I'm holding out for the miniature Formula 1 go-kart track.

Jersey City gave away all the land next to Liberty State Park for a magnificent golf course that the residents ofJersey City cannot play at, so thank goodness we now have a mini golf course!!

A Fight to Save Jersey City Museum
The Wall Street Journal
By SHELLY BANJO

As real-estate entrepreneurs Eric and Paul Silverman develop Jersey City, they are also trying to preserve its history.

The brothers, known for restoring historic buildings in Jersey City and revitalizing Hamilton Park historic district, are trying to save the floundering Jersey City Museum from shutting.

To increase awareness and raise $100,000, the pair commissioned 10 local artists to create a working Miniature Golf Course, which doubles as an art exhibit.

The exhibit, which opens Wednesday and runs through September, is called the Golden Door, representing Jersey City's moniker as "America's Golden Door," a first stop for immigrants coming through Ellis Island. Each artist designed a donor-sponsored golden hole to portray this theme. Individual and corporate donors gave $5,000 to $15,000 a hole

"Building neighborhoods takes many ingredients and Jersey City Museum plays a critical role, developing and supporting artists, entertaining our residents and educating our students," says Paul Silverman.

"The museum is under severe financial strain right now, Hamilton Park has re-opened and the neighborhood is booming, so what better time for us to work to raise $100,000 for the museum."

Because of government funding cuts and declining private donations, in April the museum laid off its staff and cut its hours. The museum, which was founded in 1901 as a teaching institution, is now open only on Saturdays.

The museum's 20,000-piece collection of contemporary art was originally housed in the city's library. In 2001, it moved into a new $9 million facility nearby.

With more than half of its $800,000 budget coming from government grants and donors from "Wall Street West," the city's financial services industry, the museum suffered a $400,000 budget gap last year.

To become more sustainable, board members are trying to cultivate local donors.

"It's a matter of waiting to see if the city can return the amount of funds it gave us before, or deciding to be a smaller organization," says Mark Rodrick, the treasurer of the museum's board. "We need more local people to come out and support the museum."

Helping the museum attract a local following was a simple decision for the Silvermans, who donated temporary space and $40,000 to build the miniature-golf exhibit.

"We wanted to help create energy in the neighborhood to support local artists and increase membership so the museum wouldn't have to depend as much on government grants," Eric Silverman says.

The brothers, who began developing in Jersey City in the 1980s, say the key to building a city is attracting and retaining creative people by nurturing artists, retailers and educators.

I think this is wasted money. The Museum and the City would be better off moving the museum to someplace where residents, workers and tourist might want to go. Who wants to hike all the way up Montgomery, near the housing estates.

The City should require Toll Brothers to give the Museum space in exchange for variances. I could see myself spending $8 for a latte in PAD, but near those housing estates

A Fight to Save Jersey City Museum

The Wall Street Journal
By SHELLY BANJO

As real-estate entrepreneurs Eric and Paul Silverman develop Jersey City, they are also trying to preserve its history.

The brothers, known for restoring historic buildings in Jersey City and revitalizing Hamilton Park historic district, are trying to save the floundering Jersey City Museum from shutting.

To increase awareness and raise $100,000, the pair commissioned 10 local artists to create a working Miniature Golf Course, which doubles as an art exhibit.

The exhibit, which opens Wednesday and runs through September, is called the Golden Door, representing Jersey City's moniker as "America's Golden Door," a first stop for immigrants coming through Ellis Island. Each artist designed a donor-sponsored golden hole to portray this theme. Individual and corporate donors gave $5,000 to $15,000 a hole

"Building neighborhoods takes many ingredients and Jersey City Museum plays a critical role, developing and supporting artists, entertaining our residents and educating our students," says Paul Silverman.

"The museum is under severe financial strain right now, Hamilton Park has re-opened and the neighborhood is booming, so what better time for us to work to raise $100,000 for the museum."

Because of government funding cuts and declining private donations, in April the museum laid off its staff and cut its hours. The museum, which was founded in 1901 as a teaching institution, is now open only on Saturdays.

The museum's 20,000-piece collection of contemporary art was originally housed in the city's library. In 2001, it moved into a new $9 million facility nearby.

With more than half of its $800,000 budget coming from government grants and donors from "Wall Street West," the city's financial services industry, the museum suffered a $400,000 budget gap last year.

To become more sustainable, board members are trying to cultivate local donors.

"It's a matter of waiting to see if the city can return the amount of funds it gave us before, or deciding to be a smaller organization," says Mark Rodrick, the treasurer of the museum's board. "We need more local people to come out and support the museum."

Helping the museum attract a local following was a simple decision for the Silvermans, who donated temporary space and $40,000 to build the miniature-golf exhibit.

"We wanted to help create energy in the neighborhood to support local artists and increase membership so the museum wouldn't have to depend as much on government grants," Eric Silverman says.

The brothers, who began developing in Jersey City in the 1980s, say the key to building a city is attracting and retaining creative people by nurturing artists, retailers and educators.

Quote:

Won't happen; thugs don't play golf.....

Wait until people complain of putting noises

Quote:

'nuff said

Miniature golf course off Hamilton Park in Jersey City features art about immigrant experience, will raise money for Jersey City Museum

Thursday, June 17, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

It's not unusual for a person walking down McWilliams Place in Jersey City to stop and ask a carpenter or artist what's going on at the empty lot in Hamilton Square.

The space served as a temporary park until Hamilton Park recently reopened. Now it's being transformed into something quite different: a mini-golf course, designed and constructed by artists, that will raise money for the cash-strapped Jersey City Museum.

"We wanted to create a perfect marriage between art and mini-golf," exhibition curator Christina Vassallo said.

"The Golden Door Mini-Golf Course" represents Jersey City serving as America's Golden Door when immigrants came through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954. Each hole is a take on that theme.

Artist Kai Vierstra's hole, "The Sneek Snake," was inspired by his grandfather who came from the Netherlands. Putters must get their ball over a bridge or risk being washed away in a "sea of tears," which represents the struggle Vierstra's family went through to come to the United States.

The final hole on the course, "Leap of Faith," by Brooklyn artist Risa Puno, who helped design the exhibition, is inspired by skee-ball.

Golfers will putt into a loop-de-loop, launching their golf balls forward with the possibility of landing in one of three rings, each knocking a different number of points off the player's score.

"When you're immigrating, you're taking a leap of faith," Puno said. "I wanted it to be less skill-based and more just going for it."

The course - sponsored by Hamilton Square developers Paul and Eric Silverman, Congressman Frank Guarini, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City - will open at 6 p.m. Wednesday with a $75 per person fund-raiser. The goal is to raise $100,000 for the Jersey City Museum.

The course will be open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to dusk through Labor Day. A round will cost $5 per person, $4 for Jersey City Museum members.