to absorb the same amount of water and support the same biology.

Trees teach us everyday we just don\'t listen. That was my research now...
Here\'s a JCList educational program direct from Wikipedia......

Trees are an important component of the natural landscape because of their prevention of erosion and the provision of a weather-sheltered ecosystem in and under their foliage. They also play an important role in producing oxygen and reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as well as moderating ground temperatures. They are also elements in landscaping and agriculture, both for their aesthetic appeal and their orchard crops (such as apples). Wood from trees is a building material, as well as a primary energy source in many developing countries. Trees also play a role in many of the world\'s mythologies

Here is mythology @milkbone:

Tree worship (dendrolatry) refers to the tendency of many societies throughout history to worship or otherwise mythologize trees. Trees have played an important role in many of the world\'s mythologies and religions, and have been given deep and sacred meanings throughout the ages. Human beings, observing the growth and death of trees, the elasticity of their branches, the sensitivity and the annual decay and revival of their foliage, see them as powerful symbols of growth, decay and resurrection. The most ancient cross-cultural symbolic representation of the universe\'s construction is the world tree.
The image of the Tree of life is also a favourite in many mythologies. Do you put a tree in your home about this time every year?

Trees sustain us, therefore we should take pause and consider before taking one down. Can we keep doing this? Just in case you\'re still not with me, that\'s a big NO damn-it!

You need fresh air to play sports not a carbon monoxide wasteland of hot synthetic fibers. Yes, we need fields. Yes, fields are important to us and so is our future. Please not here. Not now. Not ever!

Slippery Stack -

Mayor/State Senator Stack has now requested the 22nd meeting to be ONLY with the WPA. (Closed Door)

How dare the WPA for sharing information about a public meeting!

Public meetings in Hudson County are meant to be held on dates and at times no one is privy too! My bad for posting it here. Sorry WPA!

Why are politicians so afraid of their constituents? I guess we'll have to wait to hear back from the WPA to see what, if anything comes from such a meeting.

I know the WPA and they are passionate about protecting this 100 year old open space and are eager to learn more about what Union City's plans entail.

www.nickcaballeroideasforliving.com

Great for roofs and anything home related. He's the first customer service oriented contractor and design service in Hudson County!

Nick does both small and large jobs, inside and out. His website shows before and after jobs. Highly recommended.

Washington Park Association has facilitated a public meeting with Mayor Brain Stack and Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise on:

November 22nd @ 7:30pm

Location: Bruce Walter Center, 507 West Street
(corner of 5th & West St) in Union City

All those interested in learning more about Union City's plan to build a multi-purpose ball field in Washington Park should plan to attend, ask questions and make your voice heard.

The meeting is tonight. The WPA trustees are needing to decide if they will try to fight the redevelopment of a historical park in turn jeopardizing their own grant recommendation for 100K.

100K for a grant that includes children learning gardens, community gardens, exercise stations, picnic tables, butterfly gardens, ADA upgrades, recycling bins, signage, and more.

Anyone who disagrees with Mayor/State Senator Stack are blacklisted as having political agendas or crazies. Someone needs to tell Stack and Sacco a democracy allows people to disagree and civil leaders should not blacklist those who have different opinions. The words "Understanding with Compassion" is on the Union City seal.

And I love UC too! Union City is a wonderful city. Very cozy (albeit congested) quaint and FULL of history. A wonderful place to raise children, great schools and programs, fantastic location with easy access to NYC and the NJ Turnpike. Mayor Stack can't have it both ways. He complains about it being the most densely populated city in the country then turns around and builds more high rises, turns every pocket park into a synthetic turf playground or ball field, takes down old growth trees thinking little new ones are sufficient replacements.

The projects in UC are usually well designed to give them some credit. However, like the new swimming pool built hovering the Palisade Cliffs, Union City kids deserve better! There are lines 3 blocks long and once they wait on a hot street for over an hour the kids only get to swim for about 15 minutes before they get kicked out, allowing for the next group to come in.

Is there a strategy or just a series of band-aides to address the real needs of Union City and Hudson County.

Beware! Your park is next! Specifically, Pershing Field has been targeted for the next round of "renovations" in the Heights.

First, how can residents misrepresent something that was never shared with the community surrounding Wash Park?

Second, we have obtained their grant proposal and it includes $300,000 in lighting. After they take down 17 of the 70 year old trees surrounding and shield us all from the glaring light it won't really matter which direction the lights are pointed. They will affect us all. (Again, the grant proposal does not contain a comprehensive study or design for the complex). If the WPA would have been consulted before hand we might have been able to come to a more responsible and strategic plan to grow recreational space while protecting open space.

We have yet to find 1 single resident in the area (2nd st in Union City, The Doric Highrise, Palisade Avenue or where ever) who knew about this grant proposal.

Again, we are not against ball fields or sports, we are only against the location which will put even more stress on the infrastructure at on of the busiest intersections in our neighborhood.

The WPA has not been allowed to present any solutions to Union City's short sighted plans. We have offered to partner with the County and Union City and write grants to buy over 100 acres only 10 minutes away off of Secacus Rd. This area is part of the ARC land where UC and HC could truly grow into a sports complex with parking, a park, and its part wetlands which means there are EPA dollars available. This is what the children of Union City and Hudson County deserve!

All of these suggestions and concerns have been discarded by HC and UC. They seem to be determined to build the field in Wash Park. Any recommendations or support anyone can offer then please share. WPA meetings are always open to the public to attend and comment. We also have a MeetUp group which you can sign up for via our website. www.wpanj.org

We are having our 3rd strategic meeting this week.